WGO-3R - 85,000 BTU Output Cast Iron Gold Oil Boiler - Series 4

A compact and attractive package that comes prewired. This job was to replace a 60 year old boiler with a recent burner upgrade, connect to existing, reuse the burner. What I like – the convertible top or back vent breach and compact size. The HydroStat control provides low water cutoff and limit settings with digital display. The burner door allows easy access for cleaning. The Weil-Mclain name is respected name in the industry. What I didn't like – The back panel arrived dented although the cardboard "crate" had outward signs of mishandling. The damage is minor was not returned. The boilers are tested before shipping, about a half-pint of very rusty water came out when the plug was removed. The The HydroStat control provides one high limit, some locations require a second high limit, but there is no tapping provided for an additional high limit. The installer is told to improvise. The pre-wired plug-n-play feature only works with the recommended burners. Others burners and those without the OEM welded flange may be used with a universal mounting flange but the installer is told to arrange the wiring such that the burner cannot fire with the door open. Space inside the HydroStat control for wiring is a bit tight. The HydroStat control has a power switch and the hot wire to the control must be connected to a lead from the switch using a wire nut. The switch wires obscure the high limit setting. The control comes with a lot of setting options including some programmable settings which are very complicated to setup. The HydroStat control is somewhat slow to respond to the rising temperature of the boiler water when the burner is firing. With the low limit set to 140 the burner shuts off but the temperature indicated continues to increase to about 152. I would give 5 stars to the boiler design, perhaps 3 to the HydroStat control.

A good boiler, I've installed many. Not sure if I would buy another one from SupplyHouse because it came in uncrated and the jacket had some damage. It cost me $200 for my customer to accept it. The rest of the order was what I ordered and in good condition.