Steam Boiler Recommendation

Interesting Topic

Can't wait to hear more

The cast iron is made at the same foundry, so there will be no difference in the performance. There may be higher standards with WM and those castings that don't make the mark may be acceptable for Williamson and the other names you mentioned, but I don't see that as an issue. They all have the same warranty.

What is more important is the installing contractor. You want to get real specific here in the contract. you need to get the wording "Installed per the manufacturers installation manual" in the contract. That is because the manufacturer has very specific piping diagrams that some contractors may ignore. the other important thing si that all the piping above the water line will be iron pipe size fittings and piping. No copper tubing above the water line.

If the contractor can't put that in the contract, that would be a deal breaker for me. Watch this video to understand why you don't want copper and why you want to have the boiler manufacturer's piping specifications followed exactly.

There are some really good steam heads in NEW JERSEY. But there are a lot more knuckleheads that will mess it up. try the Find a contractor link above to see who is near you.

https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/

Williamson for sure is another label of WM, possibly the others too, I don't know them. If I was going to get a WM, I would get a Williamson definitely to save some $$ but I bought a Peerless and I love it

Burnham Steamax.....Mad Dog

Weil McLain castings using gaskets, or Peerless using Push nipples, is not really an issue.   Both boiler manufacturers have steam boilers that have been in service more than 40 years in many buildings.   The way that they get assembled can make a difference.  On large commercial jobs where you assemble it on site, if that guy gets it wrong, then you can have a leaker in less than a year.  But you will most likely be getting a factory assembled boiler block for a residential job, so no worries there.

@ethicalpaul used a peeress and he is a homeowner that installed it himself, and has several informative videos about it.  And his profile photo has a real looker with his new boiler using rope, kinda' kinly . That would lead me to the Peeress.  I’m not a WM fan. I worked on many, installed a few and sold lots of them to other Cons when I did a 2 year stint, downstate at a wholesale supply company in Jersey. I would take a good look at Crown Boilers out of Philadelphia.  They have a KIT that your contractor can purchase with all the pipe nipples and fittings needed to correctly assemble the near boiler piping.  I have been very happy with their products, and the customer support is top notch.  Here is the Oil Fired model https://www.velocityboilerworks.com/documents/Kingston_KSB_Literature.pdf. And this is their Gas steamer offering. https://www.velocityboilerworks.com/documents/CVB-Bermuda-BSI-Lit-Sht-nc-PF-Mar-23.pdf . Bottom line is to go with what your contractor is familiar with.  If they have steam experience, then they have a preferred brand, and have a rapport with that company and get faster service from them when there is a problem.

Union Steam and Thermoflo are exactly the same as Weil McLain and Williamson

I have seen the WM boilers, with the gaskets, last 30 to 40 years plus. As much as I don't necessarily like the concept, the gaskets will typically outlast the boilers. Williamson and WM exactly the same thing. They just try to make them look a little different. For example, on the Williamson, you are not allowed to use the right side return tapping. And there is no coil option with the Williamson. But the boilers are exactly the same. I have actually gotten Williamson's, where part of the jacket still had the WM colors. I have installed more Williamson than I can remember with no trouble

X4 with @EzzyT and @clammy

See my post "New Boiler Installation Follow up" for actual photos of a Peerless installation. I went with the Peerless and couldn't be happier. Like others have said, it is not so much the boiler, its the installer that makes the difference.