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Introduction
Conventional or ‘regular’ boilers are what you will probably find in older traditional households. This type of boiler utilises hot and cold water cylinders to store water.
If you want to find out more about conventional boilers, how they work, and where you can buy them, you’re in the right place.
In this guide, we’ll also answer some of the most common questions about regular boilers and the top suppliers you can consider.
What’s in this guide?
Top 8 Conventional Boiler Suppliers
1. British Gas
Type: Energy supplier
Pricing: £650+
Trustpilot Rating: 4.1/5
British Gas is one of the most well-known brands in the UK and have been operating for over 100 years both with supplying energy and offering extra services, such as boilers and boiler cover.
They work with different companies, such as Vaillant, Worcester-Bosch and Glow-worm to find the boiler that matches your needs.
2. Baxi
Type: Boiler manufacturer
Pricing: £621+
Trustpilot Rating: 4.6/5
Baxi can provide not only conventional or ‘heat only’ boilers but also combination or system boilers.
Their ‘heat only’ boilers come with a 3-year warranty, and they are best suited for those who want to replace an old system.
3. Vaillant
Type: Boiler supplier
Pricing: £715+
Trustpilot Rating: 4.4/5
Vaillant is a well-known boiler supplier in the UK that provides high quality and efficient solutions for boilers, enabling them to last a long time. In addition, these boilers are compact enough to fit within a cupboard.
In particular, their ecoFIT boiler is not only cost-effective but also convenient as it can be controlled via vSMART, which uses the internet.
4. Worcester-Bosch
Type: Boiler supplier
Pricing: £874+
Trustpilot Rating: 4.6/5
Worcester-Bosch was founded in 1962, and they have committed to the highest quality and standards of manufacturing since their inception over 50 years ago.
They can offer combination, system, and conventional boilers, which have a high-efficiency rating and budget-friendly costs.
5. Ideal Boilers
Type: Boiler supplier
Pricing: £779+
Trustpilot Rating: 4.8/5
Ideal Boilers has been around since the early 1900s, and they have been providing their customers with excellent quality boilers and equipment for over 100 years.
They offer their customers boiler solutions which have a 10-year warranty, a compact and low weight design, and frost protection.
6. Glow-worm
Type: Boiler supplier
Pricing: £622+
Trustpilot Rating: 4.6/5
Glow-Worm claims to be pioneers in the boiler industry, and they have provided their customers with a wide range of boilers, such as combination and regular.
Their A-rated regular boilers feature a great range of different outputs to match your specific needs. They’re also efficient and have a streamlined design.
7. Alpha
Type: Boiler supplier
Pricing: £625+
Trustpilot Rating: 4.6/5
Alpha has over 50 years of experience leading the way for the heating industry, combining their traditional business values with modern innovation.
They can offer conventional boilers fitted with a hot water cylinder. In addition, they come with a 7-year warranty, optional wiring, and backlit displays.
8. Vokera
Type: Boiler supplier
Pricing: £556+
Trustpilot Rating: 4.2/5
Vokera is an industry leader in heating technologies and provides solutions for domestic situations and business settings.
They have conventional and system boilers, as well as regular boilers with standard built-in quality and ease of installation.
FAQ
What is a conventional boiler?
A conventional or ‘regular’ boiler typically uses both hot and cold water cylinders to store your water. As such, you would need a lot of room for it. In addition, when the water runs out, you’ll need to save up more.
These types of boilers will traditionally use either oil or gas, which is used to slowly heat water over time then release when needed.
This method could give you the exact amount of water that you need, which is an excellent choice for larger families and homes.
How do conventional boilers work?
A conventional boiler will use gas or oil fuel to power a heat exchanger to warm up your water. A pump then transports the water to your hot water storage tank to use at any time.
This boiler could be used in your radiators and shower taps.
How much is a conventional boiler?
On average, a conventional boiler will cost you between £600 and £3,500 (excluding installation).
What is the advantage of having a conventional boiler?
While it’s true that there are some downsides to choosing a conventional boiler, there are many advantages which include:
✔ Excellent choice for larger homes.
✔ You can get hot water from several sources at once.
✔ There will still be the right amount of pressure if you use two sources of hot water at the same time.
What should I consider when getting a new conventional boiler?
These are the factors that you should consider if you are planning on getting or replacing your conventional boiler:
- You need to make sure that there is enough room to fit a conventional boiler, and a hot water cylinder and a cold water tank, which often goes in your loft.
- Usually, you will need to prepare ahead of time, as your regular boiler will take time to heat the water. Once the hot water is gone, you’ll need to wait for the next amount.
- Sometimes, your boiler will have controls so you can heat the water in your hot water cylinder.
What are the different types of boilers?
There are several different types of boilers:
- Conventional or ‘regular’ boilers.
- System boilers. These work with hot water cylinders to offer centralized heating.
- Combination or ‘combi’ boilers. These boilers offer both centralized heating and how water. They’re compact since they don’t need a hot water cylinder and cold water tank.
Each of these types has its advantages and disadvantages, which will depend on your budget and the size of your home.
Which type of boiler is best for me?
Deciding which boiler would fit your needs might depend on these factors:
- Your budget
- How much hot water you use
- The size of your home
- How many people are living at your home
- The amount of room you have
- Whether you have a loft
Can I still buy a conventional boiler?
While it’s true that you can still purchase a conventional boiler, you should analyse whether a conventional boiler is right for you.
For instance, a combination boiler is quickly becoming the favourite because it doesn’t require a hot or cold water cylinder.
Who is the best boiler manufacturer?
The best boiler manufacturer for you might depend on their customer service, reputation, and the various products they offer.
For example, British Gas has a wide selection of boilers, but their customer reputation on trusted websites like Trustpilot is relatively poor.
In contrast, Vaillant has a 4.4 rating on Trustpilot, but they have a more limited number of boilers to choose from.
How long do boilers traditionally last?
Boilers will usually last around 15 years. However, this might be longer if you ensure that you service your boiler annually.
When should I get a new boiler?
Here are the signs that you might need a new boiler:
- You need to call a gas engineer more than once a year.
- Your bills are increasing even if you aren’t using more energy.
- Either your boilers or your radiators are becoming noisy.
- The flame in your boiler is yellow instead of blue.
- There is an eggy smell, in which case you might have a gas leak.
- Your boiler is leaking water.
- You are struggling to find replacement parts.
- It isn’t working as effectively as it used to.
How can I pay for a new boiler?
You can pay either up front or over a few months in affordable installments.
Moreover, some companies can act as a credit broker. For example, British Gas can arrange a finance agreement, which could potentially fund up to 100% of the entire fee of your boiler (potentially two years interest-free).
You could also approach an alternative finance provider or a bank, in which case the price will depend on the type of provider you choose and your credit score.
How often should you have your boiler serviced?
Even if you aren’t experiencing problems with your boiler, you should still try to get it serviced yearly.
How long does servicing take?
Essential boiler services might only take around 30 minutes.
Conclusion
A conventional boiler might be an excellent fit for you depending on your circumstances, such as the size of your home or how many people live at your house.
Have you learnt everything you need to know about conventional boilers and which suppliers offer them?
Do you want to learn more about other boiler providers?
Check out the Ecopreneurist guides here or fill out the form at the top of the page.
