Owned by Baxi, Main have become a trusted, budget option in the industry, but how do they compare to the competition?
As part of Baxi Heating, Main gas boilers are among the more affordable options on the market. While there is not currently a wide range of Main boilers to choose from, the brand is worth a closer look.
Main boilers are recognized for their low costs and reliability. Main Heating also prides itself on offering straightforward solutions to heating homes.
In this guide, we’ll look at topics such as the cost of various Main gas boilers and how the brand compares with others.
PS We fit new combi boilers with gas installation nationwide. Simply answer these questions, get your fixed price and you could get it installed as quick as tomorrow.
Main Boilers Review
History of Main Gas Boilers
Main Heating has been around for three-quarters of a century and is now a part of Baxi. Baxi helped formed the BDR Thermea Group in 2009, which is now a global leader in manufacturing and distributing heating appliances for homes and businesses alike.
The BDR Thermea Group has over 6,300 employees across the world with operations in over one hundred countries. The BDR Thermea Group had a turnover of about £1.5 billion in 2020. Main Boilers now have an address at Coventry Road, Warwick.
Main Gas Combi Boilers
There are currently two Main combi boilers on sale. These boilers are quite efficient for properties with as many as fifteen radiators and one or two bathrooms.
What is a Combi Boiler?
These boilers are the most popular option in the UK; in fact, as many as 70% of UK homes use a combi boiler!
Combi boilers have one compact unit which contains a water heat and central heating boiler.
They can supply radiators and taps with hot water directly without the use of a separate storage tank. Modern A-rated combi boilers also come with energy efficiency levels above 90%.
Main Combi Boilers: Price Range
The total cost of having a combi boiler installed would include expenses like the price of labour. However, many customers want to know the standalone cost of purchasing a boiler (a.k.a. the supply cost).
The supply cost of a Main combi boiler ranges from £620 to £710. That's supply only, not including installation.
The cost of labour and other expenses would possibly add a thousand pounds or more to the total installation cost.
For this reason, if you get an offer to have a Main combi boiler installed for less than £1,000, it’s probably not legitimate.
There are some key benefits to Main Combi boilers. As some examples, they feature easy-to-use controls, and five-year warranties, and are perfect for small homes.
Heatable can give you a fixed price for a combi boiler installation that is Gas Safe. You may even have the boiler installed in only 24 hours. You can get a quote on our website today.
Below you will find more details on Main Heating’s combi boiler range. We’ve included the only selection of combi boilers (of which there are two separate models) currently offered by Main Heating. We use a similar approach in the following sections on Main system and Main regular boilers.
Main Combi Boiler Range
Models | kW | Warranty | Product Price | Overall Price (including labour cost) |
Eco Compact Combi Gas Boilers | 25-30 | 5 years | £620 to £710 | £1,420 to £2,010 |
Looking to pay for your new boiler monthly? Refer to our boiler on finance guide for more info.
Have you got limited space in your home? Check out our guide on the best small boilers.
Did you know our boiler installation cost calculator only takes 60 seconds to complete? Using a series of multiple-choice questions can provide you with a fixed price on a range of budget-friendly boilers.
Main System Boilers
Moving on to the brand’s system boilers, there are also two options on offer. These budget-friendly boilers are suitable for homes with as many as fifteen radiators.
What is a System Boiler?
If you live in a home with a large demand for hot water and heating, you may need a system boiler.
System boilers feature a separate water storage tank. As a result, these boilers can provide hot water for the property on a regular basis.
Main System Boilers: Price Range
In terms of the cost of Main system boilers, they range from £610 to £675. Again, we are referring to the standalone cost of the boilers. These system boilers are among the cheapest boilers that the brand offers.
In terms of the advantages of these system boilers, the energy ratings are considered among the best in the market, and they are ideal for homes with more than one bathroom.
Also, Main system boilers have low Nitrogen Oxides emissions meaning they are more eco-friendly.
Get a quote for a system boiler installation today with our online calculator.
Main System Boiler Range
Models | kW | Warranty | Product Price | Overall Price (including labour cost) |
Eco Compact System Gas Boilers | 15-18 | 5 years | £610 to £675 | £1,410 to £1,975 |
Main Regular Boilers
Right now, Main has one selection of regular boilers on offer, namely the Eco Compact Heat Boilers.
What is a Regular Boiler?
Regular boilers are sometimes called traditional or heat-only boilers. Regular boilers can heat water for central heating use.
However, they can’t be used for other means such as baths, showers or taps. Regular boilers receive cold water from a tank based in the attic.
Regular boilers also need a hot water storage cylinder to provide hot water for use day to day. It’s important to be aware that regular boilers are only suitable for replacing an existing regular boiler.
This is because these appliances come with specific and complex pipework.
Is your boiler leaking or losing pressure? Use our quick and easy tool to get your fixed price boiler replacement.
Main Regular Boilers: Price Range
The standalone cost of Main regular boilers starts from £720 with a maximum cost of £830. Again, if the overall price of having a Main regular boiler fitted is under £1,000, the offer probably isn’t legitimate.
These boilers are certified to work with 20% hydrogen. Notably, there are four separate models offered as part of the brand’s Eco Compact Heat Boilers selection.
The 30kW option (with a supply cost of £830), is one of the boilers with the highest output offered by the brand. Only the 30kW Eco Compact Combi Gas Boiler offers the same output level.
Main Regular Boiler Range
Models | kW | Warranty | Product Price | Overall Price (including labour cost) |
Main Eco Compact Heat Boilers | 15-30 | 5 years | £720 to £830 | £1,520 to £2,130 |
Main Heating Customer Reviews
You may wonder what customers think of Main Heating. Unfortunately, customer reviews of Main Heating are few and far between.
However, from what we found, the brand has received mixed ratings. For example, out of 14 customer reviews on Tool Talk, Main Heating has a five-star rating.
With that said, it’s a different story when it comes to Google Reviews. On Google, Main Heating has a rating of 2.9 stars from 24 reviews.
These ratings are of course taken from limited samples. This reflects the fact that Main boilers are not the most popular choice.
Interested in a Baxi? Read our Baxi Duo Tec 28 review and the Baxi 600 Combi boiler.
Main Heating Boiler Problems and Fault Codes
If you already have a Main Heating boiler installed or plan to have one installed, it’s good to know about the issues that could arise.
You’ll also want to know how to fix these problems. Some issues you could fix by yourself while others should (and sometimes must) be fixed by a professional.
When it comes to faulty components, Main boilers show a variety of error codes. Examples of such codes are E28 and E160. If an error code appears for a faulty component, you’ll need to call your installer.
Bypassing the error code to the installer, they’ll be able to source the necessary replacement parts. This will get your boiler working as normal again.
Let’s now look at some more error codes and how the issue can be fixed…
Main Heating Error Code 110
This code means that either the flue system has failed, or the boiler water is overheating. If this code has appeared for the first time, you may be able to solve it DIY.
To fix this issue, turn the selector switch to its reset position before holding it for roughly five seconds. This will restart your Main boiler.
If the boiler does not relight or the error code remains, you’ll have to contact the installer. It may be that there is a blockage, or the boiler has a failed valve.
Main Heating Error Code 119
You’ll likely see this error code if the boiler pressure has dropped below 05bar. Low pressure will cause the boiler to cut out and switch off. This is a safety measure to avoid more damage taking place. Look at the pressure gauge to confirm that there is low boiler pressure.
Thankfully this issue can be fixed easily. To do so you’ll have to find the filling loop on your boiler. Use the filling loop to increase the water levels of the system by adding more water.
Should the pressure drop again, it’s worth considering hiring a heating engineer. They may find leaks which would explain why the pressure keeps going down. This problem should be fixed quickly to stop further damage to your boiler and property.
Main Heating Boilers Verdict
One major takeaway from Main Heating is that their boilers are relatively cheap, with an estimated standalone cost of no more than £830.
This sort of affordability is superior to other low-cost boiler brands like Potterton and Baxi. However, Glow-worm’s boilers are a bit closer in terms of their price tags.
Regardless, though, brands like Baxi and Potterton are more recognized and have better customer reviews in general.
Ultimately, there are many more brands out there worth choosing before Main Heating. For more options, check out the list of our top 10 favourite boiler brands.
Despite the downsides, Main Heating is still worth giving some consideration if you’re on a budget but all in all, it’s far from the best choice either way.
We have also reviewed and compared many other popular UK boiler brands, including the following:
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