When choosing a boiler, you want to get the right one for your home. After all, your new boiler should be effectively heating your home for many years to come.
However, with a plethora of boiler options available on the market, it can be overwhelming to decide how to get a new boiler that perfectly aligns with your heating needs and budget.
To find the best heating solution for your home, we’ve prepared some boiler advice on how to choose a boiler. Together with our tips (and a heating engineer), buying a boiler won’t be that big of a challenge for you.
Yet finding boiler installers can become a daunting task when done alone. You risk getting stuck in a rut spending hours on never-ending googling and calls with no contacts at your fingertips. A busy homeowner like you doesn't have time for that after work!
Fortunately, Boiler Guide can relieve your stress. By completing our 30-second form you get up to 3 comparison quotes from local heating engineers. The quotes are free and come with no obligation to accept any of them. Click below to get started!
Boilers typically have a lifespan of 10-15 years but they can begin to lose their efficiency after 8 years. As efficiency drops, your heating bills will begin to increase.
Not only that, but as a boiler ages it becomes prone to operational issues. And if you’re calling out a heating engineer to fix your boiler on a regular basis then those repair bills will begin to add up. At this point, the most cost-effective decision you can make is to install a new boiler.
The cost of a repair would be more than a new boiler
You’ve noticed that your heating bills are on the rise
Your heating and hot water demands are no longer being met
You’re planning to sell or rent out your property - a new modern boiler will help to lift the efficiency rating of your home and make it more appealing to potential buyers or tenants
If you've noticed any of the above signs, then it's a good idea to get a boiler replacement sooner rather than later. Yet looking for the right boiler installer on your own can take days of your time and leave you stressed and anxious.
We can help you find your ideal boiler at the best price by putting you in touch with up to 3 qualified heating engineers from our network. Simply complete our short 30-second form to get started. It's completely free and you're not obliged to accept any offers you receive. Click the button below to get started.
When it comes to choosing a new boiler, you should consider:
Size of your property
Number of occupants
Hot water usage
Boiler’s energy efficiency (we recommend A-rated condensing)
Current fuel type and availability
Current heating system and the type of boiler you want installed
Budget
This information is crucial for choosing a boiler that best suits your requirements.
To get a new boiler in the UK, start by conducting thorough research and gathering boiler advice from reliable sources. It’s essential to seek expert boiler advice to ensure you make an informed decision. A Gas Safe registered engineer can assess your current heating system and provide recommendations on how to get a new boiler that will fit your specific needs.
Now let’s break down our boiler advice into 8 tips below.
1. Decide on the right type of boiler
The size of your property, the number of people living in it and the demand for heating and hot water will determine among all the boiler types available out there.
Combi
Combi boilers are the most modern and popular type of boiler in the UK. A combi is a single cost-effective heating system that doesn't need to be installed alongside any additional tanks or cylinders. Great news if your property has limited space available.
They deliver instant heating and hot water on demand as and when needed without the need for any tanks or cylinders. As a result, they're perfectly suited to homes with 1-2 bathrooms (depending on the output rating).
While combi boilers have a number of benefits, there are some considerations that need to be made too. As combi boilers take water directly from the mains, you will need a high water pressure at your property. Otherwise, the hot water that comes out of the tap will always be weak. Also, they're unable to deliver a strong supply of hot water to more than a single tap at a time (in most cases) which is why they're best suited to smaller properties.
System
A system boiler is a great option for homes with 2 or more bathrooms and a high demand for hot water. This is because, rather than heating water on demand, they store it in a hot water cylinder. If your property has a high demand for hot water then it's well worth the additional space.
While storing hot water in a cylinder does allow a system boiler to meet higher demands for hot water, there will be times when you need to wait for it to fill back up. This may, on occasion, postpone your bath for a little while – a problem you won't face with combi boilers.
Conventional
The conventional boiler goes by many names. They are called open-vent, heat-only, and regular to name a few. They're the oldest boiler type available and are commonly found in older properties built in the 1960s and 70s.
Like a system boiler, conventional boilers heat water for storage in a cylinder. However, in addition to needing a hot water cylinder, a feed and expansion tank is also necessary. This tank is fitted in the loft and delivers cold water down to the boiler as they don't take water directly from the mains.
As they're large heating systems in need of an extensive pipe network, they're only recommended for properties where this boiler type is already installed.
Not sure how to choose boiler options which will suit your home? Then you should seek expert boiler advice from a heating engineer.
We at Boiler Guide know how stressful and time-consuming searching for local engineers can be. That's why we offer a straightforward solution to help relieve you from the stress of spending hours on research.
Complete our 30-second form and we’ll connect you with up to 3 heating engineers near you. Compare their quotes to get the best deal, without having to accept any of them. Click below to get your free boiler quotes today.
Once you’re all done choosing a boiler for your home, you’ll need to select a model from one of the many UK boiler manufacturers.
The best boiler manufacturers in terms of homeowner reviews and installer feedback are widely considered to be (clickable):
Each of these manufacturers all 3 boiler types, mainly gas-fueled but with a couple offering oil boilers too.
Boiler Manufacturer
Fuels
Combi
Conventional
System
ATAG
Gas
+
+
+
Baxi
Gas
+
+
+
Ideal
Gas
+
+
+
Vaillant
Gas
+
+
+
Viessmann
Gas & oil
+
+
+
Worcester Bosch
Gas & oil
+
+
+
3. Choose the right size of boiler
Getting the boiler sizing right is vital.And by boiler size, we mean its power, which is measured in kilowatts (kW).
A suitable output for the boiler installed in your property will be determined by the size of your property and the number of people living in it. Getting the output rating right is essential. Otherwise, if it's too low it will struggle to meet demand and if it's too high then your heating bills could shoot up unnecessarily.
So, how do you know which output rating is best suited to your home? Well, below is a boiler sizing rule of thumb which you can use to get an idea of the right size boiler for your home.
Type of House
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Radiators
Suitable Central Heating Output Rating
Small house, flat or bungalow
1-2
1
Up to 10
24-27 kW
Medium bungalow or semi-detached house
3-4
2-3
10-15
28-34 kW
Large semi-detached or detached house
4+
2
15-20
35-42 kW
The above is very much a rule of thumb, you should always have your home's hot water demand assessed by a professional before going ahead with a boiler replacement.
4. Choose a place for your boiler
Modern boiler installations can be incredibly flexible. Giving you the freedom to choose where you'd like your boiler to be installed. Having it installed in a kitchen or utility room is by no means a requirement.
Most boilers manufactured nowadays are designed to be as compact as possible. So they won't take up too much space and many can be hidden away in a wall-mounted cupboard.
One necessity of gas and oil boiler installations is that they must be installed onto an external wall. This is so that waste gases can be easily emitted out and away from the property through the flue pipe.
Note that moving a boiler from one location to another will add to the costs of a boiler replacement.
5. Set your budget
For many people, the choice is often dictated by budget. Therefore, it's important to be clear on your budget - and, more importantly, make sure you stick to it.
With so many variables that can have an impact on the total cost of buying a new boiler, comparing quotes is vital. Take a look at the table below to see how much you might expect to pay.
Type of Boiler
Boiler Cost (excluding installation)
Average Cost to Install
Estimated Total Cost of a Full Boiler Replacement
Combi
£500 - £2,000
£500 - £1,000
£1,000 - £3,000
System
£500 - £2,500
£500 - £1,000
£1,000 - £3,500
Conventional
£500 - £2,750
£500 - £1,000
£1,000 - £3,750
The numbers in the above table are only estimates. To know the exact price of your new boiler, you will need to receive and compare quotes from multiple heating engineers. However, looking for quotes can be a tedious task when done alone. Days of googling and researching can drag on before you find quotes to compare.
Thankfully, we can help you to get started in less than a minute. Simply click the button below to receive your free quotes from up to 3 heating engineers. Our service is free and non-binding - you don’t have to accept any of the offers you receive. Click below to begin!
A boiler warranty will give you the peace of mind that you're covered in the unlikely event of an issue. All UK boiler manufacturers offer warranties on their boilers. However, the terms and length of the warranty will both vary depending on the manufacturer and model.
Boiler warranties typically vary from 1-10 years with some now going beyond 10 years. At the time of writing, ATAG boilers come with a 14-year warranty – the longest of any boiler available in the UK.
Boiler Manufacturer
Longest Available Warranty
ATAG
14 Years
Baxi
10 Years
Ideal
10 Years
Vaillant
10 Years
Viessmann
12 Years
Worcester Bosch
12 Years
The warranty of some boilers can be extended when installed by a heating engineer certified by the manufacturer. So it's worth asking the heating engineers who quote on your job about the warranties they can offer.
Before buying a new boiler, we highly recommend comparing quotes from at least 2 heating engineers. Taking the time to compare multiple quotes will put you in a great position when it comes to finding the right company for the job.
Not only that but comparing quotes will give you the greatest chance of securing the most competitive price. If you were to receive and accept a single quote then you wouldn't know if you were being overcharged.
At Boiler Guide, we can provide you with up to 3 free quotes from qualified heating engineers in your area. Click the button below to receive your free quotes and start comparing.
8. Check your installer's qualifications and reviews
The heating engineer you hire to install your new boiler must be fully qualified. This means hiring a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas boiler installations. Oil boilers must be installed by an OFTEC technician.
To make sure the installer is suitably qualified, you can check online. This means visiting the Gas Safe register and looking up the company that you're considering. In addition to this, always ask to see their ID card as soon as they arrive at your property.
All Boiler Guide heating engineers are fully certified and accredited and we check this on a daily basis.
As well as holding the right qualifications, it's a good idea to look through reviews from previous customers too.
When is the best time to replace your boiler?
The best time of year to replace your boiler is during the summer. Thanks to the higher temperatures at this time of year, you're far less likely to need the heating on. So going without it for 1-3 days (depending on the type of installation) will be far less noticeable than during the winter.
Plus, heating engineers tend to have more time in their diaries at this time of year. So, it could be easier for you to find a heating engineer and possibly even at a lower rate.
Don't wait to replace your boiler until your existing one completely breaks down. If this happens in the winter, it becomes an emergency situation and you won't have the time to really consider your options.
So plan ahead and consider buying a new boiler 8 years after installing your existing one.
We can help you get off to the best possible start when choosing a boiler. Our network of boiler installers stretches right across the UK and you can connect with installers in your area today.
Simply complete our online form – it will only take a minute – and you'll get free no-obligation quotes from up to 3 installers in your area.
