Which boiler to buy

If that happens, the radiator may tilt, causing it to make loud banging noises. Plus, steam radiators on exterior walls can radiate some heat to the outdoors, and limit your ability to position furniture around the room. A heating professional can install automatic valves on the radiators, and connect them to separate thermostats.

The most common problem with hot water radiators is unwanted air in the system. Plus, like steam models, upright hot water radiators can limit your ability to position furniture. Hydronic water systems are the most common radiant floor heating systems. A boiler heats water and flows it to tubing under the flooring, which acts as a giant radiator. Hydronic radiant heating is more efficient than baseboard heating and usually more efficient than forced-air heating, too.

However, hydronic systems can be expensive to install and to repair, and may not be as efficient if the floor is covered with thick carpeting. Condensing vs. Non-Condensing All boilers are either condensing or non-condensing. A condensing boiler concentrates water vapor produced in the heating process, and uses waste heat to preheat cold water entering the boiler.

Condensing boilers are extremely energy efficient because they can provide ample heat while operating at lower temperatures. Non-condensing boilers typically operate at higher temperatures, and some heat ends up being vented outside. Non-condensing boilers are 80 percent to 88 percent efficient, while condensing boilers have efficiencies greater than 88 percent. Sealed Combustion vs. Non-Sealed Combustion Boilers are either sealed-combustion or non-sealed combustion units. You should buy one that is sealed combustion because it brings outside air into the burner and directs exhaust gases outside.

Non-sealed combustion boilers draw heated air in and then send it up the chimney, wasting the energy used to heat the air. Where there is an additional en-suite bathroom, it may be advisable to choose a larger kW boiler. If, however, you have multiple bathrooms that are likely to be in use at the same time, a system boiler that stores hot water in a storage cylinder may be more suitable.

As well as providing your hot water, your boiler will probably be the main source of heating for your property. This means that it is essential to choose a boiler that is large enough to provide sufficient heat output to supply your entire property. Domestic boiler size is measured in terms of heat output, which typically ranges from 5 to 35 kW. For conventional and system boilers, you should avoid choosing a boiler that is too big for your home, for example, installing a boiler that has a capacity to supply 15 radiators when your flat only has a few.

This will only result in a more costly energy bill and is a waste of gas and electricity. For combi boilers, the boiler size is usually determined by the hot water demand, a qualified heating installer will assess this for you prior to final recommendation and fitting.

Not only is this a waste of energy but you could receive an unexpectedly high bill from your energy supplier. There is a calculation that can be used to work out how much heat your property is losing. It takes into account the area of the room, the number of radiators, the quantity of doors and windows and the quality of insulation in your home. An expert is able to calculate how much heat your house will lose on the coldest day of the year and use this information to work out the optimum boiler size.

In the past, it was common practice to choose an oversized boiler that was as much as 30 per cent bigger than required.

However, with advances in technology, this is no longer necessary and will only result in wasted energy, leaving you out of pocket. Oil boilers should be considered too. You may even want to look into green energy sources, however, these will have an impact on your choice of heating system and boiler, too. The most common fuel type in the UK is mains gas, with the majority of UK homes already connected.

With a gas boiler there is a constant supply and as far as non-renewable energy is concerned, it is considered to be the cleanest type of fuel. Oil is the most common alternative for properties that are not connected to the gas network and is currently used by an estimated 4. Unlike gas combi-boilers, oil boilers tend to be non-condensing and floor standing, therefore may require more space.

They also tend to offer a lower hot water flow rate in comparison. Finally, consider biomass and other forms of alternative energy. A more eco-friendly, alternative choice, these boilers are powered by a sustainable fuel source. Typically fuelled by wood pellets, chips or logs, they can help to protect the environment as well as saving on your energy bills. Other alternative approaches to energy for your boiler that are seeing increasing popularity are are air source heat pumps , ground source heat pumps and fuel cell technology which are increasingly compatible with modern boilers.

We will then take into account the costs associated with each boiler. As we install thousands of boilers each year, so we really do get to find out what our customers love and hate. Not only that, but we know how reliable boilers are and due to us selling the full market range of boilers we sell all brands, not just certain ones. All of the above areas are the main factors that we take into account when picking the best gas combi boilers on the market.

But before we tell you how we get to our conclusions on the recommended and best boilers, let us first break down some interesting stats and quick summaries for you. Also feature central heating boilers and provide their boiler options, of which excuse the pun , the Worcester Bosch Greenstar combi boiler is the best buy boiler they have chosen for So, with both Boiler Central and Which? Click here to get an online price in 20 seconds on the Worcester Bosch Greenstar combi boiler.

Be sure to read further down to get a real review on why they are the most recommended and best combi boiler manufacturers on the market in After extensive research and looking at thousands of online reviews, we have put together a rigorous benchmark system to find the best available heating and hot water boiler systems on the market today.

Our aim for this guide is to give you an idea of the best boilers on the market for this year so that you can make a decision based on facts. We also want to show available options from boiler manufacturers and the types of boilers on the market in Again, if your boiler is getting old, say 8 to 10 years old, and gas bills are starting to creep up then you may want to consider upgrading.

Getting the best gas combi boiler ensures that you have one that is efficient and durable. It keeps your central heating system ticking over at the perfect temperature with hot water available as and when you need it. With huge competition in the boiler market, you need to make sure you take your time in order to get the best deal you can on your new boiler.

Naturally, you want to find the best boiler in , but the wide range of choices can make the decision difficult. A combi boiler is a combination boiler that works your indoor central heating system and hot water in one whole unit without the need for a cylinder to store hot water. Combi boilers are super-compact, of which many can be easily be stored in a kitchen cupboard. By saving more money on energy bills and having hot water as and when you need it. Oh, and a toasty warm house! For boiler information or a quote — click here.

The following are our top 5 boilers picks in terms of reliability, value, performance and efficiency. The Worcester Bosch Greenstar range is the legendary boiler range that everyone has heard of.

There is a good reason for it too. This boiler is exceptional at what it does at the right price. Four-bedroom detached house: A conventional boiler or a system boiler ranging from 30kW to 38kW.

For more detailed recommendations on the best boiler for your home, jump to the section — What is the best size boiler for my property? Established in , Viessmann is a fourth-generation family-owned German boiler manufacturer. It has operated in the UK since from its head office in Telford, Shropshire.

In addition to the UK, they also operate in 30 other countries around the world and offer gas condensing boilers, heat pumps, combined heat and power units, oil boilers, domestic hot water cylinders, steam boilers and commercial hot water boilers. Viessmann is one of the few boiler manufacturers that utilises stainless steel heat exchangers across its entire range. For the uninitiated, stainless steel offers many benefits when used for heat exchangers and is far superior to the aluminium heat exchangers utilised by competitors.

The biggest benefit of a stainless steel heat exchanger is the chromium content which makes it highly resistant to corrosion in a wide range of pH levels, this ensures retained efficiency for the lifetime of the appliance. Aluminium heat exchangers on the other hand are prone to corrosion and this will ultimately affect the efficiency of the boiler. All of the components utilised within Viessmann boilers are high quality. Whereas a competitor may utilise plastic or composite materials, Viessmann will utilise brass components instead.

The benefit of this is components that will not perish and cause the boiler to break down. Examples of this are shown in the Vitodens W and the Vitodens W, both of which have both been updated for The Vitodens W comes H2 ready, meaning that it has been developed to be able to use a hydrogen mix as its fuel source. This means that the boiler is able to utilise the fuel source that has been proposed by the UK government as a replacement for natural gas in order to meet its carbon-neutral goals.

Both the Vitodens W and the Vitodens W also come with integrated WiFi, this enables the boilers to connect to the internet, be controlled remotely, and increases their efficiency with smart technology that learns your heating schedule and automatically adjusts to suit this. Both of these boilers also feature the ability to be remotely monitored by a heating engineer, meaning issues can be diagnosed immediately without the need to visit the property.

Unlike its competitors, Viessmann manufactures all of the components for its UK boiler range at its global headquarters in Allendorf, Germany. Viessmann boilers are also developed, assembled, tested and shipped from the same production facility. Going back a few years, one of the biggest criticisms of the Viessmann boiler range was the limited availability of parts in the UK. However, Viessmann recognised this themselves and remedied the problem by partnering with Plumbase.

Now spare parts for Viessmann boilers are stocked at every Plumbase branch in the UK. Notably, the Vitodens range has been awarded the coveted Which? Best Buy Award every year since The entire Viessmann boiler range is available with comprehensive parts and labour warranties of up to 12 years.

The current Viessmann gas boiler range. Established in in South Korea, Navien has been operating in the UK since and has been offering combi boilers here since Already the market leader in its native South Korea, the manufacturer of the best-selling boiler in the USA, and a market leader in Russia, Navien is already shaking up things in this country with its cutting-edge oil boiler technology.

Like Viessmann, Navien is also an advocate of the stainless steel heat exchanger and utilises this across its entire oil boiler range. Navien stainless steel heat exchangers have been designed to prevent corrosion and erosion, ensuring an extended lifespan for the boiler and its efficiency.

One of the standout features of the Navien oil boiler range is its use of blue flame technology across all boiler models, something that few competitors offer. Blue flame technology is designed to provide superior efficiency and guarantees low NOx emissions. The stainless steel and brass components utilised within the Navien range go a long way to stop the boiler from falling foul of the corrosion that plagues boilers that utilise plastic and copper parts.

Navien joins a long list of South Korean companies including Samsung, LG, and Hyundai, who are bringing technological innovations to the rest of the world. Further to this, the Smart Plus app also enables the boiler to connect to the internet, monitor the weather via the OpenWeatherMap, and adjust the inside temperature based on the weather conditions outside.

Navien has invested heavily in the development of its boiler range so that the boilers are not just user-friendly but also easy to install, service and repair. We held back on recommending Navien until we were satisfied that spare parts for its boilers were readily available. We can confirm that they now are widely available across the UK and are carried in both Plumbase and Screwfix branches across the UK. All Navien boilers come with a year parts and labour warranty.

Both long and comprehensive, this warranty period provides you with peace of mind when purchasing a Navien boiler. The current Navien oil boiler range. Based in Worcester, all Worcester Bosch gas and LPG boilers are assembled at this site, whilst its oil boilers are assembled at an additional site in Clay Cross, Derbyshire.

Worcester Bosch has earned its right to be named one of the best boiler manufacturers. It is a household name and this is due to the reputation that it has achieved since the s.