If you're looking for a new boiler, it doesn't take long before you come across lists claiming to have found the "best boiler in the UK". The problem is that there isn't one boiler that's best for every home.
I install, service and repair boilers across Torquay, Paignton, Brixham and the wider Torbay area, and over the years I've worked on boilers from most of the major manufacturers.
My view of a good boiler isn't based simply on the brochure. I'm interested in what they're like to install, service and repair, how well they age, whether parts are readily available and, most importantly, whether they represent good value for the customer.
So, if I were choosing a new boiler today, these are some of the manufacturers and models I would consider.
Is there really a "best" boiler?
Not exactly.
A premium boiler costing considerably more isn't automatically a better choice for a small flat or modest family home than a good-quality, less expensive boiler.
Before recommending a boiler, I would normally consider:
- The size of the property
- Number of bathrooms
- Hot water demand
- The existing heating system
- Available installation space
- Suitable controls
- Warranty
- The customer's budget
For me, the best boiler is the one that suits the property and the customer, not necessarily the most expensive one.
Vaillant ecoTEC plus: my premium choice
Vaillant has built an excellent reputation in the UK, and the ecoTEC plus would be high on my list if a customer wanted a premium boiler.
They're well engineered, quiet and have good control options. Vaillant also has a strong UK service and parts network, which matters considerably when you're looking at owning a boiler for perhaps 15 years or more.
I particularly like Vaillant for customers who want a high-quality installation and are prepared to spend a little more initially. And if the ecoTEC plus is beyond the budget, Vaillant's mid-range ecoFIT pure keeps much of the same engineering at a lower price point.
Best for: Customers wanting a premium boiler and excellent all-round build quality.
My view: One of the strongest premium choices available.
Viessmann Vitodens 100-W: excellent engineering
The Viessmann Vitodens 100-W is another boiler I rate highly.
Viessmann takes a slightly different engineering approach to some traditional UK manufacturers, and the Vitodens range has some excellent combustion and control technology.
It's a boiler I would be very happy to recommend to somebody looking for a technically sophisticated premium product.
Best for: Customers who appreciate good engineering and modern boiler technology.
My view: A very well-engineered alternative to Vaillant.
Worcester Bosch: a well-known name
Worcester Bosch is probably the boiler manufacturer most British homeowners recognise.
They're widely installed, parts are readily available and most heating engineers are familiar with them. Although some of Worcester's higher-priced models are excellent boilers, I also think the Worcester Greenstar 1000 deserves consideration for customers looking for a straightforward boiler from a very well-established manufacturer.
Not every property needs one of Worcester's more expensive models, and the 1000 provides a more affordable way into the range.
Best for: Customers who particularly want the Worcester Bosch name without moving into their more expensive ranges.
My view: The Greenstar 1000 can represent good value for the right property.
Ideal: good boilers across different budgets
Ideal boilers have improved enormously over the years, and I work on a lot of them.
One thing I like about Ideal is that they offer sensible choices at different price points.
The Ideal Logic Max is a good option further up the range, while the Ideal i-mini is one of the boilers I particularly like when keeping the installation cost down is important.
Ideal parts are widely available, most heating engineers are familiar with them and they're generally straightforward to work on.
That last point is often overlooked. A boiler doesn't stop costing money on the day it's installed. Ease of servicing, parts availability and repair costs can become important later in its life.
And a less expensive boiler doesn't necessarily mean poor value. For the right property, a simple, well-installed boiler can make much more sense than spending considerably more for features the customer doesn't need.
Best for: Customers looking for a good balance between price, warranty and straightforward long-term ownership.
My view: The i-mini is one of my value choices; the Logic Max is worth considering when the customer wants to move further up the range.
Glow-worm Energy: a good mid-range choice
Glow-worm is sometimes overlooked because it doesn't have quite the same consumer recognition as Worcester or Vaillant.
That's a shame.
Glow-worm is part of the same group as Vaillant, and I've installed and worked on many Glow-worm boilers over the years.
The Glow-worm Energy can be a particularly sensible choice for somebody who wants a good-quality boiler with a long warranty without paying premium-brand prices.
I don't believe everybody needs the most expensive boiler available. A properly specified and correctly installed mid-range boiler can be a much better use of someone's money.
Best for: Customers wanting a good balance of quality and price.
My view: Often underrated and a very good mid-range choice.
Baxi: a solid UK option
Baxi is another established manufacturer that I wouldn't hesitate to consider for the right installation.
There's a large installed base in Britain, parts availability is generally good and there are models covering different budgets.
The Baxi 400 is particularly interesting when value matters. It's a relatively straightforward boiler from a manufacturer that's been part of the British heating industry for a very long time.
As with Ideal and Glow-worm, one of Baxi's strengths is that you're buying a boiler that heating engineers across the country know.
Best for: Homeowners wanting a straightforward boiler from a well-established manufacturer.
My view: The Baxi 400 is a good value option for the right home.
So which boiler would I choose?
If you asked me to narrow it down, this is roughly how I would divide them:
- Premium: Vaillant ecoTEC plus or Viessmann Vitodens 100-W
- Mid-range: Glow-worm Energy or Vaillant ecoFIT pure
- Value for money: Ideal i-mini, Baxi 400 or Worcester Greenstar 1000
That doesn't mean I'd automatically fit one of those boilers in every property.
I've been called to expensive boilers that weren't right for the system they were fitted to, and I've seen relatively inexpensive boilers give years of reliable service.
Correct specification and good installation are every bit as important as the name on the front of the boiler.
Don't choose a boiler on warranty length alone
Long warranties are reassuring, but I'd never choose a boiler purely because one manufacturer offers another couple of years.
Always look at the conditions attached to the warranty. Registration, installation requirements and annual servicing can all affect the cover.
The quality of the boiler, availability of parts and the quality of the installation are more important to me than simply finding the biggest number printed on a warranty sticker.
My advice if you're replacing a boiler in Torbay
If your existing boiler needs replacing, don't start by choosing a brand.
Start with the property.
A good heating engineer should look at your heating and hot water requirements, existing system and budget before recommending the boiler.
At Boilerworx I install several different manufacturers because I'd rather recommend the boiler that suits the customer than try to sell everybody the same make. Current fully-installed pricing for the boilers mentioned in this article is on the boiler installation page, and the survey that decides which one actually fits your home is free.
