New boiler recommendation

SweetFeet · Oct 12, 2020

Looking for heating-installer/service tech experience and or recommendations based upon your experience with these two manufacturers of boilers for our home:
1. Burnham
2. New Yorker
(BOTH brands are now owned by Burnham... and I think both are manufactured in Lancaster, PA.)
ALSO - we told the heating people giving us bids, that we do NOT need a high-efficiency wall-hanger unit... our house is small and well insulated - therefore it does not cost us a ton of money to heat it.

AND....
Is a cast iron boiler better than a steel boiler? (We are leaning toward cast iron because our current boiler is cast iron... and it has been in our home and worked well for a lonnnggggg time - one guy said it was likely installed in the 1960's. And we have lived here over 35 years and the old boiler has worked well all those years... it only needed a pump replaced twice in all the time we've lived here.)

Thanks if you have knowledge you can share!!

Rkh · Oct 12, 2020

Replaced my Utica boiler that was 30 plus yrs old that was cast & replaced with a Weil Mclain cast boiler in 2000. No issues with this so far, it is high efficiency. I would recommend cast.

Dennis Minn · Oct 12, 2020

Sweetfeet,

Is the device a true boiler? Does it use steam as the medium to transfer heat through the house? Or is it a hot water type of device, fully liquid with an expansion or head tank?

Those are important details. Does your home have a circulating pump, or is it a passive system that uses the difference in density of the hot versus cold water for movement? What I mean is it the old cast iron radiator type of system? Or does it have copper piping and finned registers and a pump for heat?

Lastly,
what fuel is your intended future system going to use?

D.
I do have some suggestions either way.

David G · Oct 12, 2020

Can't beat a McClain, also high efficiency adds a lot of resale value.

SweetFeet · Oct 12, 2020

DennisMN,

It has a circulating pump and old cast iron radiators - which we will keep... so maybe it is considered a hot water heat system. Though all the folks giving us bids, refer to it as a boiler.

LP is our fuel... and we will use our current 2-story chimney and get a free standing unit similar to what we now have (rather than do a high-efficiancy wall hanger
type that goes out through the foundation).

Currently there is not an expansion tank... though at least one bidder is planning to install one.

David G · Oct 12, 2020

You will need an expansion tank, all should include one.

Dean · Oct 12, 2020

Hot water heating system plants are commonly called "boilers" even though they do not boil the water into steam.

Mine labels the plant as a "boiler" both on the unit label and the owners manual.

Mine says Lennox on the label but it is probably made by Wiel McClain.

Dean

wore out · Oct 12, 2020

(quoted from post at 07:45:24 10/12/20) Looking for heating-installer/service tech experience and or recommendations based upon your experience with these two manufacturers of boilers for our home:
1. Burnham
2. New Yorker
(BOTH brands are now owned by Burnham... and I think both are manufactured in Lancaster, PA.)
ALSO - we told the heating people giving us bids, that we do NOT need a high-efficiency wall-hanger unit... our house is small and well insulated - therefore it does not cost us a ton of money to heat it.

AND....
Is a cast iron boiler better than a steel boiler? (We are leaning toward cast iron because our current boiler is cast iron... and it has been in our home and worked well for a lonnnggggg time - one guy said it was likely installed in the 1960's. And we have lived here over 35 years and the old boiler has worked well all those years... it only needed a pump replaced twice in all the time we've lived here.)

Thanks if you have knowledge you can share!!

Sure, LP gas is "cheap" right now, but who knows how long that situation will last.

The savings during one heating season with a "spike" in prices to $4 or $5 like we had a few years ago would make up a large point of the difference between an old-fashioned cast iron boiler and a modern 95+% efficient boiler.

ONE example of a high-efficiency stainless steel boiler is "NTI".

I've been around a number of NTI boilers and they sure seem to work as claimed.

I'd suggest going to their website and tracking down a nearby dealer and at least getting an evaluation and a quote before making a final decision.

https://ntiboilers.com/

jimtrs · Oct 12, 2020

(quoted from post at 10:45:24 10/12/20) Looking for heating-installer/service tech experience and or recommendations based upon your experience with these two manufacturers of boilers for our home:
1. Burnham
2. New Yorker
(BOTH brands are now owned by Burnham... and I think both are manufactured in Lancaster, PA.)
ALSO - we told the heating people giving us bids, that we do NOT need a high-efficiency wall-hanger unit... our house is small and well insulated - therefore it does not cost us a ton of money to heat it.

AND....
Is a cast iron boiler better than a steel boiler? (We are leaning toward cast iron because our current boiler is cast iron... and it has been in our home and worked well for a lonnnggggg time - one guy said it was likely installed in the 1960's. And we have lived here over 35 years and the old boiler has worked well all those years... it only needed a pump replaced twice in all the time we've lived here.)

Thanks if you have knowledge you can share!!

I would go with a cast iron boiler. I made that change from a New Yorker steel, to Burnham Cast Iron. Much better boiler. heats up good, holds heat better, doesn't get as dirty, the list goes on.

On another note
I cleaned my own boiler for years. Had a boiler technician come in for a repair and he showed me what I was missing. A lot more to annual clean ups / tune ups than brushing out the sections and changing nozzles and filters. Now the tech comes every year. Much better running boiler

As said, an expansion tank is a must. As water heats, it expands and increases pressure. The expansion tank (one that's not water logged) gives the pressure and water somewhere to go. Without it, your pressure will climb every time temperature changes. Just a matter of time till it climbs too high, for a myriad of reasons. Then when the safety valve releases, they will usually continue to leak. If for some reason the safety relief valve doesn't kick, oh boy.
Just my humble opinion

paul · Oct 12, 2020

A concern with new units is the computer card and controls, which is more so on new designed high efficiency units. As models upgrade the control card changes, and it becomes difficult to find a replacement computer card to run the furnace. Obsolescence, even if the United is physically sound.

I would explore that on a new furnace. Electrical spikes will take out the control card, and there you sit.

If you are getting a bullet proof long lasting cast iron unit, be sure it will function for as long as it will last.

We are becoming hostages of the computer controls of the machines around us.........

Paul

SweetFeet · Oct 12, 2020

Thanks, everybody. I'll print this info for my husband.

dzc3 · Oct 12, 2020

I have a Burnham boiler (cast iron) this model provides the hot water for our in floor radiant heat. It works great! No real issues in 25 years. I have replaced the heating elements, they are like the one used in a water heater, and one stepping switch. When it kicks on and off all you hear is a relay.

WGM · Oct 12, 2020

I think you mean Weil McLain. Best cast iron boiler on the market.

RedMF40 · Oct 12, 2020

I bought two Burnhams, had good luck with both of them. One was for a circulating hot water system, the other was for a true steam heat system with the radiators that go psst psst psst and steam pipes that clank and bump against the framing of the old house, make it sound haunted.

I'd do steam again in my present house if I could find the right setup. I like the fast heat and no return pipes back to the boiler from the radiators. There ARE return pipes, but not from the radiators.

I may be wrong, but I think the boiler is the same for steam and hot water heat--it's just the external plumbing that gets a different treatment according to what kind of system you have. Not an expert, just an end-user, but Burnham worked fine, had good name recognition and support. I believe it was cast iron construction in the boiler.

Gerrit

JayinNY · Oct 12, 2020

I would go with cast iron, and an expansion tank, just replaced my tank in January, old one developed a pin hole leak. Mine is a utica boiler made in utica NY, i did a cut and slide 19 years ago, if its burned 5 tanks of oil id be surprised, iv never done anything to it except change the oil filter. The wood boiler is my main heat, tied right into the oil boiler, meaning they heat the water together or separately. Burnham has a good reputation around here too, good luck.

johnlobb · Oct 13, 2020

Being a Steamfittrer, and a mfg rep for Slant Fin boilers, I'm partial to them. I also like the cast iron the best.

atlarge54 · Oct 13, 2020

(quoted from post at 15:45:24 10/12/20)

Before you invest in a new system make sure your chimney is in good condition. If your existing chimney is in need of repair it can actually cost less to install a higher efficiency unit.

jaoneill · Oct 13, 2020

Cast iron is the way to go no matter the brand. I am partial to Utica and have installed many over the years in my commercial buildings. They are a good sound, simple, proven cast iron boiler at a decent price point. I have three that are well over 30 years in service and have never had to replace one. FWIW, Weil McLain is no better or worse than Utica or Burnam but you pay dearly for their marketing division; they are also one of the noisiest units on the market which might be a consideration depending on its location in the house.

rdmsyr · Oct 13, 2020

Cast iron is the best way to go.
We installed a Burnham ESC series a few years ago with no problems and it heats very nicely. One thing you may want to consider is to include an outdoor reset to help save some money.
It respond to changes in weather by changing the boiler water temperature. It sends out cooler water to the system during the warmer outdoor temperatures. And sends warmer water to the building in cooler outdoor temperatures so the boiler doesn't run at full temperature all the time to heat the home.

SweetFeet · Oct 14, 2020

Thanks for the additional replies.

buickanddeere · Oct 14, 2020

Sounds like a hot water system that operates at least than one atmosphere of pressure .
On occasion some people just use an ordinary gas water heater .

New boiler recommendation

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