Boiler Installation & Service in Nanaimo & Vancouver Island
P3 Mechanical & Electrical installs and replaces gas and hydronic boilers for Nanaimo and central Vancouver Island homes heated by radiators or in-floor loops. A straightforward swap in the same spot is usually finished in a day or two, and what moves both the time and the cost is the venting route, the gas supply, and whether the pumps, zone valves, and expansion tank are due at the same time. The visit is free, and the price is fixed by a written quote after we measure heat loss rather than over the phone.
When a boiler is worth replacing
Boilers do not usually die all at once. They start short-cycling, make a kettling noise as scale builds on the heat exchanger, lose pressure between top-ups, or leave one zone cold while another overheats. On an older unit, any of those is worth looking at before the first cold snap.
Sizing decides how the next fifteen years go. An oversized boiler short-cycles, wearing out the burner and ignition early, and it is a more common mistake than an undersized one. We work heat loss out from the house — square footage, insulation, window area, hot water demand — not from the number stamped on the old unit.
What's included
- Heat loss calculation and sizing, not a like-for-like match
- Removal and disposal of the existing boiler
- Gas line, venting, and hydronic piping tie-ins
- Pumps, zone valves, and expansion tank replaced where needed
- Condensate drainage and combustion venting routed to code
- Combustion testing, carbon monoxide check, and a walkthrough of the controls
Pricing & what's covered
Free estimate
We price the job after an in-home visit, once someone has seen what's there.
- One-year warranty on our labour. Equipment and parts are covered separately, under the supplier's or manufacturer's own warranty.
- Licensed in BC: Gas Contractor licence LGA0207015 and Boiler licence LBP0210866.
How it works
Assessment — we measure heat loss and check your radiators, loops, venting, and gas supply.
Written quote — a fixed price for the boiler, piping, and permit, agreed up front.
Installation — the old unit comes out, the new one is piped and vented, and the system purged.
Permit and inspection — we pull the gas permit under our Technical Safety BC gas contractor licence (LGA0207015) and book the inspection before we close the job.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a new boiler cost in Nanaimo?
A replacement is a thousands-of-dollars job rather than a few-hundred one. Where it lands depends on the heat output the house actually needs, whether the existing venting and gas supply can be reused, and whether the pumps, zone valves, and expansion tank are worn out at the same time. Condensing units cost more up front, so we price both when it is worth comparing, and the number is fixed in writing before anything is ordered.
How long does a boiler replacement take?
A straightforward swap in the same location is usually a one- or two-day job. Moving the boiler, changing the venting route, or repiping a manifold adds time — the written quote sets out which of those apply to your house before we start.
Do I need a permit to replace a boiler in BC?
Yes. Gas work in BC is regulated by Technical Safety BC, and a boiler replacement needs a gas permit and an inspection — pulling both is the contractor’s responsibility, not yours. P3 holds the two Technical Safety BC contractor licences this work sits under, gas contractor licence LGA0207015 and boiler licence LBP0210866, and both can be checked on the public register.
What is the kettling noise my boiler makes?
It is the sound of scale on the heat exchanger trapping water and letting it flash to steam. On an older boiler it is often an early warning of exchanger failure.
Can I keep my old radiators with a new boiler?
Usually yes — cast-iron radiators outlast several boilers. What matters is the water temperature they were sized for, which decides whether a condensing boiler runs in its efficient range.
Should I switch to a heat pump instead of a new boiler?
It is worth pricing both. An air-to-water heat pump keeps your radiators or in-floor loops and may qualify for CleanBC and BC Hydro rebates, though it costs more to install.
Where we offer this
Ready to get it fixed?
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