Are you on the hunt for the best conventional boiler in 2023? Here we review some of this years very best options.
There are three primary types of domestic boilers in the UK: combi boilers, conventional/regular boilers and system boilers.
But in this guide, we put the limelight on conventional boilers (also referred to as regular or heat-only boilers, or ‘that thing that keeps breaking’, to your unfortunate aunt).
We discuss what these boilers are, and how they work as well as highlight some of the best conventional boiler models of the year.
Let’s dive in...
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How Did We Pick the Best Conventional Boilers?
To determine which are the best regular boilers available, we considered the following factors:
Warranty period offered by the brand - a key sign of how long the boiler will last
The overall reputation of the brand based on customer reviews
Trustpilot reviews
Awards and accolades e.g. Which? Best Buy Awards
Customer service performance
The price range of their boilers
Efficiency ratings
We had a bathing suit round, but it didn’t have any effect on the rating for these models
Best Conventional Boilers (By Brand)
Here are our top 5 best heat-only boiler brands in the UK right now:
#1 Worcester Conventional Boilers
#2 Viessmann Conventional Boilers
#3 Alpha Conventional Boilers
#4 Vaillant Conventional Boilers
#5 Ideal Conventional Boilers
Best Conventional Boilers
Note: The boilers discussed below are presented as boiler ranges with there being various models within each given range.
Also, whatever boiler range(s) you like the most, be sure to verify that you opt for a model that is a good match for your home, especially when it comes to its maximum central heating output. As Henry VIII is rumoured to have said, “I’d like a new wife and a boiler that can keep up with my sizable residence, please.”
If you are considering having an existing conventional boiler replaced, or, even if you wish to have one added to a new build property, it’s important to know what the best options are.
When it comes to purchasing a regular boiler, you should weigh up the costs, pros & cons and features of your favourite models before making a decision.
Without further ado, here are the top five conventional boiler ranges to consider.
Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life Regular Boiler
Central Heating Outputs Available: 30kW to 50kW
Energy Efficiency Ratings: 94%
Total Installation Cost: £2,000 to £3,600
UK heating brand Worcester Bosch is among the best boiler brands in the UK and their Greenstar 8000 Life Regular Gas Boiler is a particularly stand-out range.
Along with a whole host of outputs to choose from, these boilers feature a modulation ratio of 1:10 which aids their already high energy efficiency levels.
Beyond that, each of these models comes with a warranty of up to 12 years.
These boilers are well-suited to larger properties, so Henry VIII would have been pleased.
Other notable features of the Greenstar 8000 Life Regular range include compatibility with modern smart tech (e.g., Bosch Easy control) and a push-button LCD display with advanced features and user-friendly navigation. Since you’ll be that user, this is good news for you.
Viessmann Vitodens 100-W Heat Only Gas Boiler
Central Heating Outputs Available: 11kW to 32kW
Energy Efficiency Ratings: 92%
Total Installation Cost: £1,900 to £2,900.
Next, we have the Vitodens 100-W Heat Only Gas Boiler range from German boiler giant Viessmann. To be clear, that giant part refers to the size of the company’s reputation, the boilers have normal sizes.
Known for superb engineering and high customer ratings, Viessmann is (in our view) second only to Worcester Bosch.
Each Viessmann boiler comes with a standard five-year warranty, although this warranty can be extended.
In addition, this Viessmann Vitodens range features a large user-friendly display (that is smart home ready), a compact size and a low level of noise generation.
With dimensions of 600mm (H) x 285mm (D) x 375mm (W) and low noise output, these boilers are a great match for living spaces and have better features than many people in your house.
There are options within this range for small, medium and large properties alike.
Alpha E-TEC Regular Gas Boiler
Central Heating Outputs Available: 15.1kW to 26.1kW
Energy Efficiency Ratings: 92%
Total Installation Cost: £1,500 to £2,100
Then there is the E-TEC Regular Boiler range from budget-friendly manufacturer Alpha.
Despite being known for producing cost-friendly appliances, Alpha still offers some of the best boilers on the market, with a solid value for money.
At just £1,500 to £2,100, the total installation costs of these boilers are relatively pleasing to the eye. They won’t appreciate in value like hanging a Picasso on your wall, but we’ve seen worse.
As for their suitability, these Alpha regular boilers are mostly a match for small or medium properties.
However, the 26.1kW version would work for some large properties. If you have insulated your mansion really well, a budget boiler like the Alpha might keep up.
This range features warranties of up to 7 years, which isn’t quite a match to many of the warranties offered by the competitors listed above.
With that being said, the conventional boilers comprising this Alpha boiler range also come with a stainless steel heat exchanger, a backlit display offering ease of control a user-friendly experience and optional external pump wiring.
Vaillant ecoTEC Plus Regular Boiler
Central Heating Outputs Available: 12.3kW to 35.1kW
Energy Efficiency Ratings: 93% to 94%
Total Installation Cost: £1,600 to £2,750
Another fantastic conventional boiler range is the ecoTEC Plus Regular Boiler range from Vaillant.
This range is also varied and diverse just like Worcester Bosch’s Greenstar 8000 Life Regular boiler, or a culturally sensitive TV commercial.
However, notably, it generally includes lower outputs, meaning that this range would be well suited to small and medium properties.
With that said, the highest-output boilers in this range would still be a great match for larger households.
Beyond that, the Vaillant ecoTEC Plus Regular Boilers come with five-year warranties as standard.
With that said, these warranties may be extended to a total of 7-10 years if fitted by a Vaillant Advance Installer. And you don’t even have to keep the installer around your house for the full 7-10 years.
Furthermore, this conventional boiler range comes with a wide modulation range and is completely compatible with Vaillant controls.
Finally, these boilers offer two-stage frost protection. This feature can keep garage- and attic-based installations running throughout the year, ensuring they remain in working order even during the depths of winter. It’s Jon Snow’s boiler of choice.
Ideal Logic Max Heat
Central Heating Outputs Available: 12kW to 30.3kW
Energy Efficiency Ratings: 93% to 94%
Total Installation Cost: £1,700 to £2,400
Lastly, we have the Ideal Logic Max Heat boilers. Along with being produced in the UK, this Ideal boiler range features a parts and labour warranty of up to 10 years. It also has a name promising max heat.
With maximum central heating outputs ranging from 12kW to 30.3kW, this range is a good option for a wide variety of properties, whether they be small, medium or large.
As you can tell, while heat-only boilers are worth exploring for larger properties, there are plenty of options for those with a small or medium home.
Moreover, the Ideal Logic Max Heat range features a high-end brass system filter, compact dimensions, ease of installation and a large digital display.
These boilers are also entirely compatible with Ideal controls and are easily accessible for heating engineers, such as for boiler servicing or simply a quiet visit with your boiler.
Related domestic energy guides:
Pros and Cons of Conventional Boilers
As already touched on, conventional boilers come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
If you’re not yet sure whether to opt for a heat-only boiler, it’s important to take these into account and compare them with the pros/cons of combi boilers and the pros/cons of system boilers before making a decision.
Pros of Regular Boilers
Despite not being as popular as they once were, conventional boilers come with a wide range of advantages that are worth exploring.
First and foremost, regular boiler-based systems are well-suited to households with a high demand for heating and hot water.
This is one of the reasons why they tend to be found in relatively large households with many people who all need showers.
While swapping out another type of boiler for a conventional boiler is not a good idea, a like-for-like regular boiler replacement is relatively straightforward for a heating engineer.
Another key benefit of conventional boiler setups is their ability to continue providing hot water even if the boiler breaks down (please note that this is only the case if the tank has it's own immersion heater).
After all, conventional boilers are not directly responsible for providing properties with hot water, thus the cold water tank and hot water cylinder in your loft can continue to function even without a working boiler.
Beyond that, conventional boilers are suitable for low-pressure areas. This can make them a good fit in regions that combi boilers would not be well-suited to.
Moreover, as mentioned earlier, modern regular boilers are significantly more advanced than their predecessors. If you’re still shovelling coal into an oven, know that you can get more efficient.
Nowadays, regular boilers tend to offer high levels of energy efficiency (as much as 97%).
Separately, hot water cylinders are often solar compatible, meaning you could, in part, meet your home’s hot water needs thanks to solar thermal panels.
Cons of Regular Boilers
With all that said, there are still various downsides to conventional boilers you should be aware of.
Unlike combi boilers, regular boilers cannot offer hot water on demand. You’re getting hot water that’s been heated before, like the stale burgers at a fast food chain that expected busier hours.
What’s more, conventional boilers are not suited to all properties, in part because a conventional boiler system requires plenty of loft space.
Naturally, a regular boiler setup can often end up being more expensive if you need to have the loft-based infrastructure replaced.
Beyond that, as already discussed, having a conventional boiler installed only really makes sense as a like-for-like replacement.
This is often not the case with combi or system boilers, however, since they come with simpler pipework switching from one type to a combi or system boiler can be relatively smooth sailing (although not completely without any headaches).
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