Need help choosing Burnham boiler

Jeremy Kessler

I am replacing an ancient chimney-vented gas boiler in my eastern Massachusetts single-family home. The existing system is a forced hot water mono-loop (?) feeding radiators, and I'm the homeowner (not a heating professional).

Three heating contractors have each recommended I have them install a Burnham 206. One of them left the glossy Burnham Series 2 brochure, from which I see that I seem to have three options; the 206 with standing pilot, the 206 with smartvalve, and the 206H (also with smartvalve, assuming I am reading the brochure correctly).

So here's my question: What factors should I consider in choosing between these three versions of the 206? Is it just a case of spending slightly more to get the slightly higher AFUEs (the price difference between the three seems pretty minimal) or should other factors be considered?

Thanks,

Jeremy

Firedragon_4

Watch you see is what you get,

always go with the higher AFUE, you get what you pay for, FACT!

Mark J Strawcutter

On page 2

it indicates that the H model includes stainless flue baffles to get the extra efficiency.

Mark

Boilerpro_3

For long term efficiency stick to standing pilot,

I have consistantly found that any boilers here in the humid midwest without standing pilot get rusty very quickly. Newer boilers with stack damper will often stay at 100F or more just due to the pilot. This helps keep the heat exchanger dry and rust free. Rust will just act as an insulator and prevent efficient heat transfer. Those efficiency numbers are for new clean boilers, I'd like to see how they compare after just a few years of rust build up on the electronic ignition models. I have several cast iron boilers installed with standing pilot that are still quite clean after 3 winters of use. The only thing accumulating in the combustion chamber is dust and some ash.

Boilerpro