A large house needs a powerful boiler.
More often than not, the best boiler for a large 5 bedroom house will be a system or regular boiler. This is because they store hot water in a cylinder which your home will need if it has 2 or more bathrooms.
However, there are also high power combi boilers that can heat your home effectively if you have 1-2 bathrooms alongside your 5 bedrooms.
In the same way that we help you compare boilers, we can also help you compare quotes from different Gas Safe registered heating engineers. Comparing multiple quotes is critical to finding the best boiler prices and eliminating the risk of overpaying.
To get started, just answer questions about your current heating system by clicking the link below. In return, you'll receive free quotes from up to 3 different registered and vetted installers. You receive the quotes with no-obligations.
There are 3 different types of boilers in the uk. All of these operate in different ways and are therefore better suited for some homes more than others.
Combination boilers are best suited to homes with 1 bathroom. This is because a combi heats water on demand (without storing it), which can weaken the flow of water if more than one person wants a bath or shower at the same time. They can sometimes be suitable for homes with 2 bathrooms if the output rating (a measurement of the boiler’s power and also known as boiler size) is high enough.
Homes with 2 or more bathrooms should consider a system boiler or a traditional boiler, as these boilers store hot water in a cylinder. This means there’s more hot water to go around.
You should only consider a new regular boiler if you already have one installed. This is because they are complex heating systems with the need for additional water feed tanks in the loft and extra pipe work, which will all increase your installation costs.
A system boiler is a modern version of the regular boiler, as they take water from the mains (rather than a tank in the loft). Changing from a regular to a system boiler would help modernise your heating system and free up some loft space.
Comparing boilers for a large house
When choosing a boiler there are several things you need to consider. We’ve broken down the top 4 factors below.
Efficiency
All modern boilers are highly efficient. This is thanks to condensing boiler system technology which means they turn more fuel into heat for your home and hot water.
All boilers are given an efficiency rating on an ABC banding scale (with A being the most efficient band), this is known as the ErP rating. Most new boilers will be A-rated, but it is also worth checking their efficiency rating out of 100%. The closer they are to 100%, the lower your bills will be.
When we talk about boiler sizing, we’re talking about its power. This is known as the output rating and is measured in kilowatts (kW). Combi boilers have two output ratings - one for central heating (CH) and another for domestic hot water (DHW). Regular and system boilers only have one output rating, as the domestic hot water is taken directly from the hot water cylinder.
A common question is "what kW boiler do I need?". The answer will largely depend on your hot water and heating demand and how many radiators and bathrooms you have.
Warranty/Guarantee
Each different boiler manufacturer provides a warranty/guarantee for their boilers. What these include, how long they last for, and whether they are standard or extended, differs by manufacturer. Some manufacturers provide different warranties for different boilers in their range.
If you want to ensure peace of mind for as long as possible, you’ll want the best boiler guarantee that insures you for a long time.
Price
The cost of a new boiler consists of 2 things: The cost of the boiler and the cost of the installation. When comparing boilers, there can be a big difference between their prices. While this shouldn't be your only deciding factor when choosing a boiler, it’s definitely worth considering if you can save a decent amount of money upfront.
To compare boilers against these factors in more detail and make the right choice for your home, you can use our boiler price comparison tool.
Combi boilers are not commonly considered to be powerful enough for use within a large house. However, there are several large capacity combi boilers available on the market. To save you some time and effort, we've provided our top 3 picks of combi boilers for large houses below:
Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life 50
Worcester Bosch's most powerful boiler in their range, the Greenstar Life 50 is both compact and highly efficient. Its output ratings make it suitable for a home with around 15 radiators, 2 bathrooms and an ensuite. It comes with a 5 year warranty as standard that can be extended to 12 years.
Find out more about the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life 50:
Efficiency: 94%
Central Heating Max Output: 35kW
Hot Water Max Output: 48.9kW
Standard Warranty: Up to 12 years
Cost (excl. installation): £2,100 (inc VAT)
Ideal Vogue Max C40
The Ideal Vogue Max C40 is best suited to homes with around 15 radiators and 2 bathrooms. It comes with a 10 year warranty as standard that can be extended to 12 years. The C40 has also been designed for quick and easy installation which could help to reduce labour costs.
Find out more about the Ideal Vogue Max C40.
Efficiency: 93%
Central Heating Max Output: 32kW
Hot Water Max Output: 40kW
Standard Warranty: 10 years
Cost (excl. installation): £1,323 (inc VAT)
Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 938
This highly efficient combi gas boiler comes with many features and benefits. One of these features is the integrated hot water storage device which can provide hot running water in 5 seconds, and deliver up to 20 litres of hot water per minute. It comes with a 5 year warranty as standard that can be extended to 7-10 years.
Find out more about the Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 938.
For larger houses with multiple bathrooms, system boilers are the best option. Especially if you already have space for an unvented hot water cylinder. You can find our top 3 picks below.
Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 630
This system boiler has a high efficiency rating of 94%. It's suitable for homes with up to 20 radiators and there’s a more powerful 37kW unit available for even larger properties. The ecoTEC Plus 630 comes with a 5 year warranty as standard which can be extended to a maximum of 10 years.
Find out more about the Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 630.
Efficiency: 94%
Central Heating Max Output: 30.4kW
Standard Warranty: 10 years
Cost (excl. installation): £1,363 (inc VAT)
Ideal Vogue Max S32
The Vogue Max S32 system boiler comes with an extensive 10 year warranty as standard which can be extended to 12 years. It has an efficiency rating of 93%, and is compact enough to install inside a cupboard. It is suitable for homes with 15 – 20 radiators.
Find out more about the Ideal Vogue Max S32.
Efficiency: 93%
Central Heating Max Output: 32kW
Standard Warranty: 10 years
Cost (excl. installation): £1,258 (inc VAT)
Baxi Platinum Plus 32
Well-suited to homes with 15-20 radiators, this Baxi system boiler includes an Adey Micro2 magnetic filter which is designed to catch debris within the system and prevent it from causing a blockage. The Baxi Platinum Plus 32 comes with a 10 year warranty as standard.
Find out more about the Baxi Platnium Plus 32kW system boiler.
If you already have a regular boiler installed in your home, you may want to replace it with a similar model. As most regular boilers will require a water supply from a tank in the attic, they will need to be coupled with a vented hot water storage cylinder to allow for hot running water.
If you don't already own a regular boiler, it is recommended to install a system or combi boiler due to the installation complexity of a regular boiler. Here are our top 3 regular boiler picks:
Ideal Logic Max Heat H30
Well suited to properties with up to 20 radiators, this highly efficient boiler sports a large digital display for ease of use, and comes with a 10 year warranty as standard which can be extended to 12 years.
Find out more about the Ideal Logic Max Heat H30.
Efficiency: 93%
Central Heating Max Output: 30.3kW
Standard Warranty: 10 years
Cost (excl. installation): £1,117 (inc VAT)
Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life 35
With an efficiency rating of 94%, the Greenstar 8000 Life is one of the most energy efficient regular boilers on the market. It comes with a 5 year warranty as standard which can be extended to 12 years, and has a full colour LCD display for simple navigation and control.
Find out more about the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life 35kW.
Efficiency: 94%
Central Heating Max Output: 35kW
Standard Warranty: up to 12 years
Cost (excl. installation): £1,546 (inc VAT)
Vaillant ecoTEC plus 430
This highly efficient boiler has two-stage frost protection which allows for it to be installed in colder rooms such as a garage or in the attic, and still run effectively, even in the depths of winter. It comes with a 5 year warranty as standard which can be extended to a maximum of 10 years.
Find out more about the Vaillant ecoTEC plus 430.
Efficiency: 94%
Central Heating Max Output: 30.5kW
Standard Warranty: 5 years
Cost (excl. installation): £1,167 (inc VAT)
Getting the best price
Whether you decide to get a combi, system or regular boiler for a large property, you will always want to get it installed for the best price. To ensure you don’t overpay, we highly recommend getting comparison quotes from different Gas Safe registered engineers in your area.
Fortunately, we can help you with that! Simply click the link below and provide some basic details about your boiler needs, and we’ll get you free no-obligation comparison quotes from up to 3 heating engineers in your area.
What is the best boiler for a 5 bedroom house?
Typically, the best boiler type for a large house will be either a system boiler or a regular boiler. This is simply because they're able to meet the higher hot water and heating demand better than a combi boiler.
What are the available combi boilers for a large house?
We researched the best combi boilers for a large 5 bedroom house and found that they were the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life 50, the Ideal Vogue Max C40, and the Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 938. Each have different specifications which makes them better suited for different houses.
What are the combi boiler prices for a 5 large house? Combi boilers aren't typically used for such large houses. But some manufacturers, such as Vokera, market models with outputs that go as high as 42kW - which would be enough for a 5 bedroom house.
How many kW boiler do I need for a 5 bed house?
Generally, a boiler for a 5 bed house will need outputs that range between 26kW and 30kW if you're looking for a system or regular boiler and between 31kW – 42kW if you're looking for a combi boiler. The needed outputs are different because a combi boiler needs more energy to heat water on-demand.
Nick has a wide range of experience writing about conventional and renewable heating solutions, and is always increasing his knowledge by researching any new heating technologies on the horizon.
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