gas fired steam heat and pilot lights

Theresa DaSilva

We recently purchased and installed new Peerless steam boiler for our gas fired home heating steam system.

We thought we were purchasing the boiler with the automatic ignition to turn on the system but found it is not there. I called the heating supply place and they said they never order boilers with that automatic ignition as their plumbers don't want it because it breaks too easily and they cannot justify the expense with their customers.

So my questions are...is it better to have just a pilot light on all the time in cost and for health or is the automatic ignition the better way? Does Peerless really have a product that breaks so easily?

The supply place said that I would have to change the gas valve and move the pilot light if I choose to install the automatic ignition.

I could really use some help here.  Thanks.