How to dispose of a boiler is mostly a job for the installer or a scrap hauler, because residential boilers are heavy and often connected to gas, oil, water, and flue lines. Once disconnected and drained, a boiler is valuable scrap: cast iron sections or steel, plus copper and brass fittings. Older boilers can have asbestos insulation or gaskets, which must be handled before demolition. If you are replacing it, the removal is usually included in the new installation quote.
Disconnect before removal
Boilers connect to fuel (gas or oil), electricity, water supply, and a chimney or vent. A licensed heating contractor should shut off and cap the gas line, disconnect oil lines, cut power, and drain the system. Draining can mean many gallons of dark, rusty water, which should go to a floor drain or sanitary sewer, not a storm drain.
Check for asbestos
Boilers installed before the 1980s may have asbestos in their jacket insulation, rope gaskets, pipe wrap, or the cement around sections. Do not break, cut, or sand suspicious material. Have it tested, and if it contains asbestos, hire a licensed abatement contractor to remove it before the boiler is taken apart. See where to dump asbestos.
Weight and removal
| Boiler type | Typical weight |
|---|---|
| Cast iron sectional (residential) | 300 to 600+ lb |
| Steel firetube | 300 to 800 lb |
| Wall-hung condensing | 60 to 150 lb |
Cast iron boilers can often be unbolted into sections to carry up basement stairs. Removal crews use appliance dollies, stair climbers, or sledgehammers to break cast iron when the unit will be scrapped.
Scrap value
Cast iron and steel are worth a modest amount per pound. Copper piping, brass valves, and circulator pumps are worth more if separated. Many scrap haulers remove boilers for free in exchange for the metal. See scrap yard versus landfill for clean metal.
Radiators and oil tanks
If the whole heating system is being replaced, cast iron radiators are also heavy scrap. See how to dispose of cast iron radiators. Oil boilers may leave behind a fuel tank, which needs proper cleaning and removal; see how to dispose of a heating oil tank.
Transfer stations
Some transfer stations accept boilers in the metal pile, but many residents cannot move one. Smaller wall-hung units are easier to haul yourself.
How to dispose of a boiler FAQ
Is an old boiler worth anything as scrap?
Yes. Cast iron and steel bring a modest price, and copper and brass parts are worth more.
Does an old boiler contain asbestos?
Some pre-1980s boilers have asbestos insulation or gaskets. Have suspect material tested.
Can I remove a boiler myself?
Fuel and electrical disconnection should be done by a licensed contractor. Removal is heavy work.
Will a scrap company remove a boiler for free?
Many will, in exchange for the metal, especially if it is easy to reach.
Where does the water from a boiler go?
Drain it to a floor drain or sanitary sewer, not a storm drain.
The bottom line
How to dispose of a boiler: have a contractor disconnect fuel, power, and water and drain it, check older units for asbestos, then scrap the metal through the installer, a scrap yard, or a hauler. Separate copper and brass for better value. Use the map to find a nearby site that takes scrap metal.
Hauling it yourself? If the load won’t fit in the truck bed, a 6×10 ft open-rail utility trailer or a 4×8 ft folding trailer (it folds upright to store in a garage) can cost less than a couple of hauler trips. Tie everything down with ratchet tie-down straps; many sites charge extra for loose or uncovered loads.
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