If you live in a large house, then you definitely need a powerful boiler that can meet your home’s demand for hot water. It is common for large houses to use a regular or a system boiler for their heating and hot water due to their ability to store water in a hot water cylinder. That being said, certain types of combi boilers can be suitable for houses with more than one bathroom. This blog will help you find out about the best boiler for a large house.

What are the main types of boilers?

There are 3 types of boilers: combi, system and regular boilers. Each one of these systems works differently and can be suited for different kinds of homes.

For homes with 1 bathroom, then combi boilers are most suited as they provide hot water on demand without the need to store hot water. However, in some cases, a combi boiler can be used in homes with 2 bathrooms, provided that the output rating is high enough.

On the other hand, a system or a regular boiler is recommended for homes with 2 or more bathrooms. These boilers have the ability to store hot water in a cylinder so you’ll have more hot water available.

A regular boiler is a complex heating system with an additional water feed tank in the loft and extra pipework. You should consider installing a regular boiler if you already have one installed at home.

A system boiler can be considered as an updated version of the regular boiler. System boilers differ in the fact that they take water directly from the main rather than a tank in the loft. Switching to a system boiler can help save up some space in your home as you will be getting rid of the cold water tank.

Read more: Best Brands of System Boilers

What to consider when buying a boiler for a large house?

There are certain factors to consider when choosing a boiler for a large house. We have prepared a simple guide of the main and most important factors.

Efficiency

Generally speaking, all modern boilers have high efficiency levels. This is achieved due to using condensing technology. With this technology not much of the energy is lost during the heating process.

An ABC banding scale is used for measuring the efficiency of a boiler. This rating is known as the ErP rating. Almost all new boilers are A-rated but you can check their efficiency rating out of 100% to know more. You should always aim for a high efficiency level in order to lower your energy bills.

Output size

When we say output size, we really are talking about a boiler’s power. This output rating is measured in kilowatts (kW). Combi boilers feature two output ratings: a central heating (CH) output and a domestic hot water (DHW) output. On the other hand, system and regular boilers come with one output rating because domestic hot water is directly taken from the hot water cylinder.

The size of the boiler that you need will depend on your hot water and heating demand and the number of radiations and bathrooms in your home.

Guarantee / Warranty

Without a doubt, boiler manufacturers provide some kind of warranty or guarantee. However, each one will differ on how long they last and if they are standard warranties or extended ones. And more than often, some manufacturers would offer different warranties for their different boiler range.

Price

When we talk about the price of a boiler then we must include two things. The first being obviously the price of the boiler and the second being the cost of installation. Although the difference in price shouldn’t be your main concern when buying a boiler, it is still an important factor to keep in mind.

Read about: Best combi boilers & boiler brands

What is the best combi boiler for a large house?

It is commonly thought that combi boilers are not powerful enough to be used in a large property. However, there are some types of combi boilers with large capacity available in the market.

Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life 50

This is the most powerful combi boiler in the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life 50 range. It is both a compact and a highly efficient combi boiler. Due to its powerful output it can support a house of around 15 radiators and 2 bathrooms. You can also get a 5 year warranty that can be extended to 12.

Main features of the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life 50

• Has an efficiency rating of 94%
• Hot water max output of 48.9kW
• Central heating max output of 35kW
• Boiler cost: £2,100 (inc VAT) without installation
• Standard warranty of 5 years which can be extended to 12

Ideal Vogue Max C40

This boiler is suitable for a house with about 15 radiators and 2 bathrooms. It has a 10 year warranty which can be extended to 12. What is more, the C40 is known for its quick and easy installation so as a result it has lower labour costs.

Main features of the Ideal Vogue Max C40

• Has an efficiency rating of 94%
• Hot water max output of 40kW
• Central heating max output of 32kW
• Boiler cost: £1,320 (inc VAT) without installation
• Standard warranty of 10 years which can be extended to 12

Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 938

This highly efficient boiler has an integrated hot water storage device that can provide hot running water in 5 seconds. Moreover, it can deliver about 20 litres of hot water per minute. You would get a standard warranty of 5 years which can be extended to 7 or 10 years.

Main features of the Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 938

• Has an efficiency rating of 94%
• Hot water max output of 38.7kW
• Central heating max output of 30.9kW
• Boiler cost: £1,700 (inc VAT) without installation
• Standard warranty of 10 years which can be extended to 12

Read about: Navien Boiler Error Codes / Fault Codes

Vaillant Combi Boilers Reviews

What are the Advantages of Combi Boilers?

1. A combi boiler is very efficient

A combi boiler is very efficient when it comes to energy consumption. It would save you a lot of money since it can be used for both providing hot water and heating your home.

2. They are small in size

A combi boiler is perfect for a house that is small in size. You will not need to have space for a water tank or cylinder due to the fact that a combi boiler takes water from the mains directly.

3. On-demand hot water

With a combi boiler you don’t need to worry about having enough water in the hot water storage. It will provide hot water instantly.

4. Installation Flexibility

Combi boilers are relatively small and consist of a single unit. As a result, they can offer more flexibility when it comes to their Installationplace.

Read more: Best Ground Source Heat Pumps and Prices

What are the Disadvantages of Combi Boilers?

It’s worth mentioning that their advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

1. The Flow Rate is Limited

Using two or more taps at the same time will reduce the water flow rate. For one thing, a combi boiler is not recommended for those who live in larger homes or those who have multiple bathrooms.

3. Relying on water pressure from the mains

A combi boiler heats the water coming from the mains. It won’t work adequately if your water pressure is low.

In conclusion:

• Perfect for homes with limited space
• A hot water storage cylinder and a cold water tank are not needed
• Unsuitable for larger homes with many bathrooms or a high demand for hot water
• Inadequate for places with low water pressure

What is the best system boiler for a large house

System boilers are perfect for homes with multiple bathrooms, especially if there is space for the unvented hot water cylinder.

Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 630

The ecoTEC Plus 630 system boiler can be used in homes with up to 20 radiators. And there’s another 37kW unit which is more powerful and suitable for larger homes. This unit has a standard warranty of 5 years which can be extended to 10.

Main features of the

• Has an efficiency rating of 94%
• Central heating max output of 30.4kW
• Boiler cost: £1,360 (inc VAT) without installation
• Standard warranty of 5 years which can be extended to 10

Ideal Vogue Max S32

This boiler has an efficiency rating of 93%. It is compact and can be installed inside a cupboard. It can be used in homes with 15 to 20 radiators. The Vogue Max S32 has a 10 year extensive warranty that can be extended to 1

Main features of the Ideal Vogue Max S32

• Has an efficiency rating of 93%
• Central heating max output of 32kW
• Boiler cost: £1,256 (inc VAT) without installation
• Standard warranty of 10 years which can be extended to 12

Baxi Platinum Plus 32

This model has an Adey Micro2 magnetic filter. The purpose of this magnetic filter is to catch debris within the system and prevent such things from blocking your system. The Baxi Platinum Plus 32 is suitable for 15 to 20 radiators.

Main features of the Baxi Platinum Plus 32

• Has an efficiency rating of 92%
• Central heating max output of 32kW
• Boiler cost: £1,030 (inc VAT) without installation
• Standard warranty of 10 years

Read about: Biasi Boiler Error Codes / Fault Codes 

Main Boiler Error Codes / Fault Codes

What are the Advantages of System Boilers?

A large supply of hot water

Generally, with a system boiler you can store large quantities of hot water to use later on. This is very useful when you are using multiple taps, showers and radiators at the same time.

The ability to use solar energy.

Without a doubt, connecting the correct cylinder to the system will enable you to use solar panels. This is not only environmentally friendly but it is also cost-effective and will save you some money.

Needs less space than a regular boiler

Of course, system boilers are easier to install and need less space than regular boilers. Moreover, they do not need an expansion tank or external expansion vessels

Economical and fast

Lastly, system boilers consist of a pump. As a result, they respond fast and have more economic running cost.

Important things to consider in System Boilers

There are also some drawbacks to installing a system boiler that you should keep in mind. Here are a few of them:

System boilers need more space than combi boilers

Although they take less space than regular boilers, they still require more space than combi boilers because of the external cylinder. Overall, this can be a huge problem in smaller homes when it comes to installations.

Busier times means more patience

Firstly, your cylinder will be sized in advance to cover your household need of water (usually 50 litres of hot water stored per person). However, in times when you have more visitors than usual and your use of hot water is doubled, your hot water storage may run dry. As a result, you will have to wait 30-40 minutes while your boiler is reheating the cylinder again.

Read more: Ferroli Boiler Error Codes / Fault codes List

What is the best regular boiler for a large house?

Regular boilers are usually installed in homes that already have a regular boiler that needs to be replaced. Heat only or regular boilers get their water from a tank in the attic and so they will need to be connected to a vented hot water cylinder to store hot water.

It is recommended that you install a system or a combi boiler if you don’t have a regular boiler. Regular boilers are complex to install if you don’t have one already.

Ideal Logic Max Heat H30

This boiler is perfect for homes with up to 20 radiators. It has a large digital display for better user interface. This highly efficient boiler has a warranty of 10 years that can be extended to 12.

Main features of the Ideal Logic Max Heat H30

• Has an efficiency rating of 93%
• Central heating max output of 30.3kW
• Boiler cost: £1,116 (inc VAT) without installation
• Standard warranty of 10 years

Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life 35

This is one of the most efficient regular boilers. It has an efficiency rating of 94%. The Greenstar 8000 Life has a standard 5 year warranty that can be extended to 12. It features a full colour LCD display to offer simple control and navigation.

Main features of the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life 35?

• Has an efficiency rating of 94%
• Central heating max output of 30kW
• Boiler cost: £1,545 (inc VAT) without installation
• Standard warranty of 5 years

Vaillant ecoTEC plus 430

The Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 430 features two-stage frost protection. This technology allows it to be installed in cold rooms like the attic or the garage. Its warranty can be extended from 5 to 10 years.

Main features of the Vaillant ecoTEC plus 430?

• Has an efficiency rating of 94%
• Central heating max output of 30.5kW
• Boiler cost: £1,165 (inc VAT) without installation
• Standard warranty of 5 years

What are the advantages of Regular Boilers?

To get what you exactly need, you should take a look at the pros and cons of regular boilers. There are a lot of things to think of when it comes to choosing the most suitable boiler for you. So here are some of the most important things to keep in mind:

Replacement is simple and easy

Replacing your old regular boiler with a newer version is less costly and damaging to your home. So it’s always the safer option to go with if you don’t want to spend a lot or worry about damages.

Read about: Sime Boiler Error Codes / Fault Codes

Meets your high demand of heating and hot water

If you have a home with multiple bathrooms, then a regular boiler is a great choice. It can meet your demand for hot water and heating. With a large capacity to store hot water, it means that you can use several taps and outlets at the same time.

More efficiency

Older boilers with no condensing technology should be replaced with a condensing boiler. Condensing boilers are more efficient and consume less energy. As a result, they will reduce the cost of your heating bills. Nowadays, some regular boilers are 97% efficient.

Able to have an immersion heater as a backup

A backup immersion heater would make sure that you don’t go out without hot water in case your boiler breaks down. The immersion heater would be fitted in the hot water cylinder.

Solar compatibility

Presently, you can use solar thermal panels to produce hot water using solar power. Just make sure that your cylinder and the model you buy are compatible with solar thermal.

Hot water isn’t always instant in busier times

Once you use all the stored hot water in your cylinder, you have to wait for some time to be able to use hot water again. Always buy a cylinder with the capacity to meet your hot water demands and needs.

Needs lots of space

Regular boilers need space for the water tank and the hot water cylinder. That’s why it’s not a good choice for smaller homes that don’t have much space. For smaller homes, a combi boiler is more suitable.

Installation can be costly

Because there are many parts to be installed around the house, a new boiler installation can be pricey. Aside from being expensive it can also take a lot of time.

FAQs