Boiler Rentals New York – Frequently Asked Questions

Why rent a boiler?

Rental boilers are the perfect solution to several challenges a building owner or facility manager may be facing, such as: 

• Sudden break-down of in-house boiler due to component malfunction, dry fire, leaky tubes and sections, contaminated fuel or natural disaster.
• Planned shutdown for maintenance, fuel-type conversion, facility renovation or demolition/new installation.
• For large facilities, millions in capital investment funds not available for a needed boiler replacement.
• Need for temporary capacity on new production line or process and instrument testing or to heat a new section of property not yet fitted with boiler.
• Support for chiller testing and operation.
• Support for special events and production FX.

What information is needed to rent a temporary boiler?

Prior to contacting a boiler rental company, it is important to gather as much useful information as possible.

Key facts Mobile Steam Boiler Rental Corp. (Mobile Steam) will find useful include:

• Type of utility needed and for what purpose: For example: steam or hydronic heat, domestic hot water, steam or hot water for industrial use
• Nature of the outage: Is it an emergency or planned shut-down? Adding a new line? Gas-utility shut-off, etc.
• Needed boiler capacity and pressure: This information can usually be found on a metal plate affixed to the boiler. Capacity may be listed in terms of horsepower, pounds of steam per hour, BTU rating or MBH. Maximum operating pressure is listed in terms of PSI. If this is a hot water system, it is useful to know the peak usage flow in terms of gallons per hour (or minute) 
• Available power: Temporary boilers usually require electricity in the range of 3-phase, 208 volts (sometimes 440) and 60 to 120 amps of electricity. 
• Fuel: Rental boilers are available which run on either No. 2 fuel oil or natural gas. If considering a gas hook-up, Mobile Steam suggests you check local regulations regarding temporary gas connections. Some jurisdictions do not allow them.  
• Location of Site: Temporary boilers should be sited as close to an entrance to the boiler room as possible on a level and paved surface. They cannot run indoors and cannot be within 15 feet of air intakes or open windows. Shorter runs from the temporary rental boiler to the boiler room will help to minimize installation costs and heat loss during the winter. The site should be fenced off from pedestrian traffic.
• Boiler Room Readiness: Besides the imperative boiler, it is important to inform the boiler rental company if any of the following components are also out of commission: circulator pumps, mixing valves, condensate return receivers and pumps, thermostat system, mixing valves, etc.
• Dates: What is the needed start-date and the expected duration of the boiler rental project? 

What equipment comes with a temporary boiler?

• Most rental boilers come as complete packaged boiler rooms in a trailer or container and contain a boiler with all required safety and operations controls, feed water tank and feed water pumps, oil pumps and/or natural gas connections and connections to receive make-up water and electricity from the facility.
• Depending on the size and nature of the rental boiler and job, the Mobile Steam unit may also include an on-board fuel storage tank, heat exchangers, hydronic circulators, mixing valves and expansion tanks. 
• If Mobile Steam Boiler Rental Corp. is to perform the installation, the unit will come with needed hoses, pipes and valves to complete the job. 
• Other available components for rent include stand-alone fuel storage tanks, remote monitoring equipment, deaerators and heat exchangers.

How are boiler rentals priced?

A boiler rental cost for a small apartment building can start in the range of $6,000/month and a large industrial-sized rental can range from $12,000/month and up.

A typical boiler rental estimate will include line items such as rental rate, trucking (renter-paid), install/disconnect, start-up, training, and permitting. Mobile Steam helps manage NYC permits (DOB, DOT, FDNY).

Check here for complete details about Boiler rental costs in New York.

Who operates boiler rental equipment?

The facility renting the boiler is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the equipment and for maintaining a safe and secure work site. A Mobile Steam technician will oversee the initial start-up of the temporary boiler and explain the operations to a designated owner-representative. 

When required by regulation or facility management, Mobile Steam can help to source certified high pressure boiler operators for a 24/7 watch.

How does boiler rental insurance work?

Upon request, boiler rental companies should be able to provide a certificate naming the customer as an additional insured for the duration of the job. 

Like a car rental company, a boiler rental company also requires its customers to provide proof of coverage for the equipment under its supervision. The boiler rental company will ask the renter to provide them with a certificate naming them as additional insured for general liability and workman’s compensation.

The renter is also responsible for the following things which will ensure a safe rental:

• Day-to-day operation and monitoring and rental boiler
• Timely notification of any issues to the boiler rental company
• Remediation of all water, ice and snow hazards in proximity to the temporary boiler
• Ensuring the integrity of the facility’s steam and hot water distribution system to withstand the pressure and temperatures requested of the boiler rental company
• Securing worksite and adjacent areas where hoses and wires are run from all non-authorized people.

Can my boiler rental company work directly with my contractors?

Yes. Experienced boiler rental companies such as Mobile Steam can work seamlessly with both general contractors and mechanical contractors during all phases of a project from planning to construction.

What are my obligations as a landlord to provide heat and hot water?

Landlords are legally required to provide heat and hot water to their tenants and risk incurring steep fines should they not be able to do so. Specific regulations vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  Here is some vital information for the New York Tri-State Region: https://mobilesteam.com/heating-regulations-new-york-tri-state/

Should you have more questions or wish to move ahead with a rental inquiry please call Mobile Steam on (insert dedicated/trackable  phone for this blog) or fill-out our contact form here: https://mobilesteam.com/request-a-quote/

What are the Lead Times for setting up a temporary boiler?

Non-Emergency: Temporary boiler usage is highest from mid-October through the end of April. If you are considering a planned outage of your facility’s heating and hot water system for this period, it is suggested to book your rental boiler as far in advance as possible. This will ensure you will have the correct replacement capacity and provide ample time for a non-rushed delivery, installation and testing period.

Emergency: Travel time not withstanding, the setting-up of a temporary boiler can take as little as 12 hours to several days. It all depends on the complexity of the installation. So, in times of inclement weather or “mission critical” emergencies, it is best to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. Start-up times can be impacted by:

• Trucking schedules
• Parking spot availability and permits
• Installation & start-up crew schedules 
• Securing of other permits
• Complexity of the installation
• Fuel deliveries