Are you trying to find the best combi boiler for your average sized family home or apartment?
If you’re anything like most of my customers, you may already be considering boilers such as the Ideal Logic+ C30 and the Worcester Bosch 30i.
Both boilers come from very reputable manufacturers, and both offer up to 10-year guarantees (if you choose the right installer). But which one is right for you?
If you find yourself struggling to answer that question, this is the blog for you. Below, I’m going to compare both of these boilers, so you can make a more informed decision.
Introduction
The Ideal Logic+ C30 is an award-winning combi boiler. Ideal have fully committed to providing great value and outstanding customer service, which is partly why they are doing so well on the market right now. It’s certainly making a lot of people think twice, especially as they are coming in around £240 – £300 cheaper than Worcester Bosch!
On the other hand, we have the titan that is the Worcester Bosch 30i. if you want a premium boiler that has straight-up won Which’s ‘Best Buy’ for many years, Worcester Bosch may be your best bet. It can also be paired with Worcester Bosch’s own smart control system, the Wave.
So, let’s get down to business and compare these two boilers side-by-side, shall we?
Output and flow rates
With output to the heating circuit (radiators), the Ideal Logic+ C30 provides 24.2kW to the Worcester Bosch 30i’s 24kW. In other words, there’s not much of a difference. Both are perfect for heating an average 3-bedroom family home, or a 2-bedroom apartment with high ceilings. Both can happily take on around 8 – 12 radiators, and are highly efficient boilers.
It’s also pretty close to call in terms of hot water output. Both boilers offer 30kW to the hot water, although again, the Ideal Logic+ C30 offers just that slight bit more, at 12.4 litres per minute, compared to the Worcester’s 12.3. It’s really not enough to have a noticeable difference on the rate you’re getting to your taps.
Size and special features
Measuring in at 700mm x 395mm x 278mm, the Ideal Logic+ C30 has a clear advantage over the Worcester Bosch, as it’s a very compact boiler. It will happily fit in a standard-sized kitchen cupboard or Edinburgh press. In contrast, the Worcester 30i is a standard size, at 710mm x 400mm x 330mm, so can be wall-mounted or fitted in a larger cupboard.
So, if saving space really matters to you, this could be a bit of a deal-breaker!
Guarantee
When it comes to choosing a new boiler, the guarantee is so important. Both of these boiler manufacturers offer fantastic no-quibble guarantees, however there are some differences. The Ideal Logic+ C30 comes with a standard 7-year guarantee, so on first glance, the Worcester Bosch 30i is the winner, as it offers 8 years when fitted with the brand’s own filter and controls.
However, Ideal have thrown a bit of a spanner in the works! If you get an Ideal boiler fitted by an accredited installer, you can actually get a 10-year guarantee. However, not all accredited installers will offer this. Even better, to get this 10-year guarantee, you don’t even have to fit a specific type of filter or controls!
This makes Ideal almost a no-brainer, if you were to go by guarantee alone – especially since you’re also saving £200!
TIP: Both brands also have their own dedicated engineers for call-outs, and won’t charge your credit card. They really take care of their customers, which is why I’m happy to recommend them.
At a glance
Want to see the differences between these boilers at a glance?
Let’s start with the Ideal Logic+ C30:
- Heating output: 24.2kW
- Hot water output: 30kW, 12.4 litres per minute at 35 degrees Celsius
- Ideal for: Average 3-bedroom home with 6-10 radiators (or 2-bedroom flat with high ceilings)
- Guarantee: 7 years (or 10 years with some accredited installers*)
- Size: 700mm x 395mm x 278mm
- ERP rating: A, 89.6% efficiency
*Always check with your chosen accredited installer about whether they’ll be able to offer this deal.
Now, here’s a brief summary of the technical specifications you can enjoy with a Worcester Bosch 30i:
- Heating output: 24kw
- Hot water output: 30kw (12.3 litres per minute)
- Ideal for: A 2 – 3 bedroom house or apartment with 6-10 radiators. This boiler will fill a bath and run a high pressure shower (just not at the same time)
- Guarantee: 8 years (when fitted with Worcester Bosch magnetic central heating filter, by a Worcester Bosch accredited installer)
- Size: 710mm x 400mm x 330mm
- ERP rating: A
Advice from an experienced heating engineer
To be honest, this has to be one of the trickiest blogs I’ve ever written. This is because normally, I’d always be able to say one’s better, or not. But genuinely, in this case, you’re not picking a bad boiler either way. It’s pretty much too close to call at the moment, but I’d like to keep my eye on what’s going to happen in the next year or two with these boilers.
The truth is, I’ve always been a bit biased towards Worcester Bosch, as I can just fit them and never have to worry about them breaking down. They might seem more expensive, but the price is justified in being a premium brand of choice. I guess my view has now come into question, as I can see the attraction of what Ideal are offering, with some very competitive features!
As for which you should choose, it really comes down to what’s most important to you. If you can get a 10-year guarantee on an Ideal, and want to save a bit of money to spend on smart controls, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go for it.
But if you’re looking for a premium boiler with the Which ‘Best Buy’ stamp of approval, and don’t need a compact model, the Worcester Bosch 30i could be the boiler for you.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve found this blog helpful when comparing the Ideal Logic+ C30 to the Worcester Bosch 30i. Both of these are fantastic boilers, and it’s a bit of a photo finish in terms of which deal comes out better. I’m a bit stuck on what to say, so I’ll let you make the final decision for yourselves!
Got any more questions about these two boilers? Feel free to leave me a question in the comments -I promise to answer!
