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Posted by HeatPro on February 20, 2005 at 16:29:53:
In Reply to: Choosing a Resi Boiler posted by Jefferson on February 20, 2005 at 16:15:21:
There are no builder's grade boilers among the major brands. That's just sheetmetal warm air nonsense. With radiant you'd be better off with a high-efficiency condensing boiler as they are made for low temperatures, generally are not made in a way that rusts, and they will save 10 percent on fuel over non-condensing boilers for their lifetime.
If you get a ferrous metal boiler - cast iron or steel - and a dinosaur plumber, you could wind up with dripping boilers and premature failure. Although all the major brands are good; a lack-knowing installer can kill them.
For gas, investigate the Peerless Pinnacle or Weil Ultra, pay a bit more and get the boiler that doesn't have the rust problems. If oil is the fuel, then you need a loop-subloop system to keep the cast-iron boilers above 140F while they operate. A condensing Monitor FCX
http://www.houseneeds.com/shop/HeatingProducts/boilers/monitor/monitorboilersoilfcx.htm
or Bock oil water heater would do just fine also.