Best Boiler Brands for Residential Gas and Oil Heating 2025

In home heating, it is important to select one of the best boiler brands in terms of comfort, efficiency, and reliability. Gas or oil-powered residential boilers are long-term investments and American homeowners require a brand that has a reputation of quality construction and reliable performance.

This article is a review of the best-rated boiler companies, including 100-year-old American manufacturers and new brands that have become popular in the market, to assist you in selecting the best gas or oil boiler to install in your house.

The following is a description of the most popular brands of residential boilers and their main features:

Brand	Fuel Type	Max AFUE*	Key Strength
Weil-McLain	Gas & Oil	Up to 96.5%	Wide range, proven reliability
Burnham (U.S. Boiler)	Gas & Oil	Up to 95%	High-efficiency cast iron, strong warranty
Buderus (Bosch)	Gas & Oil	Up to 97%	Three-pass efficiency, premium quality
Bosch	Gas	Up to 95%	Condensing combi boilers, quiet operation
Peerless	Gas & Oil	Up to 90%	Rugged cast-iron build, long lifespan
Navien	Gas	Up to 98%	Ultra-high efficiency, smart tech integration
Viessmann	Gas & Oil	Up to 98%	Exceptional build, 10-year warranty
Slant/Fin	Gas & Oil	Up to ~86%	Affordable, 30+ year longevity
Lochinvar	Gas	Up to 96%	Advanced modulating boilers, American innovation
Crown Boiler	Gas & Oil	Up to 91%	Value-for-money, solid performance

^*AFUE = Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (higher is more efficient)

Weil-McLain

Weil-McLain is a famous brand of American boilers, which has been operating since 1881 and has a long history of reliability and a wide product line. Weil-McLain is based in the USA and provides residential boilers on natural gas and heating oil.

Homeowners like the fact that this brand offers both the conventional cast-iron boilers and the high-efficiency condensing units. Weil-McLain was the company that established its reputation on oil-fired boilers, but nowadays they are also highly regarded in gas-fired boilers, with the modern control and materials such as stainless steel and aluminum heat exchangers.

Energy efficiency Weil-McLain offers both standard efficiency (approximately 80-85 percent AFUE) and condensing boilers (up to 96.5 percent efficiency AFUE) in its line-up. As an example, their Evergreen and Ultra series gas boilers are ENERGY STAR rated and capable of reaching the mid-90 percent AFUE range.

This implies that they use up a majority of their fuel as usable heat and reduce wastage. These high-efficiency models have sophisticated burners and in many cases are modulating output to adjust the heating level, which saves fuel. These high-end models however may be more expensive to purchase than the simpler ones.

Weil-McLain boilers are constructed to last. Their traditional models have cast-iron parts that are durable and have been known to serve decades when well maintained. Weil-McLain units have been reported by many homeowners to run 20+ years, particularly the cast-iron units.

The new condensing models of the brand have stainless steel heat exchangers that are resistant to corrosion to make them last long even when they are extracting maximum heat in the flue gases. Weil-McLain is sure of its construction quality – the company provides one of the best warranties in the industry, such as limited lifetime warranties on heat exchangers on many models. This good warranty coverage provides confidence to the buyers and also the manufacturer is confident with the reliability of their products.

The reviews about Weil-McLain are mostly positive. The brand is commonly commended to be reliable and simple to maintain. Technicians often remark that Weil-McLain boilers are easy to service and are well designed with controls.

Weil-McLain is always one of the best in consumer reliability surveys. In one survey of boiler owners by Consumer Reports, five brands, including Weil-McLain, received an excellent rating in reliability .) Certain responses show that the high-efficiency units of Weil-McLain are slightly too large in physical size, and this may be a factor in case of limited installation space. In general, Weil-McLain is a perfect solution to homeowners who want to have a reliable brand with a broad selection of products to meet almost any requirement in residential heating.

Pros:

• Large range of gas and oil boilers (standard to condensing).
• More than one hundred years of reliability and experience in home heating .
• High efficiency models as much as 96 percent AFUE to reduce fuel costs.
• Excellent warranty programs (limited lifetime on heat exchangers) .
• Strong customer support and wide availability of parts/service.

Cons:

• Some of the competitors may be cheaper to purchase the premium models.
• Other units are physically large and need a sufficient space to install them.
• High-tech condensing models may require professional maintenance to ensure longevity.

Burnham (U.S. Boiler Company)

Burnham is a brand of boilers made by U.S. Boiler Company in Lancaster, PA. Burnham has a long American heritage in heating equipment with origins going back more than 150 years. The company manufactures a large variety of residential boilers under the name Burnham, both gas-fired and oil-fired.

Burnham boilers have a reputation of sound engineering- the company has its own R&D department which thoroughly tests the products in terms of safety and performance before they are launched. This quality control has ensured that Burnham is one of the most well-known brands in the American boiler market.

Burnham provides high efficiency modern cast iron boilers and modern high efficiency boilers. Most Burnham models are ENERGY STAR qualified, and their standard models have efficiencies in the mid-80s, and their condensing models have efficiencies of up to 95 percent AFUE .

As an example, the Burnham Alpine and Aspen condensing gas boilers have approximately 95 percent AFUE, and they have stainless steel heat exchangers and advanced combustion technology. On the oil side, Burnham has a good reputation with its MPO-IQ series, a 3-pass cast iron boiler that achieves approximately 87 percent AFUE in oil heating, which is good in a non-condensing oil boiler. These efficiencies are high and this implies that Burnham has products that can be used by homeowners who are more concerned with the amount of fuel used. It is important to mention that the maximum efficiencies of Burnham are slightly lower than some European brands, but the difference is not very high (a few percentage points) and their boilers still provide high energy savings.

Burnham boilers are durable. Their cast iron parts are produced to high quality requirements, so their units frequently last decades. Most of the older Burnham boilers of the 80s and 90s are still used today.

Newer models of Burnham combine long-lasting parts such as stainless steel burners and corrosion-resistant heat exchangers in the condensing units. It also pays attention to maintenance, with such features as reversible burner doors and cleanout panels that are easy to access (as on the MPO-IQ oil boiler) making servicing simpler . Burnham offers excellent warranty: the majority of residential models have a limited lifetime warranty on the heat exchanger, and a standard 1-year parts warranty, and the warranty can be extended to 5 or 10 years including labor . This warranty policy is competitive with the leading competitors and shows the trust in the durability of their products.

The experiences of users with Burnham are mostly good, particularly on the durability of their cast iron boilers. The homeowners have been known to say that their Burnham units have been running smoothly year after year with few problems. Burnham boilers are simple to assemble and install, which is why heating professionals like them a lot, they are frequently mentioned as easy to maintain and install

The customer support of Burnham is also mentioned as an advantage since it is an American company with long history, they have developed support networks. Negatively, the older series of Burnham were a bit less efficient on gas models than some of its competitors, but this has been narrowed with the release of their condensing lines. It has been reported that there are certain model problems (for example, some older cast-iron models had a problem with section cracking or, in the past, asbestos in old boilers many decades ago ), but the company has resolved these issues over time. In general, Burnham is an excellent choice of people who want to have a reliable American-made boiler with good gas or oil heating performance.

Pros:

• Brand of the American production with more than 100 years of experience in the production of boilers.
• Provides gas and oil boilers, including models with high efficiency of up to 95% AFUE .
• Robust cast iron construction on many models for long-term durability.
• Cutting edge functionality (e.g. Burnham IQ Control system) of add-on capabilities such as outdoor reset .
• Good warranty protection (limited lifetime on heat exchangers; optional extended parts & labor) .

Cons:

• Mid-80 percent AFUE standard efficiency models are a bit less efficient than some of the competitors.
• High-efficiency condensing units may cost more than simple boilers (but are competitive within their own category).
• Some minor problems that were reported in earlier models (which have been fixed in the present generations) .

Buderus

Buderus is a high-end German boiler manufacturer that has grown to be a leading brand in the U.S. when it comes to high-quality residential heating. Buderus was founded in 1731 and has close to three hundred years of engineering experience and is currently a subsidiary of Bosch Thermotechnology group .

Buderus manufactures oil-fired and gas-fired boilers, and they are particularly famous with their innovative 3-pass cast iron boiler designs and the latest condensing boilers. Being a brand owned by Bosch, Buderus has the resources of a worldwide leader in the appliances market, but it also keeps its status of a boiler expert.

Energy efficiency is one of the best characteristics of Buderus. On their best models, Buderus boilers can have AFUE ratings of 90-97% . As an example, the Buderus G115WS oil boiler has a 3-pass design (exhaust gases pass through the heat exchanger three times) to obtain the greatest amount of heat, making it 87% AFUE on oil, which is very high in oil-fired units.

The condensing boilers produced by Buderus such as the Logamax Plus series have an AFUE of up to 9597 percent on the gas side, making them some of the most efficient in the market. Buderus boilers have 3-pass system and thick thermal insulation that increases the heat transfer and reduces heat loss . Home owners who are fuel conscious and environmentally conscious in their heating tend to turn to Buderus due to their cutting edge efficiency.

The real strength of Buderus lies in durability and build quality. Such boilers are designed to last: the cast iron parts of Buderus oil boilers are cast in a special low-temperature tolerant cast iron (to avoid thermal shock), and some models have silicone push nipples which enable the cast iron to expand and contract without leaking.

Such care to detail allows Buderus boilers to last decades. The brand is also associated with high-end design Buderus has received design awards on its boilers, because they do not only concentrate on performance, but also on form factor and integration (their units are frequently painted in a shiny blue enamel and have a small footprint). Buderus offers a restricted lifetime guarantee on the heat exchangers of their boilers, which is a good promise, however in reality this guarantee is regarded as quite normal in the industry . Buderus replacement parts are usually available through the Bosch network, but some homeowners complain that parts and service are slightly more costly than domestic brands (a trade-off with the more up-market engineering) .

The reviews on Buderus are largely positive with respect to performance, with many users claiming to save a lot of fuel after switching to Buderus, and with the comments about the reliability of the heat output. Buderus boilers are valued in cold climates because they do not overshoot or short-cycle, and in combination with Buderus Logamatic intelligent control systems.

Buderus reliability ratings are the best in the charts; in fact, Buderus has been ranked as the most reliable boiler makers in the Consumer Reports surveys. Buderus boilers are also noted by homeowners to be very quiet in their operation as well, due to the heavy insulation that they are built with. The biggest disadvantage mentioned is the initial cost: Buderus is usually more expensive than most other brands . Also, it may be slightly unavailable in some regions, because not all HVAC contractors carry Buderus on a regular basis . Overall, Buderus is more appropriate to those who are ready to spend a little more money on the high-quality, efficient boiler that will save them money and give reliability in the long-term perspective.

Pros:

• High efficiency, with high-efficiency 3-pass and condensing models up to 97% AFUE .
• Good quality of construction and durability – a high-end brand with decades of durability under its belt .
• Very reliable performance; consistently high consumer reliability ratings .
• Quiet operation and modern design features (aesthetically pleasing and well-insulated).
• Backed by Bosch – strong global support and engineering resources.

Cons:

• Greater cost of entry than most of the competitors (high start-up cost) .
• Service and repair parts are more expensive and in some areas of the U.S. there may be a lack of availability.
• Warranty, lifetime on heat exchanger, is similar to other brands (no much additional coverage compared to the industry standard) .

Bosch

Bosch is a multinational engineering firm and a household brand in household appliances and through its Bosch Home Comfort division, it has a line of high quality residential boilers in the U.S market. The boilers that Bosch offers are complementary to the ones offered by its subsidiary Buderus, in fact, most of the Bosch-branded boilers in America use the same technology as Buderus.

Bosch is mainly concerned with gas-fired condensing boilers used in the home, both heating-only and combination (combi) boilers which also supply domestic hot water. Although Bosch is a relatively recent entrant into the U.S. residential boiler market compared to such long-time players as Weil-McLain, it uses decades of European boiler experience (via Bosch and Buderus) to provide quality products to American homeowners.

Bosch Greenstar is one of the most popular boiler lines of the company in the United States. They are wall-mounted condensing gas boilers with high efficiency and environmental friendly behavior. Bosch Greenstar combi boiler has a maximum efficiency of 95 percent AFUE, which implies that it burns very little fuel.

Bosch does this by using an aluminum-silicon heat exchanger design and accurate electronic controls to maximize combustion. What you get is an appliance that will not only heat your house but will also give you on-demand hot water with little energy wastage. Bosch boilers are also quiet in operation- the boilers are insulated to reduce sound hence the sound of the burner and fan is minimal. It is a good bonus to the homeowner who has his boiler installed close to living areas. Bosch has models that are appropriate to small homes to large residences, and they have modulating burners that can regulate output to the heating load.

Bosch is quite durable. The Bosch boilers are constructed using quality materials; the heat exchanger in the Greenstar is a one piece aluminum alloy which is corrosion resistant. Some of the competitors are made of stainless steel; the method Bosch employs is very good at conducting heat but needs the water quality maintained to prevent any corrosion, a well maintained Bosch boiler can last a long time.)

Bosch offers a good warranty on its boilers: usually about 10 years on the heat exchanger and less (e.g. 5 years) on parts, which is quite normal. Since Bosch is a big firm, they have a good support system in the U.S. and spare parts are easily available, an advantage to long-term maintenance.

The user feedback and the reviews of HVAC professionals show that Bosch boilers are valued due to their efficiency and high-tech features. Most home owners with Bosch (or Bosch-Buderus) boilers report that their heating bills are lower after installation.

The combi units are especially used in the household where space is limited, as a single wall-mounted unit can substitute a boiler and a water heater. The sophisticated controls of Bosch can be connected to smart thermostats and even possess the outdoor reset feature to optimize efficiency. The negative side is that some technicians report that Bosch (and Buderus) boilers are a little sophisticated, that is, not every local contractor knows how to work with them, and it is better to have a qualified installer to achieve the best results. Also, similar to other European-designed boilers, it is recommended to maintain it once a year (such as cleaning the combustion chamber and inspecting the burner). To conclude, Bosch is an excellent choice of anyone who would like to have a modern, high efficiency gas boiler with a well-known world brand, particularly when a combi system is to be considered as the source of both heat and hot water.

Pros:

• 95% AFUE range high-efficiency condensing technology to save a lot of energy.
• Provides combi boilers which offer both heat and hot water all in a single unit- perfect in saving space and convenience.
• Silent and small designs that can be installed in utility closets or small areas.
• With the support of the Bosch large support network and engineering experience (reliable parts supply).
• Low emissions of NOx and Energy Star ratings on most models.

Cons:

• Is mainly concentrated on gas boilers – the ones who need oil boilers would turn to Buderus.
• High-tech controls and design can be serviced and installed by experienced technicians (not necessarily easy to install as a plug and play to all contractors).
• In certain models, aluminum heat exchanger needs to be well maintained (e.g. water quality) to guarantee long-term durability.

Peerless (PB Heat)

PB Heat LLC is a highly regarded American boiler manufacturer that produces the Peerless Boilers brand of residential hydronic heating systems. The Peerless brand is commonly linked with the traditional cast-iron boilers and they have a variety of gas and oil-fired boilers to heat the home.

Peerless is known to be specialized in high-efficiency designs and strong construction. A large number of their boilers are of high standards to be ENERGY STAR certified, which means that they perform above average in terms of efficiency .

One of the products that illustrate the efficiency focus of Peerless is the Peerless Series WB90 oil-fired boiler that has an efficiency of about 90 percent AFUE which is very high in case of an oil boiler. This 3-pass boiler removes more heat out of the combustion gases than a typical single-pass boiler, so it wastes less fuel.

Peerless provides the PureFire high-efficiency condensing gas boiler (with AFUE in the 95 percent range) and a range of atmospheric gas boilers with an AFUE of 80-85 percent. Although Peerless might not be able to compete with some of its competitors in the number of ultra-modern modulating condensing models (hence one of the criticisms is a somewhat limited condensing lineup ), the models that they do have are quite competitive in efficiency. A well-installed Peerless can help homeowners to save a lot of fuel as opposed to the older units especially when they are seeking to reduce the amount of money spent on heating.

Peerless has a good durability. These boilers are made tank-like, the cast iron parts are heavy and made to last. A well maintained Peerless cast-iron boiler is not uncommon to last 20, 30, even 40 years.

Indeed, certain professionals observe that Slant/Fin and Peerless cast iron boilers are likely to possess extremely long service life expectancies (up to 25-30+ years) because of their simple, heavy-duty design . User-friendly design features are also included in Peerless; e.g. swing-out door to access the furnace passages easily on many models, removable panels to access burners and controls . Their confidence is reflected in the warranty of the brand: Peerless offers a limited lifetime warranty on the cast-iron heat exchanger of their water boilers, and 10 years warranty on the cast iron of steam boilers . The twist is that the general parts warranty is just one year as a default, but homeowners usually have the option of buying extended warranties of up to 5 or 10 years on parts and labor .

The comments of consumers regarding Peerless boilers are generally very positive with regard to reliability. A lot of homeowners claim that they have experienced no problems during severe winters, which is not a surprise considering the solid construction.

Online reviews and HVAC forums, people usually state that their Peerless simply keeps running year after year. Installers appreciate that Peerless is a brand that is made in America and has support that is easy to get, and that the boilers are not overly complex to install (no overly complex electronics on the standard models) . Among the drawbacks, one can mention that, being a traditional design-oriented brand, Peerless occasionally does not have the high-tech functionality (such as built-in smart thermostats or apps) that the newer brands have. Also, the base efficiency is high, but in case you need the most efficient condensing boilers with modulating burners, Peerless has fewer models to choose (their product line is more on the side of proven cast-iron models). But to a lot of homeowners, the trade off is worth it just because of sheer dependability. To sum up, Peerless is a great option, when one is interested in a well-built, effective, no-nonsense boiler, which will serve a person decades.

Pros:

• High efficiency orientation – several models are ENERGY STAR qualified, and oil boilers are about 90 percent AFUE and gas condensing models up to mid-90 percent AFUE .
• Cast iron is very durable; it is known to have a very long service life (usually 25+ years).
• American produced and sold in large numbers, parts and service technicians were readily available.
• User-friendly maintenance features (e.g. swing-out burner doors, accessible controls) .
• Provides a good heat exchanger guarantee (limited lifetime to original owner on cast iron parts) .

Cons:

• The entire unit has only 1 year standard warranty (extended warranties are offered at additional costs) .
• Fewer high-tech or smart home capabilities than newer brands (more traditional designs).
• Condensing/high-efficiency model range is a bit restricted in comparison with certain rivals .

Navien

Navien is a Korean brand that has gained popularity in a short time to become one of the most popular brands in high-efficiency gas boilers used in residential areas. Navien was the first to introduce compact wall-hung condensing boilers and combination boiler-water heaters in the North American market in the early 2000s.

Indeed, Navien was among the first companies to make the tankless combi-boiler concept, which is a boiler capable of heating the house and supplying hot water on demand, very popular and with extremely high efficiency . Navien has developed an excellent reputation of innovation over the years and today they are regarded as one of the best options when it comes to homeowners who want to have the latest technology in boilers.

The hallmark of Navien boilers is their outstanding efficiency. Navien’s condensing boilers boast AFUE ratings up to 95–98% in some models , which is about as high as it gets in real-world residential heating.

This ultra-high efficiency is achieved through a stainless steel heat exchanger that captures heat from exhaust gases and a sophisticated burner system that can modulate (adjust output) to match the home’s needs. Navien’s NCB-E and NPE series boilers, for example, deliver around 95% AFUE, making them ENERGY STAR leaders. Additionally, Navien units often include a primary and secondary heat exchanger (the “hybrid” system referenced in some Navien literature) which helps maintain efficiency even in very cold conditions . That means if y