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Buying the best combi boiler, oil boiler or gas boiler
Not sure what the difference between a combination boiler and a heat-only boiler? Confused about whether to use a gas boiler or an oil-fired boiler for your hot water and central heating? This Which? video guide will help you decide.
Which? video guide to choosing the best boiler
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The Which? video guide to buying a boiler can also show you how to save money on your central heating, with boiler efficiency tips that will help cut your energy bills.
Best central heating and water boilers for your home
Choosing the best type of boiler for you
Your main decision when buying a new boiler is whether to buy a combination boiler, which provides heat for your radiators and domestic hot water on demand, or a system or heat-only boiler, which is connected to a hot water storage cylinder. Ask your chosen installer which type is best for your home.
Most new boilers are gas condensing boilers, which are far more energy-efficient than traditional boilers. More than 1.5 million homes in the UK use oil for their heating, however, but your heating bills with an oil boiler could cost twice as much as they would with a gas condensing boiler.
Our expert guide on how to buy the best boiler can help you choose which boiler to go for.
- Which? Best Buy boilers
- Condensing boilers explained
- How to buy the best boiler
- Boiler features explained
Getting a boiler installed
Any new boiler must be installed by a registered installer. For gas condensing boilers, this would be anyone listed on the Gas Safe register. Installation costs will vary enormously depending on how much work is required, but we have some boiler installation examples to help you figure out how much you can expect to pay for boiler installation.
Some gas companies have agreements with manufacturers to provide new boilers for their customers, so they're more likely to recommend a boiler for you than make it easy for you to choose your own. If you prefer to get a Which? Best Buy boiler, contact the manufacturer to get a list of local installers for their boilers.
Which are the best boiler brands?
Buying a new boiler is expensive and can be intimidating. The cost of the boiler is often eclipsed by the price of installation – plus there are safety issues to consider – so it’s crucial that you make the right choice for both the boiler and the installation service.
To help you choose a boiler, we rate the best boiler brands, including Worcester, Baxi, and British Gas, by asking more than 5,000 owners about their experiences with their boilers.
Save money with a new boiler
Central heating costs, particularly during the colder winter months, make up a large chunk or your household bills. You can keep heating costs down by making smart heating choices – a you up to £225 a year in heating costs.
All the Which? Best Buy boilers are very efficient. But being more efficient with your boiler doesn't just stop at the type of boiler you choose – there are other easy ways to .
Getting your boiler serviced
An annual boiler service can help to keep your boiler running for longer.
Keep your boiler in good working order
It's advisable to get your boiler serviced every year to make sure it stays in good working order. Watch our boiler service video guide to find out what good boiler service should include, check our guide to the cost of replacement boiler parts, and find out if it's worth getting boiler breakdown cover with our boiler servicing contract reviews.
