Here we review the Vaillant EcoTec Plus boiler and reveal how it compares to rival brand models.
Vaillant is a leading German heating and cooling company that has earned its position as one of the top boiler brands in mainland Europe and the UK.
Their selection of gas boilers has built a reputation for reliability, technical brilliance, superb aftercare and customer service.
The Vaillant gas boiler range is extensive, catering for various budgets, property types and customer goals.
Vaillant's main boiler range is the EcoTec range, which includes their mid-range offering - the Vaillant EcoTec Plus combi boiler, which is what we will be reviewing in this post.
We have also previously reviewed and compared the brand's entry-level gas boiler from the same range - the EcoTec Pro combi boiler.
PS We offer Vaillant combi boilers (with a 10-year warranty) - book before 3 pm and you could get your new Vaillant ecoTec Plus boiler installed as quick as tomorrow.
Vaillant EcoTec Plus Review
In this ecoTEC Plus boiler review, we've scored the boiler model in 4 key areas, including:
Reliability
Performance
Warranty
Price
The ecoTEC Plus is offered in a variety of sizes including 26kW, 32kW, 36kW and 40kW along with a 10-year warranty (when purchased via Heatable).
Let’s take a close look at the Plus and all that it has to offer...
Main features of the Vaillant EcoTec Plus
Before we take a deep dive into the details, here are the main standout features of the Vaillant EcoTec Plus:
Holds an ErP rating of A for both hot water and heating efficiency
Hand-built in the Derbyshire-based plant in the UK
Awarded Quiet Mark recognition - an international award for quiet product design
A complete range of thermostat controls
Awarded the Which? Best Buy Award in 2016
Precision heating to reduce your fuel bills
Dimensions: H 720 x W 440 x D 338 - compact design ideal for small spaces like cupboards
Features Vaillant’s vSMART technology - control your heating from your smartphone
Built with a stainless steel heat exchanger - superior to aluminium found in inferior brands
Backlit display for ease of use
Prefer video? Check out our complete Vaillant ecoTEC Plus Review in the video below:
ecoTEC Plus Reliability
Reliability: 5/5
Vaillant is a brand that has a solid reputation among customers, installers and the wider heating industry as a whole.
Trustpilot Reviews
For example, on the third-party review platform TrustPilot, Vaillant UK has acquired thousands of positive reviews. As of September 2023, over 19,000 customers left a review.
Vaillant score 4.5/5 from over 19,000 reviews.
On average the manufacturer scored 4.5 out of 5, quite an accomplishment for a brand selling such a large number of boilers and a sign that some people still leave reviews online and a testament to their quality.
Additionally, in our article ranking the best boiler manufacturers, the brand was rated as offering the #2 best combi boilers; so, this is undoubtedly a boiler brand with a lot to offer.
Which? Boiler Survey Results
The consumer organisation Which? conduct an annual boiler survey, where both consumers and installers are asked to provide feedback and score the brand in several categories and provide a score and star rating.
From these results, Vaillant has previously been awarded a Which? Best Buy Award.
In fact, in 2016, this model performed well and in the boiler survey, Vaillant scored and received full marks in several categories including ease of repair, availability of parts and spares and efficiency.
Most importantly, almost all customers and engineers said they would recommend the brand. And unlike online influencers or reviewers, engineers know what they’re talking about.
Performance: 5/5
Vaillant ecoTEC Plus Combi Boiler Power Outputs
The Vaillant ecoTEC Plus combi boiler range is available in the following sizes (power outputs):
26kW
32kW
36kW
40kW
The 40kW combi boiler has a heat output of 40kW and a flow rate of 15.9 l/min, making it suitable for average-sized and larger properties that may have slightly greater hot water demands.
The ecoTEC Plus is also offered in a larger power output with corresponding flow rates, ideal for larger properties with greater hot water demands.
The hot water flow rates range from 9.6 l/min up to 15.9 l/m, offering a fair amount of pressure and capacity for small to medium-sized properties and flats.
Want to know which boiler power is right for your home? Check out our boiler sizing guide.
Which EcoTec Plus model is right for your home?
To figure out which ecoTEC Plus model is the most suitable for your home’s needs, use our free tool. It will calculate the correct size boiler for your home and provide you with a fixed price.
The right size boiler for your property is based on a variety of different factors, but essentially, the fewer bathrooms you have the lower the heating output required. If you run an illegal nursing home, you’ll need a bigger model (and get your permits in order).
Controls & Features of the Vaillant EcoTec Plus
As well as offering a sleek and modern aesthetic, the Vaillant EcoTec Plus also features a range of innovative controls and other options that maximise energy savings and make the user experience as simple and effective as possible.
These include the following:
Vaillant vSMART
The EcoTec range by Vaillant all come with Vaillant’s vSMART™ energy management system, which is designed to allow you to control the boiler settings from your smartphone using the application.
The vSMART app also allows you to integrate the boiler with popular smart thermostats including Nest and/or Hive.
IoniDetect
IoniDetect is a brand-new feature in all of the latest EcoTec models and it essentially operates to ensure that the boiler is combusting gas as efficiently as possible.
It achieves this by constantly monitoring the flame quality and type of gas being used and adapting the gas mixture when required to achieve the best possible efficiencies.
IoniDetect is very similar to Viessman's own Lamda Pro feature.
These new-generation flame optimisers are ideal as they allow the boilers to adjust and increase efficiency based on the type of gas being used at the time e.g. if hydrogen is added to the mix, they can then optimise the burn for the greatest efficiency possible. It will also work and adjust accordingly if you use LPG gas too.
Quiet Mark Accreditation
As mentioned, the EcoTec Pure boiler has been awarded Quiet Mark recognition.
This is an international award that recognises quiet product design.
So, if you are concerned about boiler noises (all boilers produce some level of noise), then this boiler may be an ideal choice.
The boiler's case features internally placed sound-absorbing padding to help limit as much noise as possible, hence the award status.
Designed to Accept 20% Hydrogen
Nobody yet knows what the future of net-zero domestic heating is going to look like, but many believe it will involve the use of hydrogen gas.
Vaillant has been at the cutting edge of hydrogen research and is part of the HyDeploy project.
This means that Vaillant boilers have been tested with up to 20% hydrogen blended with Natural Gas, and are currently undergoing tests to validate their compatibility with up to 20% hydrogen.
Warranty: 5/5
Vaillant EcoTec Plus Warranty
Vaillant provides a standard 5-year warranty with the ecoTEC Plus, but if you have the boiler installed via Heatable this is extended by 5 years, making it a 10-year warranty.
This provides a decades-long peace of mind, meaning that if any fault develops during that period, the manufacturer will be there to help get back in working order.
Price Point: 4/5
There is no hiding from the fact that Vaillant is a premium, award-winning boiler brand, so with that in mind, there is no denying their boilers are not the cheapest available.
In particular, the EcoTec Plus model is the brand's mid-range boiler model and features a stainless steel heat exchanger, designed to outlast the lifetime of the boiler.
Compare this to brands that use aluminium versions that are prone to corrosion (a leading cause of boiler breakdowns).
This also makes the boiler ideal for homes that are located in areas suffering from hard water as they are more resistant to corrosion and the build-up of calcium deposits when compared to inferior, cheaper materials like aluminium.
Additionally, the EcoTec Plus comes with the IoniDetect to help maximise efficiency and the vSMART application, enabling you to control the boiler from the comfort of your mobile device(s).
Vaillant EcoTec Plus Boiler Review Conclusion
If you are considering the Vaillant EcoTec Plus, consider getting your new boiler installed with Heatable, here’s why:
Gas Safe installation within 24 hours.
Thousands of satisfied customers with an average score of 4.9 on Trustpilot, surpassing the market leader.
Which? Trusted Trader: Heatable is proudly recognised as a Which? Trusted Trader.
Price match guarantee: We will match any like-for-like cheaper quote.
Flexible payment options, including interest-free finance*.
Up to 12-year guarantee on selected boilers.
Fixed price guarantee: No hidden costs.
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