Boiler size is about hot water demand more than house size. For a combi, a home with one bathroom is usually well served by 24 to 30 kW; two bathrooms, or a large bath plus a high-flow shower, point to 30 to 35 kW; several showers used at the same time usually mean a system boiler with a cylinder instead. We size it at the survey from your mains flow rate and pressure, not from a brochure.
For most homes we recommend Ideal or Vaillant. Both carry manufacturer warranties of up to 12 years when installed and serviced by an approved installer, parts are stocked locally, and both cope well with the hard water we have across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. The right boiler is the one sized correctly for your hot water demand and fitted with a magnetic filter and a scale reducer; the badge matters less than the installation.
A straightforward like-for-like combi swap is usually done in one day. Moving the boiler to a new position, converting from a system boiler and cylinder to a combi, or running a new flue route takes one and a half to two days. We tell you the realistic time at the survey and you have hot water again before we leave on the last day.
Before you choose, read our guides