Our boiler experts share everything you need to know when purchasing a new boiler, all in one handy guide.
There's more than price to consider when choosing a new boiler
The price of a new boiler can range from as little as £590 to £6,000, however, depending on the type of boiler you choose could save you up to £840 per year on your energy bills, so our experts have compiled all the information necessary for you to make the best decision for your home when it comes to choosing your replacement.
Gas, electric, or oil?
If you’re looking to replace your boiler it may also be time to weigh up whether it’s worth changing the energy source your boiler relies on to heat your home. Gas, electric, and oil all have their own pros and cons which we are going to list to make it easier for you to determine the best choice for you.
- Gas: Out of the three options readily available gas is the cheapest option at 4.65p per Kilowatt as modern condensing boilers are efficient meaning up to 90% of the energy provided to the boiler is used. Not only this but gas boilers are easy to control, you can turn your energy on or off at the click of a button.
However, new gas boiler installations will be phased out, due to being gas a fossil fuel, therefore this type of energy is contributing to global warming and climate change. Another thing to consider with gas boilers is that they do require regular annual maintenance for safety and efficiency reasons.
- Electricity: Some homes may not be able to connect to the gas mains supply, however, most if not all homes can connect to the electrical grid, making it far more accessible than gas. Very little maintenance is required with electric energy, and more and more electricity is now being generated from renewable sources, which is great news for the environment and your long-term commitment to clean energy.
Although clean energy doesn’t come cheap, electricity is currently 20.06p per Kilowatt meaning that an electric boiler may leave you with a smaller carbon footprint but also a smaller disposable income.
- Oil: If you live rurally oil is a good alternative option as it can be delivered anywhere and at a lower price than electricity at 4.82p per Kilowatt. If you have space you can stock up on oil when the price is low to avoid being at the mercy of global demand.
However, having an oil boiler means you need to constantly be on top of the amount of oil you have in your tank to ensure you don’t run out – which may be difficult soon as in line with the national plan to be net zero carbon by 2050, the UK government has begun to phase out oil boilers which could make maintenance a difficult task soon.
If you’re keen to go green, oil may not be the choice for you as it contributes to far more carbon emissions than gas.
Choosing the right brand
The brand you choose for your new boiler will determine the price and efficiency of your heating system. Our experts have listed our top 5 big brands to help you understand the best option for you.
- Worcester Bosch: £957 - £2560 – Worcester Bosch is the market leader for high energy efficient boilers that are affordable and reliable – which can make a difference to your home and your energy bills year after year. Worcester’s flagship green star range includes gas, oil-fired, combi, electric, and LPG boilers making this brand suitable for most homes.
- Viessmann boilers: £844 - £6188 – Perfect for a large home with more than one-bathroom Viessmann boilers are easy to install combining exceptional design and leading technology where your boiler has the capacity to adjust heating temperature dependent upon the outside climate.
- Alpha boilers: £590 - £3860 – Alpha is recognised as a leading light in the heating industry, with over 50 years of experience Alpha manufactures a small range of gas combi, system, and regular boilers as well as a selection of heating controls. The only downside to alpha is that they require a storage cylinder to provide heating and hot water – however, this does enable them to cope with high hot water demand.
- Ideal boilers: With affordable prices between £625 and 3,200 managing your heating system should be simple, easy, and user-friendly and that’s where ‘ideal ‘comes into play. Designed to improve energy efficiency and tested for endurance and reliability has resulted in a quiet, compact boiler with simple controls and a user-friendly display.
- Valliant boilers: Ranging between £720 and £2,800 – Valliant boilers are the perfect fit for smaller spaces with reduced water requirements. Valliant has consistently produced high-quality boilers for over 140 years, resulting in reliable and energy-efficient boilers that are kind to the environment without jeopardizing heating and hot water performance.
What type of boiler is right for your home?
- Combi: a combi boiler is short for combination combining home heating with on-demand hot water within the same unit, rather than storing it in a tank or cylinder. This hot water can then go on to be used for various things such as appliances, taps, and heating. This is where the combi boiler coins its name as it serves two combined functions: heating and hot water. These kinds of systems have become increasingly popular for smaller properties, as you don’t require any water storage tanks.
- Heat-only boiler: (regular boilers) – A heat-only boiler, also referred to as an open vent boiler is a system involving two tanks, a hot water cylinder, and the boiler itself. Heat-only boilers work by heating and distributing water. These kinds of boilers are most suited to large properties as they can better meet the demands for hot water across various taps, showers, and radiators simultaneously.
- System boiler: A system boiler shares similarities to a heat-only boiler in that they are ideal for heating much larger older homes. However, regular boilers are kept under pressure with the use of a header tank in the loft, whereas system boilers use a pressurized heating circuit topped up by mains water.
What size boiler do you need?
Boiler manufacturers will always offer their boilers in a variety of sizes – and the size of your boiler can be determined by how many radiators you have on your property. For example, if you live in a home with 9-12 radiators then a big boiler will be required to meet the heating demand your home has. However, if you live in a bungalow with a small heating demand on your boiler you will be recommended.
Choosing a new boiler for your home is a big deal, and we appreciate it's not a decision that is made in a heartbeat. For more information relating to boilers and heating systems take a look at our blog here.