Posted by Harold Kestenholz - Hydronic Network on August 11, 2000 at 14:57:33:
In Reply to: rating boilers posted by Mike D. on August 11, 2000 at 13:45:07:
You have a tough situation. Residential cast-iron boiler castings are often created by the same casting company; so although they have different names from different companies, they may be the same boiler with different controls and sheetmetal.
Another point that can be made is that like automobiles today, the machines are generally all good. Boilers are much simpler than cars and have less moving parts.
In summation, you really don't need to worry about getting a 'good' boiler. They are all good. They generally all carry a 10-year exchanger warrantee and as long as they don't leak, the only thing to go wrong is the burner- which almost nerver does, and the controls - which are the cause of most complaints.
After 40 years in the business, I have never heard complaints about the names you mention.