TECHS -> Buderus or Crown: I need to decide this week.

Luffski

TECHS, weigh in and Help me decide new oil furnace between a Crown Tobago TWB075 (Beckett burner) for or Buderus G115-3 (Carlin burner) Looking at total system replacement. Buderus install is $k less. Both installers are highly rated. Both quotes are for 40 gal indirect storage tank. The crown install features megastor-ii stainless tank, the Buderus install features a no-name (not in estimate) 40gal indirect tank. Both installs are all new valves, fuel line, permits, venting and piping, electrical, removal. I can't seem to find real world reviews. I've got 9 local quotes they all fall into same range here in CT. Can post more info if needed. Scared of crown? Should I be?

SuperTech

The quality of the installation is much more important than what brand is being installed. Focus on who is doing the job rather than what brand is being installed. How was size chosen? Has anyone performed a load calculation?

If both boilers are sized and installed perfectly, all things being equal I would go with the Buderus.

Personally my top option would be from Energy Kinetics.

Steamhead

I'd go with the Buderus. Its 3-pass design is much easier to maintain than a pin-type boiler like the Tobago. If I were specifying a Crown it would be their Freeport 2 FWZ series, which is also a 3-pass.

EdTheHeaterMan

You are comparing apples to oranges. The Crown Tobago is a pin boiler with vertical flue passages while the Buderus is a three pass boiler.  The thermal efficiency will be better with the 3 pass boiler.  If you were comparing the Crown Freeport 2 (FWZ) to the Buderus, then it would be a toss up.  Pick the better contractor at that point. 

To go with my gut, I would say that the Buderus contractor is probably the better one because a good contractor would recommend a 3 pass boiler over a pin boiler for better efficiency and ease of maintenance.  I'm thinking the Crown boiler contractor is not thinking about future service and maintenance.  Just a feeling.

By the way, I installed both brands and ended up with Crown at the end of my career. I know the management and tech support folks there. I Installed Crown's former owner's boiler in Margate NJ. They are great folks. They are part of American Boiler now. (Burnham boiler's parent company)

SuperTech

I agree with Ed. My opinion is EK boiler>3 pass boiler>pin type boiler. I wouldn't worry too much about the specific name of the indirect water heater. The difference between the MegaStor indirect and anything else isn't worth the 3K and you are getting the better boiler with that quote. I agree that there's nothing wrong with Crown, my company offers them as well as a basic option, and a 3 pass boiler is offered as a middle option and EK is our top option.

HVACNUT

Buderus. But a BF Riello over the Carlin for me. I have no problem with the EZ-1, but I like the Riello in that boiler.

Grallert

Buderus with a Riello and a Tigerloop Ultra.

Luffski

FANTASTIC FEEDBACK Y'ALL!!!!

this is really going to help me decide for the Buderus!