If you’ve recently been faced with the decision of choosing a new boiler for your home, you’ve probably been doing a fair bit of research.
I’m also betting you’ve already come across the brand Worcester Bosch. In fact, there’s so many brands to choose from out there (Baxi Potteron, Halstead, Ariston, Ferolli), each with their own pros and cons.
That’s why I’ve been putting together a series of comparison blogs, where I pit Worcester Bosch boilers against many of the other leading brands (last week it was Worcester vs Ferolli).
(To find out more about Worcester Bosch, take a look at our recent blog post, entitled 7 Reasons Why Worcester Bosch should be your next boiler)
So, this week I’m going to be looking at Vokera boilers, to find out just how they compare to the current market leader and Which ‘Best Buy’, Worcester Bosch.
Variety/styles
Like Worcester Bosch, Vokera have a range of system and combi boilers, including a compact range that will fit in your kitchen cupboard, which makes them convenient if you’re looking to save space. However, their range isn’t quite as big as Worcester’s – which also has a range of regular boilers – so you’ll have less options to choose from.
Reliability
In terms of reliability, Vokera boilers are thought to be around middle of the line, and are pretty reliable for around the first five years after purchase.
Longer term, Vokera boilers can run into difficulties, mainly due to their cheaper, Italian-manufactured components. They can often encounter problems later down the line with components such as the expansion vessels leading to loss of pressure, or problems with diverter valve and flow switch, meaning you may experience trouble getting hot water.
Worcester Bosch boilers tend to be made with more durable, long-lasting components, so they can last up to 15 years without encountering any problems due to part failures.
Guarantees
Vokera offers a two-year guarantee, which can be extendable via Domestic and General – however, you may want to make sure you check the small print.
As for call-outs, Vokera does not have its own dedicated team of engineers, and uses local contractors who may be dealing with many different brands on a regular basis.
In comparison, Worcester Bosch offer their own market leading guarantee that lasts up to eight years, manage everything themselves rather than going through separate companies, with their own team of dedicated engineers that only deal with Worcester Bosch boilers.
Reputation
Vokera boilers are marketed and sold as budget boilers; there’s no pretence, and you know your Vokera budget boiler will do exactly what it says on the tin. They are known to be good value for money, and usually come with bundle deals (more about that below).
Worcester Bosch has been awarded the Which Best Buy for the fourth year running, and has one of the best reputations for reliability and customer service.
Cost
This is where Vokera boilers win out over Worcester Bosch, as supplied and fitted, you can pick up a Vokera boiler for around £300 – 350 cheaper. This is particularly appealing if you happen to be moving into a new house for the short-term, or are on a particularly tight budget.
Other factors
A nice touch about Vokera is that their boilers come with a mechanical clock and flue included in the overall price, whereas if you were to go with Worcester Bosch, you’d have to buy these separately. Think of it as a bundle deal.
However, Vokera boilers also tend to be noisier than Worcester Bosch boilers (known to be one of the quietest boilers on the market), so you will be more likely to notice when it’s running.
Conclusion
Now we’ve discovered how Vokera compares to the market leader Worcester Bosch, which would you rather go for? On one hand, Vokera offers value with a fairly good reliability factor, whereas Worcester Bosch wins out in terms of range, durability, guarantee and its own team of dedicated engineers.
Vokera may be appealing if you’re looking to save money, although it’s important to check the small print on your extended warranty, just in case you encounter any problems down the line due to cheaper components.
I am moving into a new home who r giving Vekora boilers as I have in my previous home Worcester Bosch would love to change it if possible without too much problem with installation
I would suggest that you check your facts before publishing vokera do have there own employed engineers and the vision And unica range come with 7 year guarantee. Visit there website for information
I can assure you Vokera do have a dedicated team of engineers. I should know as I am one! We have 9 in central Scotland alone. We also offer a 5 and 7 year warranty on many boilers from our range. Please check your facts and amended
It is so disappointing to find at the end of such statements that the basic facts are incorrect. The credibility of the comparison is therefore in doubt and should be acknowledged .
Just purchased a Vokera excel 29kw combi erp for £516 inc flu and clock are they reliable?
i cant afford an expensive as i have only one wage coming in
Thanks
vicky
My main work is fixing boilers and yes don’t shout too loud about Worcester Bosch as I fix more breakdowns on them above any other boiler , let’s not talk about the heat exchangers shall we if your going to compare at least make it believable or let’s compare ariston 12 year warranty against Worcester s 8 year and may I add ariston is cheaper !!!! And after sales is second to none ,just a note that I’ve fitted hundreds of boilers and never been back to one vokera
intergas 10 yr guarantee 4 moving parts copper furnace with aluminium round them have one obviouswly more expensive but the price of exchanging boilers is the major cost
I think that the manufactures are probably an excellent company-however my experiance has been a dreadfull one,however like most pieces of equipment,it is the installers who bear the brunt of complaints.
I had a boiler installed some 18 months ago by a company named Help_Link and I think that the title they use is a joke,it should have been unhelpful link
I have had to contact them over 17 times and Vokera has actually been to our house 7 times and confirmed that the boiler is perfect (which I would agree )but it is the installatiion which is the problem.
we live in a bungalow because of age .etc so the installed it in the loft
Having installed a Pinnacle boiler in the UK, I’d agree that it works well. The installation wiring however, in common with many aspects of traditional building trades, does not look good in the 21C. Can we not have some standardisation so that the common parts are plug and play? In some ways there’s little difference between domestic central heating systems and computers. The same standard components with choices of OEM and configuration. But there the comparison ends. Given time IKEA and their European suppliers will do it right and show everyone up. Time is money and there needs to be more design for productivity.
We have a Vokera boiler. 3 years old and it has just had its 3rd problem. Parts for this boiler appear to be stunningly expensive so I am fed up with it, and will be replacing it in the summer, probably with a Worcester.
very poor review in my opinion I would suggest that you carry out some research prior to writing any more boiler review s .
I have absolutely no connection with Vokera or any other boiler company
I am an installer.
as someone who fits and repairs boilers for a living,I can say I would rather fit and repair Vokera anytime,I also think your research is flawed as the Vokeras I fit have 5/7 year warranties ,they also have their own engineers.
10 years warranty on vokera vision when fitted with a besmart controller. Less than half the price of the worcester. What a stupid comparison to make.
I can only assume you are a worcester accredited installer who is desperate to make their annual quota.
What are you compating Worcester to next week? An open coal fire?
I am an installer and Vokera offer up to Ten years warranty on some of the range, and 5 and 7 years warranty on others, and I can assure you that Vokera have an excellent dedicated team of engineers, it seems that you have not checked out anything with your Biased view of Worcester Bosch, personally I hate WB and would never recommend them
I am an installer for 17 plus years vokera has had a bad past in years gone by.
but the new boilers of today are very very good and like some people have stated 10 year warranty with the be smart, I would like to state that Worcester modulation 4to1 vokera is 10 to 1 meaning a 30kw boiler will work down to 3kw compared to Worcester 7kw. Plus vokera have quite a few good free bits built into there boiler namely SARA mode for one!
I agree totally with comments that there Is nothing Special about worcs bosch boilers… I have been in travel for 50 plus years and even like nearly worcester but would not install one cos of poor lengthways warranty v high cost of boilers installation issues stupidly completely contacts that virtually no one understand etc. If my advice Is useful have a Baxi.. Vokera..Alpha and pay a sensible price for a new boiler.
.
Is a 25 kW vokera boiler good enough for a good sized 2bedroom flat