3 Best Combi Boilers
Whether you’re a landlord trying to maximise profit or a homeowner looking for value for money, the cost of replacing your boiler can be significant. Replacing your boiler isn’t a DIY job and requires the help of an approved and registered tradesman. A survey was done very recently to find the best boiler, so here we look at which models make up the top 3 boilers.
What is a combi boiler?
Before we look at which combi boilers are best, we need to look at what a combi boiler is, what it does and what the advantages of having one are. The combi boiler is the UK’s most popular type of boiler. It supplies both the hot water and heating in a home and doesn’t rely on any hot water storage tanks or cylinders. A combi boiler can be gas, electric or oil-fired.
Advantages of having a combi boiler
The combi boiler is very efficient as it provides both central heating and hot water for the home from one compact unit. Mains cold water is connected directly to the boiler and this is heated once a call for hot water is made by opening a tap. This eliminates the requirement for a water tank, saving space in your home.
The main benefits of a combi boiler include:
- hot water on demand, instantaneous and unlimited
- no requirement for a hot water tank in the loft or cupboard
- no water pump required as water is delivered at mains pressure
- saves installation space and frees up living space
The best combi boiler brands and guide to installation costs
All boiler manufacturers – and there are lots of them – have their own considerable range of boilers to cater to the needs of different sized households. For example, Worcester Bosch has a range of 13 different combi boilers. Vaillant also has a range of 13 different combi boilers.
So, for this guide, we will only concentrate on the most popular sized home which is a 3-bedroom home. The following combi boilers are rated the best in terms of value for money, warranty and reliability:
- Worcester Bosch Greenstar 25i
- Vaillant ecoTEC Pro 28
- Viessmann Vitodens 050-W 29kW
Worcester Bosch Greenstar 25i
The Worcester Bosch Greenstar 25i is probably the best value combi boiler on the market today. It has a 24kW heat output and provides 10.2 litres of hot water per minute. It measures H 71cm D 33cm W 40cm and is suitable for most small to medium domestic homes.
The Worcester Greenstar 25i provides the following features and benefits:
- easy to use controls
- reduced bills due to high-efficiency pump fitted
- instantaneous hot water
- minimum of 5 years guarantee
- A-rated for both hot water and heating
Vaillant ecoTec Pro 24
The Vaillant ecoTec Pro 24 is one of the most recognised and popular boilers in the UK. It has a heat output of 24KW like the Worcester Bosch model and provides 9.6 litres of hot water per minute. It measures H 72cm D 34cm W 44cm which is slightly bigger than the Worcester. The design is very user-friendly and simple.
The Vaillant ecoTec Pro 24 provides the following features and benefits:
- built-in frost control – for year-round performance
- 89.3% A-rated energy efficiency
- minimum of 5 years guarantee
- digital controls with 7-day programming
- compatible with Vaillant’s own vSMART technology
Baxi EcoBlue+ Combi
The Baxi EcoBlue is another fine boiler and comes from a very respected UK brand. The EcoBlue boilers come in different sizes making them suitable for homes of all sizes. The boiler is quite compact making it easier to install in tight spaces. It delivers excellent hot water flow rates and ensures hot water is available on demand when required.
The Baxi EcoBlue+ Combi provides the following features and benefits:
- minimum of 7 years guarantee
- compact boiler ideal for tight spaces
- easy to install meaning less time without hot water
- reliable and respected UK brand
- A-rated for both hot water and heating
Choosing which boiler is suitable for your property can be both stressful and challenging but hopefully, this article helps you narrow down your choice of boilers. Every boiler manufacturer has a boiler sizing calculator which can help you find the right sized boiler for the number of radiators you have. More importantly, your gas safe registered engineer will be able to correctly size your boiler for your hot water needs – which differ from household to household.
All the boilers listed above are below £1,000 and priced within £100 of each other. The boiler installation prices in this article will help you budget for your boiler replacement and help you decide when a ‘deal’ either seems too good to be true or just expensive.
Baxi, one of our personal recommendations, offer the longest standard warranty of 7 years which can be extended - if you pay extra - to 10 years. Choosing either the Baxi or one of the other two will mean you have reliable hot water and heating for many years to come.
