Is the Vaillant EcoTEC Plus 838 boiler a combi, system or regular boiler?

The Vaillant EcoTEC Plus 838 is worthy of consideration if you're looking for a combi boiler for your flat or house.

In the past, most boilers needed one or more storage tanks to operate - one to store warm water and the other for storing water to be heated later. But storage tanks are problematic in properties where space is at a premium and particularly where there is no loft. Many properties in the UK are small and so manufacturers introduced combi boilers in the 1970s to eliminate the need for tanks.

With a combi boiler, the hot water for your radiators and taps is delivered on demand. The boiler instantly heats water it draws directly from the mains internally. It then distributes the heated water around your home at mains pressure as you need it.

It is important to bear in mind that, while combi boilers have many benefits, they can only heat a certain volume of water at any given time. This means that, if you run a shower at the same time as someone else is doing the washing up in the kitchen, the volume of water passing to each point will drop, causing a fall in pressure.

Is a Vaillant EcoTEC Plus 838 combi boiler suitable for my apartment or house?

You should make sure that the boiler you install in your property is the right "size". And size doesn't mean its physical dimensions, size means how much power it has - the "output".

Output measures in kilowatts how much power a boiler can use when heating water for your radiators or taps. The higher the output rate, the more water it can heat.

If the output rate is too low, your hot water might often be only lukewarm, and if it is too high, you will be paying more for your gas than you need to.

The Vaillant EcoTEC Plus 838 combi boiler has an output of 38.7 kW, so which types of property would it be most appropriate for?

An experienced Gas Safe boiler installer would be likely to recommend that this Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 838 Combi boiler is capable of providing heating and hot water to 15 or more radiators and two or more bathrooms and would therefore be most suitable for larger properties including detached homes.

If you are thinking about installing a combi boiler like the Vaillant EcoTEC Plus 838 in your home, you should consider flow rates as well as output rates. This Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 838 Combi boiler's flow rate is 16 L/m.

The flow rate indicates the maximum volume of water (measured in litres per minute) that your boiler can heat up and send to your radiators, taps and showers at any one time. The more taps and showers that could be in use simultaneously or the greater the number of radiators you have, the higher the flow rate you need.

However, you should establish what the mains pressure is at your property as a combi boiler can only heat the water that comes into your home.

For example, if your mains pressure is 12 litres per minute, your boiler can only heat and distribute hot water at a rate of 12 litres per minute even if it has a higher flow rate capacity. Typically, a power shower will require 10 litres of water per minute.

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.

Where will the Vaillant EcoTEC Plus 838 fit in my house?

The Vaillant EcoTEC Plus 838 measures 720 mm tall, 440 mm wide, and 406 mm deep.

Is the Vaillant EcoTEC Plus 838 a condensing or non-condensing boiler?

The Vaillant EcoTEC Plus 838 boiler is a condensing gas boiler and we recommend that you select one of the latest models if possible.

Condensing boilers reduce homeowners' gas bills and are better for the environment. They do this by capturing and recycling the heat still present in the flue exhaust gases and water vapour condensation produced when boilers burn gas to generate the power they need to operate.

Is the Vaillant EcoTEC Plus 838 combi rated as environmentally friendly?

The effects of climate change on the environment are leading many homeowners to question the damage they might be doing by the way they heat their homes.

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 Plus 838 combi help in the fight against climate change? What do the performance statistics suggest?

The energy efficiency rating for a boiler describes the amount of energy it uses and wastes during operation and there are two different ways to measure it.

All boilers manufactured and supplied in the UK must have a SEDBUK rating of “A” subject to a minimum energy efficiency score of 92% or above. Before April 2018, the minimum energy efficiency score was 88% (88/89% = "B" SEDBUK rating, 90%+ = "A" SEDBUK rating).

The Vaillant EcoTEC Plus 838 scored an efficiency rating of 94% and a SEDBUK band rating of A.

The Energy Related Products (ERP) Directive is a European directive which applies to all products that consume energy over their lifetime.

It encourages companies to create products that are environmentally friendlier at all life cycle stages, including initial manufacturing and end use through to final disposal, with the aim of reducing harmful gas emissions.

The Vaillant EcoTEC Plus 838 is rated "A" for heat and "A" for water.

What warranty do I get if I purchase the Vaillant EcoTEC Plus 838 boiler?

The Vaillant EcoTEC Plus 838 boiler comes with a 5 year warranty for parts and labour.