Boiler/Indirect Brands

My Weil-McClain oil-fired steam boiler has developed a leak in the tankless coil providing domestic hot water, making it necessary to drain a five gallon bucket every six hours or so to maintain the proper water level. Due to its age (over 40 years,) I’m replacing the boiler. I’m also taking the opportunity to convert to gas at this time; getting all the paperwork into the gas company by yesterday’s deadline for a $2000 conversion rebate.
I’m going to stick with my 1920s one-pipe steam system as radiator replacement and a full repipe of my 2 family house for hot water heat would be too expensive and the steam heat is pretty well balanced throughout the house(especially after insulating the upstairs walls and ceilings two years ago.) I’ve decided on an electric-ignition Burnham IN6 as this meets the “efficiency” requirements (AFUE=82.5) for an additional $500 rebate.
My questions involve the production of domestic hot-water. I initially thought an indirect HW heater was the way to go (and qualifies for another $300 rebate). After doing some research, though, I’m not quite sure. I’m having a larger gas line brought into the utility room so I could go with any option, however, my plumber said the flue to the chimney is too low for a standard gas hot water heater- would need a big hole made in my foundation up higher. My biggest concern is whether the efficiency of an indirect tank will be realized with such an inefficient boiler. The boiler sits just under the living room, which bakes already in the summer sun, requiring substantial AC. I’ve also discovered that using a steam boiler voids, or substantially reduces the manufacturer’s warranties.
I’ve found several scenarios on the net describing how to use a steam boiler with an indirect tank. Here are two popular ones:
1)http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heatinghelp.com%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F1360%2F346.pdf&rct=j&q=indirect%20water%20heater%20steam%20boiler&ei=eRlsTc61I8qEtgef59jmAg&usg=AFQjCNF23pzG0ynngfvlIwLqIlWifQ8w3A&sig2=7
2)http://google.ad.sgdoubleclick.net/pagead/nclk?sa=L&ai=1&fadurl=googleads.g.doubleclick.net&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.comfort-calc.net%2Fsteam_indirect_piping.html&aclck=http%3A%2F%2Fsmart-search-directory.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fkeyword%3Dindirect%2Bwater%2Bheater%2B
Any advice on these or any alternative methods would be very helpful. My goals are to make my setup as efficient as possible (annual average-New York- cold winters, hot summers) and to bring the temperature of my hot water down to a safe temperature for my two young children (currently scalding with tankless coil despite cold water bypass).
Thanks in advance for opinions on this or any hot water alternatives.

The Burnham Independance is a good boiler. Peerless has taps on the side of their 63 series boilers for just this application. Although I don’t recommend using an indirect off of a steam boiler. Most steam systems are very old and all that crap from the radiators has to flow through that indirect coil. Which means you need to install a strainer on the line going into the coil on the indirect, which means that strainer has to be cleaned more often than not. You also need a circ pump and a flow check, which is going to fail from all that schmutz your running through it.
My advice: Get a stand alone water heater. If you do go the indirect route, you better make sure the conractor you hire knows what they’re doing. There’s only a few out there that do these days. And those few contribute to this forum.
O.K. that’s my 2 cents worth.