Is the Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 a system, regular or combi boiler?

When looking for a combi boiler for your house or flat, the Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 might be a suitable option for you.

The UK has some of the smallest homes in the Western world, which is partly why combi boilers were introduced in the 1970s. Traditional boilers require one or more large storage tanks which they use to either heat water and keep it warm or store water intended for heating later. These tanks took up a lot of space in people's homes.

Combi boilers save space because they don't require these tanks to operate. Instead, combis draw water direct from your mains supply then instantly heat and distribute it on demand.

The biggest disadvantage in using combi boilers is that they have a maximum capacity volume for heating water. While this may not be an issue in a small household, it could be for a larger household where there is higher demand for hot water. When more than one person is using the water, it is distributed between the two points, reducing the pressure and temperature at each point.

Would the Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 combi be a suitable choice of boiler for my house or flat?

To determine that, we need to consider the size of the boiler. Size doesn't mean how big it is - it means how big its "output" is.

The output rate of a boiler tells you how much power it has available to it for heating the water that comes out of your taps and warms your radiators. A higher output rate means that your boiler has more power at its disposal.

You need to make sure you select a boiler with the right output rate. That's because, if your output rate is too high, then your boiler will have more power than it needs but it will cost too much to run. If the output rate is too low, your water may often not be hot enough.

The Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 combi's output is 43 kW, so which types of property would this Vaillant ecoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 Combi boiler be appropriate for?

A Gas Safe boiler installer would recommend that, at this level of output, the most suitable type of property for this Vaillant ecoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 Combi boiler would be larger properties including detached homes with 15 or more radiators and two or more bathrooms.

With combi boilers, you need to consider the flow rate as well as the output rate. The flow rate (shown in litres per minute) measures how much water your boiler can draw from the mains which it then instantly heats and distributes to your taps and radiators.

However, a high flow rate is of little to no value if your local water pressure is low. If your local mains water pressure is 10l/m and your flow rate is 12l/m, your boiler will only be able to process 10l/m.

If you live in an area with high water pressure but your household has multiple bathrooms and/or radiators and many members of your household want to use hot water at the same time (like morning or evening baths or showers), it's unlikely that you'll be able to find a combi with a high enough flow rate.

As an indication, a power shower needs about 10 litres of water per minute, whereas the flow rate of this Vaillant ecoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 Combi boiler is 18 L/ml/m.

When our engineer comes out to quote you, they may recommend that you choose a heat only boiler or system boiler instead if your family's demand for hot water is higher than normal.

What are the proportions of a Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 boiler?

The Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive IQ 843's dimensions are 720 mm [H] x 440 mm [W] x 474 mm [D].

Is the Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 condensing or non-condensing?

Condensing boilers convert the warmth present in flue exhaust gases and water vapour condensation into heat which they then recycle to increase the temperature of the colder water returning to your system.

We recommend that homeowners choose a condensing boiler like the Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 for this reason - the more recent your model the better because the technology improves every year.

You'll benefit from lower quarterly gas bills and condensing boilers are also much more environmentally friendly.

Is the Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 combi boiler rated as environmentally friendly?

How we heat our homes is an issue which many homeowners worry about as the world combats climate change and environmental damage.

14% of the total amount of greenhouse gases produced by the UK comes from the central heating systems we use. In some of Britain's biggest cities, gas boilers create dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere.

Would choosing a Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 combi help in the fight against climate change? What do the performance statistics suggest?

Every boiler manufactured and supplied in the UK must have an energy efficiency rating of 92% (SEDBUK “A” rating). These minimums were made law in April 2018 - before that, the minimum energy efficiency rating was 88% (88%/89% = "B" SEDBUK grade, 90%+ = "A" SEDBUK grade).

The Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 was awarded an efficiency rating of 94% and a band rating of "A".

Energy efficiency ratings for boilers describe the amount of energy they use and waste when switched on and working.

The Energy Related Products Directive grades products according to the energy they consume and the harmful gas emissions they create, from manufacturing right through to final disposal, including how they're used by customers between these two points.

The Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 is rated "A" for heat and "A" for water.

How long is the warranty offered by the manufacturer for the Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 boiler?

Parts and labour charges incurred for repairs made to your new Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive IQ 843 are covered by a 5 year warranty.