Not sure whether you need the Glow-worm Energy 30C or the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 30i?

If you want a reliable combi boiler for your small-to-medium sized Edinburgh home, you’re wise to be comparing the market, and looking at all your pricing options.

Glow-worm are popular for producing great value boilers without sacrificing too much on quality, and come with pretty good guarantees for a budget brand. Worcester Bosch on the other hand, are a premium brand with a premium price tag, and have the best reputation on the market right now.

It’s a toughie. So, let’s take a closer look at each other these two boiler options below.

Introduction

The Glow-worm Energy 30C is a reliable, modern-feel boiler with competitive heating and hot water outputs, for ultimate comfort in the home. It works with a variety of energy efficient controls so you can save even more money on your bills.

As for the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 30i, it’s currently one of the premium brand’s bestselling boilers, as its outputs are suited to the average UK household, together with a market-leading guarantee and long-lasting value. It can also be paired with some great Worcester Bosch controls, such as the Wave.

So, let’s see what happens when these two boilers go head-to-head…

Output and flow rates

The Glow-worm Energy 30C will supply 30kw to your heating, which is great for a small to medium-sized home or apartment with 8-12 radiators, whereas the 30.6kw hot water output is perfect for running a shower or bath, with a flow rate of 12.5 litres per minute to your taps.

With a heating output of 24kw, the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 30i is more suited to a 2 – 3 bedroom home with 6-10 radiators. The hot water output is very similar to the 30C’s, and you’ll find it can fill a bath or run a high pressure shower with no trouble, at 12.3 litres of water per minute to your taps.

So, if you don’t need the higher heating output the 30C brings (and there’s no point over-specifying), but still want the same great flow rate, then you could find the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 30i is just right for your home.

Size and special features

The Glow-worm Energy 30C measures in at 700mm x 390mm x 280mmand is a light, compact size, so you’ll find it will comfortably fit in your standard sized kitchen cupboard or Edinburgh press. In contrast, the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 30i is just that bit bigger, at 710mm x 400mm x 330mm.

NOTE: The 30i will NOT fit inside a kitchen cupboard, so if you really need the space, the 30C wins out in this department.

Guarantee

The Glow-worm Energy 30C comes with a free 5-year warranty when registered through Club Energy, and the company also has dedicated engineers to attend call-outs – which is quite unusual for a budget brand! This guarantee can also be extended for a price, so check with your engineer.

However, Worcester Bosch may just have the edge here, as you can take advantage of an 8-year no-quibble market leading guarantee when you buy the Greenstar 30i. However, the caveat to this is that you also have to install the brand’s own filter and controls on top of the already premium price.

Tech specs

Below, you’ll find a brief summary of the technical specifications for each boiler:

The Glow-worm Energy 30C

• Heating output: 30kw
• Hot water output: 30.6kw (12.5 litres per minute)
• Ideal for: A small to medium-sized home or apartment with 8-12 radiators and a shower and bath
• Guarantee: 5 years (when registered through Club Energy)
• ERP rating: A

The Worcester Bosch Greenstar 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)
• ERP rating: A

ERP rating

Both of these boilers are ERP rated A, so you can be certain you’re investing in an optimum energy efficiency for your home – regardless of which one you choose! If you have a particularly old boiler, you might also notice a considerable drop in your heating bills!

Conclusion

Well, there we have it! By now you should have a better idea of which boiler is right for you; the Glow-worm Energy 30C or the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 30i combi. Both boilers sound quite similar, but the main different is in the heating output and length of guarantee and a difference in price of around £140-£170.

Please Note: manufacturers warranties are subject to the boiler being serviced annually by a registered Gas Safe Engineer

Which boiler would YOU opt for, and why? Let me know in the comments section!