Boiler recs for oil to gas conversion

I’ve got a Burnham gas boiler here in Brooklyn, and very happy with its performance over many years. I’m about to embark on an oil to gas conversion at a property upstate, and heating company is recommending a “Peerless 63-04 natural gas fired 80% cast iron steam boiler.” I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who cares to weigh in with opinion, experience or other insight on Peerless, as opposed to Burnham or Weil-McLain. Approx. total square footage: 1,790\. Any rough ballparks on pricing (even Brooklyn rates useful for contrast). Thanks.

ventilated

in Plumbers and Plumbing 10 years and 11 months ago

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Master Plvmber | 10 years and 11 months ago

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Yes. Peerless uses larger diameter piping by one size over Burnham but it is also approved to downsize the piping by one size, which again, matches Burnham’s installation specs. You may have learned that the difference is that 2″ pipe is the largest diameter that can be practically cut and threaded in the field by the plumbers/techs. Peerless requests 2.5″ and 3″ piping be used on that boiler. That means pieces to put it together must be purchased, or fabricated off site, to make it work. That’s expensive for us contractors and it raises installation costs. Those larger sizes are really only necessary on larger boilers. Not yours. If you look at the list of tappings in this spec sheet, it’s the “K” and “L” tappings that Peerless used to not have. Now they do. Same as Burnham, which, granted, had them first. http://www.peerlessboilers.com/DesktopModules/Bring2mind/DMX/Download.aspx?EntryId=35&PortalId=0&DownloadMethod=attachment It’s all good now. You can run your indirect water heater, baseboard heating zone, radiant, etc. off your new steam boiler with little effort compared to the old boilers.

ventilated | 10 years and 11 months ago

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Thank you, MP. I very much appreciate your answer. I also appreciate that each contractor has their own preference for certain makes. My understanding is that Peerless uses larger diameter piping than Burnham and has less accessory tappings? How to factor this into possible future work (radiant flooring and/or indirect water heater)? The heating company is licensed and reputable, but always some hesitation working with a new contractor in entirely new location. Between install and chimney work, not an insignificant investment for me.

Master Plvmber | 10 years and 11 months ago

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Peerless is a good company that has been making quality cast iron boilers forever. At this level (under 500,000 BTU, residential, 80%, cast iron) there really isn’t much difference from brand to brand. There are some I like less because of basic design elements, like having exposed controls and gas valves, but that’s just a preference. The brands you named are the big three in the residential steam industry and there is often debate about which is best, but all discussions come up inconclusive every time. Some people don’t like Weil-McLain’s use of rubber gaskets to join the boiler sections and prefer Burnham and Peerless’s use of steel joiners, but it doesn’t make a bit of difference. The 63-04 is a very common boiler and if a reputable contractor is proposing to install it for you, you’ll be fine. We install lots of them every year: