Vaillant ecoTEC plus Boiler Review

Our thoughts:

The Vaillant ecoTEC Plus Boiler is an award-winning, well-designed boiler that is perfect for homes with up to 2 bathrooms. It has been engineered with low volume and optimised performance in mind.

A global brand

Vaillant has won awards for its boiler design. Designed in Germany and manufactured in Derbyshire, they have a reputation for reliability and improving performance. For instance, they have reduced the decibel volume of this model to an average operating sound of 46dB, making it one of the quietest boilers on the market. If you have it installed in your kitchen or bathroom, you won’t be disturbed even when it is running at full capacity.

However, it is worth noting that the energy efficiency rating for the ecoTEC Plus, while high, can be beaten by competitors.

Choose the right model for your needs

The ecoTEC Plus is available as a combi, system or regular boiler, in either 48 or 64kW for the latter. A combi boiler heats water directly from the mains, as well as provide energy for central heating from one unit. This instantaneous heating will reduce energy waste and help to minimise water inefficiency in your home. A system boiler requires a cylinder and can supply hot water to multiple taps simultaneously. A standard boiler uses a storage tank to heat water. The right model for you will depend on your water usage and the number of bathrooms in your property.

Flow rate and output

As the Vaillant EcoTEC Plus is available with a maximum central heating output of 38 kW, there is a model available that is comfortable enough to heat a big 4 bedroom house with around 10 to 13 radiators. Therefore, if you have a smaller sized home, you are probably better off opting for a smaller model. In terms of hot water, the 838 produces around 15.9 litres per minute straight into your taps. This boiler is ideal if your home has two bathrooms, as you will be able to run a bath and two showers with it. A word of warning though, you should test the water pressure coming into your home’s system beforehand, because you won’t get the optimal experience from your new boiler if you don’t have enough water pressure coming from your mains water supply.

Compact size and other key features

If you have serious concerns about the impact your new boiler will have on available space in your home, the EcoTec Plus is ideal for you.  As there is no need for a separate storage tank or hot water cylinder, this boiler has a very streamlined and compact design that will fit inside a kitchen cupboard.  On top of that, it’s a well-designed, great looking boiler, so it won’t be an eyesore.

Uses the latest smart technology

The ecoTec Plus features Vaillant’s vSMART™ energy management system and can be integrated with other energy systems like Nest or Hive. It is designed to be compliant with Vaillant controls so we recommend you install with vSMART or VRC 700 to access remote control and troubleshooting as well as the smart weather compensation system.

Reduce gas and electricity consumption

The UK government has committed to achieving a net-zero emissions rating within the next decade. The energy market remains volatile, so seeking an economical boiler should be a priority for homeowners when replacing a boiler.

Vaillant can help you reduce your household’s carbon emissions and save money on your energy bills. The secondary heat exchanger provides optimal heat transfer and efficient performance, even during cold weather.

Warranty

While it is fair to say we hope you don’t have a problem with your Vaillant boiler, but it is as well to have a little foresight into what your options are if something goes wrong.  Vaillant provides a standard 5-year warranty, as well as fully dedicated engineers who know their way around a Vaillant machine like no other.  However, a standard warranty of 5 years is not that amazing compared to other manufacturers who offer up to 12-year warranties.

Efficiency rating

Whilst the Vaillant EcoTEC Plus is an A-rated condensing boiler, it only offers efficiency of 89.3% Whilst this would have once been impressive, it comes up to short now compared to the similarly priced competition. For instance, the Viessmann Vitodens 200-W goes up to a whopping 98% efficiency when used with smart controls and weather compensation, and comes in at a fairly similar price.

So is a difference of almost 9% really an issue? The short answer is yes. As the famous saying goes, every drop fills the pot. That 9% extra fuel saved goes a long way in the long-term, saving you tons of money on your energy bills. What’s even more incredible is that the Viessmann 200-W is only about £100 more expensive. Seasons will come and go, and especially with the stainless steel heat exchanger inside the Viessmann, carrying 10 years warranty, your boiler will keep running at the highest efficiency for a long, long time. Because when it comes down to it and you are looking for something with reliability in the long-term, every extra % is very important.

Price

The Vaillant EcoTEC Plus is more expensive than boilers of a similar specification.  On the surface, this may mistakenly make Vaillant seem like a premium product but surprisingly and unfortunately it’s not.  Viessmann for instance is able to offer a more attractive price point because they manufacture their Inox-Radial stainless steel heat exchanger and condensate+pressure release valve components in-house.  Whereas Vaillant source a lot of those components from third parties.

Also, when you take into consideration the fact that Viessmann 050-W and 100-W have a smaller, more compact design, have the same or higher efficiency than the Vaillant, and are cheaper by almost £200 to £400 (for the 050-W), these little points add together to make them a lot more substantial.