Have you been looking for a new boiler for your 5-bedroom house? Then you may have heard that combi boilers are not suitable for such a large home. Even if this statement is undoubtedly on track, it is not 100% accurate.
Combi boilers do work better in small to medium size houses. However, some models are powerful enough to run around 15 radiators (approximately 4 to 6 bedrooms) and supply hot water to 2 bathrooms used simultaneously.
Keep reading to find out the top 3 combi boilers meeting the central heating and hot water demand of a 5-bedroom house.
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What is a combi boiler?
A combi boiler is a central heating boiler and water heater in one single appliance. They fire up to heat water on demand and don’t need additional tanks or cylinders for storing hot water, as system and regular boilers do. Their compact size has made them a trendy choice for UK homeowners.
Concerning power, any boiler’s technical specifications include this information as ‘output rating’, measured in kilowatts (kW). Combi boilers have two output ratings: one for central heating (CH) and another for domestic hot water (DHW).
PS you could be eligible for a free boiler if you are eligible based on the UK governments ECO grants.
What to check when choosing a combi boiler for a 5-bedroom house
If you own a 5-bedroom house, you need a powerful boiler. You must also take into account that, generally, large homes have more than 1 bathroom. If you buy a combi boiler whose DHW output is not high enough, the hot water flow to your showers may weaken when two persons take showers in separate bathrooms at the same time.
Typically, a combi boiler should have a CH output between 31kW-42kW and a DHW output between 38.5kW-50kW to meet the demands of a 5-bedroom house. Efficiency, warranty, and price are other factors you must consider.
Top 3 combi boilers for large houses
After comparing different combi boilers available on the market, these are our 3 top picks:
1) Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life 50kW Combi Gas Boiler
This is a compact, highly-efficient condensing boiler designed and manufactured by Worcester Bosch. It is the most powerful combi boiler in the Greenstar 8000 Life series.
- Output rating. CH: 35kW / DHW: 48.9kW. It is powerful enough to run around 15 radiators and supply hot water to 2 bathrooms and an en suite.
- Efficiency. The Greenstar 8000 has a seasonal efficiency rating of 94%, awarding it with an ErP A-rating for heat and hot water.
- Warranty. 5-year standard warranty. It can be extended to 12 years when installed by a Worcester Bosch Accredited Installer.
- Estimated price. Boiler only: approximately £2,100. Its typical total price (including VAT, sundries, and installation cost) ranges from £2,900 to £3,400.
2) Ideal Vogue Max C40 Combi Gas Boiler
This is a condensing combi gas boiler manufactured by Ideal Heating. Engineers designed it for wall-mounted installation.
- Output rating. CH: 32kW / DHW: 40kW. This combi boiler is suitable for properties with around 15 radiators and 2 bathrooms.
- Efficiency. The Vogue Max C40 is a highly-efficient boiler. It has a seasonal efficiency rating of 93% and ErP A-rating for heat and hot water.
- Warranty. Vogue Max combi boilers come with a standard 10 years warranty. You can extend it to 12 years when installed by an Ideal Max Accredited installer.
- Estimated price. Boiler only: approximately £1,320. Its typical total price (including VAT, sundries, and installation cost) ranges from £2,123 to £2,623.
3) Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 938 Combi Gas Boiler
The Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 938 is a powerful and highly-efficient condensing combi gas boiler. It can deliver up to 20 litres of hot water per minute.
- Output rating. CH: 30.9kW / DHW: 38.7kW. It can run up to 15 radiators and supply hot water to 2 bathrooms.
- Efficiency. It is a highly-efficient boiler with an efficiency of 94% and ErP A-rating for both heating and hot water.
- Warranty. 5-year standard warranty. It can be extended to 7 or even 10 years when installed by a Vaillant Advance installer.
- Estimated price. Boiler only: approximately £1,700. Its typical total price (including VAT, sundries, and installation cost) ranges from £2,503 to £3,003.
