Combi boilers are the most popular type of boiler in the UK. Because of this, there is a huge range on the market and the amount of choice can be disorientating. We’ve compared some of the UK’s bestselling and highest rated models to establish the best of the best.
Here are our top 4 Combi boilers in 2021.
Worcester Bosch Greenstar i
The Worcester Bosch brand is a long established UK brand which is consistently rated as one of the best in both consumer and installer surveys. The Greenstar i is their best selling range of Combi boilers.
Is it right for your home?
If your home is small to medium sized (with no more than one bathroom) then this boiler is perfectly suited to you. A small home (1 or 2 bedroom) would need the 25 kW while a medium home (3 bedroom) would be better served by the 30 kW model. The Greenstar i has been designed as a gas powered boiler but an LPG model is available if you are not connected to the gas network.
| Worcester Bosch Greenstar i | |
|---|---|
| Average Price (excluding installation) | £850 – £950 |
| Sizes available | 25 or 30 kW |
| Efficiency | 94% |
| Noise Level | 50 dB |
| Hot water flow rate | 10.2 – 12.3 litres per minute |
| Dimensions | 71 x 40 x 33cm |
| Solar Compatible | No |
| LPG Compatible | Yes |
Controls available
- Simple, mechanical
- Digital with 7 day programming
- Intelligent controls that learn from your habits and compensate for weather
- Internet connected smart control called Wave. Wave can be operated via a smartphone or tablet app
Other notable features
- Can fill an average sized kitchen sink in 45 seconds
- Condensate pipe is protected from freezing in cold weather
- Reduced electrical usage through low energy pump
- 5 year warranty available with options of extending to 10 years when registered through Vaillant
Vaillant ecoTEC Pro
Vaillant began in Germany in 1874 as a one man business but today is one of the leading manufacturers of heating solutions in Europe. Along with Worcester Bosch they are the most popular choice of boiler for UK homeowners.
Is it right for your home?
Vaillant’s ecoTEC Pro range includes three size options so you should be able to find a boiler to suit your home. For example, they recommend a 24 kW boiler is best suited to a 1-3 bedroom home with 1 bathroom, while a 28 kW or 30 kW is needed for 2-4 bedroom homes with 2 bathrooms. The Vaillant ecoTEC Pro has been designed as a gas powered boiler but an LPG model is available if you are not connected to the gas network.
| Vaillant ecoTEC Pro | |
|---|---|
| Average Price (excluding installation) | £850 – £1000 |
| Sizes available | 24, 28 or 30 kW |
| Efficiency | 89.3% |
| Noise Level | 49 dB |
| Hot water flow rate | 9.6 – 12.3 litres per minute |
| Dimensions | 72 x 44 x 33.8cm |
| Solar Compatible | No |
| LPG Compatible | Yes |
Other notable features
- Built in frost protection
- Removable side panels and push-fit flue system
- 2 year warranty included with 5 and 10 year extensions available
- Awarded the Quiet Mark accreditation for low noise level
Controls available
- Simple, mechanical timer
- Digital programmable timers
- Intelligent controls that learn from your habits and compensate for weather
- Internet connected smart control called VSmart which can be operated via a smartphone or tablet app
Ideal Logic+
The Logic+ boiler from Ideal is literally an award winner. It has received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2013, Good Housekeeping Reader Recommendation and was voted Household Boiler of the Year by Product of the Year for 2014.
Is it right for your home?
This boiler is available in 24, 30 and 35 kW which means it will suit most homes. If you have two bathrooms and more than 2 bedrooms then you will probably need to look at the larger sizes.
| Ideal Logic+ | |
|---|---|
| Average Price (excluding installation) | £725 – £925 |
| Sizes available | 24, 30 or 35 kW |
| Efficiency | 94% |
| Noise Level | 44 – 48 dB |
| Hot water flow rate | 9.9 – 14.5 litres per minute |
| Dimensions | 70 x 39.5 x 27.8cm |
| Solar Compatible | No |
| LPG Compatible | Yes, 30 kW model |
Other notable features
- 7 year parts and labour warranty
- Built-in frost protection
- Compact cupboard fit
- Wide range of additional flueing options
Controls available
- Mechanical, 24 hour timer
- Wireless, digital controller
- Outdoor sensor with weather compensation controls
Baxi EcoBlue+
With 150 years of experience in the heating industry it’s no surprise that they claim a top spot in our best boilers review. The EcoBlue+ is their top selling range.
Is it right for your home?
If your home has between 1 – 4 bedrooms and 2 or less bathrooms then Baxi have a boiler for you. Homes at the smaller end of the scale will usually be able to heat their home with a 24 kW model, but those with 2 bathrooms will need more power so may want to look at a 33 kW boiler.
| Baxi EcoBlue+ | |
|---|---|
| Average Price (excluding installation) | £800 – £950 |
| Sizes available | 24, 28 or 33 kW |
| Efficiency | 89.1% |
| Noise Level | 51 / 52 / 53 dB (depending on size) |
| Hot water flow rate | 9.8 – 13.5 litres per minute |
| Dimensions | 39 x 70 x 29.5cm |
| Solar Compatible | No |
| LPG Compatible | No |
Other notable features
- Compact size fit into a standard sized 300mm deep cupboard
- Includes standard 7 year warranty
- Fewer components of high quality results in excellent reliability and easy maintenance
- Front access to all components for quick servicing
Controls available
- Mechanical timer
- Digital timer
- Wireless mechanical RF thermostat
- Wireless RF digital programmable room thermostat
- Wired programmable room thermostat
- Wired weather sensor
When choosing your Combi boiler remember to…
- Get as long a warranty as possible. Boilers are significant investments and ongoing repairs or replacements are not cheap.
- Check how easy replacement parts are to come by.
- Research reviews by both consumers and engineers to get a sense of its performance in real life situations.
- Look at the efficiency rating. The more efficient your new boiler is, the more money you will save in energy bills. Take a look at our boiler efficiency ratings to check the efficiency of your chosen boiler.
- Compare multiple quotes from several installers to make sure you’re getting the best price.
If you’re looking to replace your boiler, we recommend reputable websites such as Boiler Guide or British Gas which provide you with competitive quotes from Gas Safe registered installers.
