Best Gas Boilers for Home Heating

Best Gas Boilers for Home Heating and Endless Water Supply

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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With climate change kicking our ass, our seasons are becoming more extreme. Therefore, getting one of these best gas boilers for home heating will help you handle the chills of winter more easily. In addition to having a warm winter, having a reliable boiler can make your home more comfortable.

Gas boilers have evolved and become safer, longer-lasting, and extra efficient.

What is A Gas Boiler?

A gas boiler is a central heating system that continuously heats the water in your home. Your gas boiler can either use on-grid gas or bulk LPG gas that you can store at home. When this gas is burned in the gas boiler's combustion chamber, it warms your water to about 158°F (70°C).

Now, armed with a good idea of how a gas boiler works and why it's important let's look at some of the best gas boilers in the market.

1. Rinnai V65iN-Natural Gas

Sale
Rinnai Indoor Tankless Hot Water Heater / V65iN /...
  • Energy and Space Efficient: Space-saving design conserves energy...
  • Optimal Water Pressure: High-performance up to 6.5 GPM hot water...
  • Enhanced scale detection lessens possibility of serious,...
  • Guaranteed to Last: 10-, 5-, and 1-year residential factory...

This gas boiler combines value and efficiency in a beautiful way. This Rinnai natural gas water heater is perfect for medium homes and outdoor activities. This gas boiler is easy to install and comes with a great warranty.

The compact nature of these residential boilers makes them convenient to use. Another great thing is that these best gas boilers for home heating are energy-efficient and space-efficient. You'll find that this V65iN - Natural Gas/6.5 GPM boiler only heats your water when necessary.

This boiler is guaranteed to last for years. You get a 10-year warranty for the heat exchanger, a 5-year warranty for labor, and a 1-year warranty for the parts. In addition, these high-efficiency boilers give you great water pressure of up to 6.5 GPM hot water flow rate for a constant and powerful stream.

The scale detection ensures that your gas boiler doesn't get long-term damage without your knowledge.

Pros:

  • Amazing water pressure
  • Great value for money
  • Durable
  • Energy-efficient
  • Space-efficient thanks to the compact design
  • Tankless

Cons:

  • Expensive

2. Rinnai RL94iN-Natural Gas

Rinnai RL94IN RRL94iN, 9.4 GPM, RL94iN-Natural Gas/ 9.4...
  • Energy Factor of .82
  • Built-in Rinnai Circ-LogicTM recirculation program cycles an...
  • Certified for Installation in Manufactured (Mobile) Homes
  • Enhanced scale detection lessens possibility of serious,...

Another Rinnai special is this energy-efficient gas boiler that uses gas to do its magic. The energy efficiency of these boilers has been rated by Uniform Energy Factor (UEF). You can expect to save costs when using these boilers.

You can choose the get the external pump that is sold separately. The ThermaCirc360 technology ensures that you always get hot water flowing through your taps at a high rate. These wall-mounted boilers save a lot of space.

These Rinnai tankless water heaters are durable and save you a lot of money because they save you energy. The best part about these best gas boilers for home heating is that you'll always have running hot water available to you when you need it. Think about this convenience during those cold winter nights.

Pros:

  • Energy efficient
  • Has enhanced scale detection to ensure no undetected long-term damage
  • Durable
  • Wall-mounted design for convenience
  • Good customer service
  • Reliable

Cons:

  • Expensive

3. Takagi T-H3-DV-N-Natural Gas

Takagi T-H3-DV-N Condensing High Efficiency Natural Gas...
  • Endless hot water, On-demand usage, Compact, Space saving, Energy...
  • Computerized safety features, No pilot light to have to worry...
  • Safety features include freeze, overheat, surge protection, and...
  • Satisfies the 2012 SCAQMD Rule 1146.2 for Ultra-Low NOx Emissions
  • Primary heat exchanger utilizes commercial-grade copper alloy for...

Be prepared to get hot water on demand with these condensing boilers. This condensing boiler is compact, energy-saving, and doesn't require a pilot light. Some of the safety features put in place for your protection include troubleshooting diagnostic codes, freeze, overheat, and surge protection.

These computerized safety features ensure that you get all warnings before anything happens. This way, you don't have to worry about any major happenings within your home. In addition, this condensing boiler also satisfies the 2012 SCAQMD Rule 1146.2 for Ultra-Low NOx Emissions.

Talk about energy saving and good to the environment. The primary heat exchangers in these condensing boilers use commercial-grade copper alloy. This allows you to get 25 times better heat transfer from your heat exchanger than if you were using stainless steel.

Pros:

  • Very efficient
  • Energy saving
  • Comes with a copper alloy heat exchanger for better heat transfer
  • Produces low emissions
  • Has incredible safety features
  • Produces more than enough hot water

Cons:

  • It can only be installed by plumbers and technicians
  • The installation process is tedious

4. Rinnai RL Series RRL94iP

Rinnai RL Series RRL94iP, Large, Silver
  • RL94iP HE+ High Efficiency Tankless Hot Water Heater - Propane:...
  • Up to 9.4 GPM hot water flow rate (varies by groundwater temp)
  • Circ-Logic technology allows you to set recirculation patterns...
  • Residential Factory Warranty - 120 months (heat exchanger), 12...

This Rinnai boiler uses propane to deliver you the best service. This water heater is tankless, which makes it perfect to put in your house. Although the flow rate varies depending on groundwater temp, you can expect up to 9.4GPM hot water flow rate from this baby.

The innovative Circ-Logic technology that this water heater uses allows you to set recirculation patterns conveniently. In addition, you can customize these recirculation patterns to suit your usage.

Say goodbye to cold winters. You get a 10-year warranty for the heat exchanger, a 5-year warranty for the parts, and a 1-year warranty for labor.

Pros:

  • Has great hot water flow rate
  • You can set circulation patterns for your convenience
  • Easy to install
  • Easy to understand user manual

Cons:

  • Not very sturdy

5. Noritz NRC66DVNG-Natural Gas

Noritz NRC66DVNG Indoor Condensing Direct Tankless Hot...
  • Endless hot water
  • Can be vented with Schedule 40 PVC Pipe and Fitting
  • High Efficiency
  • Low Nox
  • Remote thermostat & 6' power cord included

These best gas boilers for home heating can heat up to 6.5 gallons per minute. Noritz is a brand that has been around for over six decades and is committed to providing its customers with the best products.

As one of the leading companies in the energy-saving industry, you can expect to save tons of energy by using these condensing boilers. This NORITZ NRC66DV uses an advanced heat exchanger design that offers you superior service.

The built-in controller is also another great innovation that is a game-changer with this condensing boiler. You get a 6' power cord with this purchase to increase the convenience of using it. However, you may need to purchase the IK-WV-200-1-XX-LF valve kit that you require for installation separately.

Pros:

  • Provides high-efficiency service
  • Comes with a 6' power cord and remort thermostat for efficiency
  • Very reliable
  • Has a quiet operation
  • Has a small footprint
  • Easy to follow instructions

Cons:

  • Doesn't come with the IK-WV-200-1-XX-LF valve kit needed for installation

What Are the Types of Boilers?

1. Combi Boiler

The combi boiler is perfect for you if you don't have much space available for your boiler. The combi boiler is efficient and compact. Therefore, you won't need to make so much room to fit it. These combi boilers work as a water heater and a central heating unit.

The combi boilers work by heating your water directly from the pipes. Therefore, you won't need to get a cold water vessel or a hot water storage barrel. The downside of combi boilers is that you can't run two baths or two showers simultaneously.

Therefore, we don't advise you to get a combi boiler if you have a large house. Combi boilers are also great for homes that have single baths. If you have more than one bathroom, you may want to check out our other best gas boilers for home heating.

2. Conventional Boiler

Also known as a traditional boiler or a regular boiler, this boiler consists of a cylinder and a storage tank. This means that unlike with the combi boilers above, you'll have to create more space for this boiler.

The advantage of this is that you can use this boiler if you have a large home. These high-efficiency boilers can provide huge amounts of hot water to several bathrooms simultaneously. If you love saving energy, you'll love that these boilers are compatible with solar thermal arrangements.

Talk about an energy-efficient option.

3. System Boiler

The system boiler is similar to the conventional boiler in that it also needs a hot water storage cylinder. However, it doesn't need a water container. The reason is that many of its features, including the pump and expansion vessel, are integrated into the system.

The best part about these boilers is that they are very easy to maintain. You do not have to deal with a leaky tank like the conventional boilers. You can think of the system boiler as the sweet spot between the combi boiler and the conventional boiler.

We say this because you get to service several bathrooms at once without needing too much space for the boiler. In addition, because it lacks a water tank, you can fit this boiler into the available space you have.

What Do You Consider When Choosing the Best Gas Boilers?

Whether replacing an old boiler or just getting a new boiler altogether, you need to get the one that best suits your needs. In addition, you want to ensure that you are getting the best product from budget to space to the annual fuel utilization efficiency.

Ensure that you read the descriptions properly and get a skilled technician to connect the condensing boilers or steam boilers for you. Then, let's dive into the factors.

1. Size of Home

Whether you're choosing the best gas boilers, steam boilers, or condensing boilers, the number of bathrooms you have will affect the type of boiler you get. This is because your boiler might be the central source of heating in your home.

Like we mentioned above, choose a conventional boiler or a system boiler if you have a large home. However, a combi boiler may be the best option if you have a smaller home with a single bathroom.

2. Hot Water Usage

You may have a small home, but the hot water usage is higher than for someone who has two bathrooms. Therefore, the amount of hot water you use will determine what kind of condensing boiler you'll get. On the other hand, you can get a combi condensing boiler if your water usage isn't that high.

You can also get a system boiler instead of a combination boiler if your hot water usage is large. Also, check the available space available before settling on the natural gas boiler that you want. If you don't have enough space but have high water usage, you can use a system boiler.

3. Energy Efficiency

Most boilers produce steam that can be used for other purposes. Even if you have a natural gas supply, you can benefit from getting a condensing boiler with amazing efficiency. You'll find that a gas-modulating condensing boiler is very energy-efficient.

The boiler system you choose can impact the fuel energy input and save you a lot of money. Therefore, take energy-saving into account when choosing the best gas boiler for you. High-efficiency boilers that are also energy-saving are a godsend.

If your existing boiler takes up too much energy during the hot water heating process, you may need to upgrade. Don't let the boiler pricing deter you. You may be saving more by getting an expensive condensing boiler instead of standard boilers that take up too much energy.

Luckily, we've looked at boiler brands that take energy efficiency seriously. Check the boiler's efficiency before you settle on a brand. If you have a condensing boiler, you'll save over 15% on energy compared to other standard boilers.

Boiler manufacturers are taking efficient heating into account more and more. Non-condensing boilers can cost you more in the long run.

4. Existing Boiler System

If you have hot water boilers or a piece of heating equipment that isn't working for you anymore and you want to upgrade, choose a replacement that will fit well with the existing system. Standard efficiency boilers are a great option because they save energy.

Ask yourself whether you want to keep the same hot water boiler system or get one suited to your home and needs. Consider also if you want a stainless steel heat exchanger or some cast iron heat exchangers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1.  How long should a boiler last?

The best gas boilers for home heating should last around 10-15 years. This is the average life expectancy of a high-quality boiler.

Ensure that you maintain your condensing boiler well to increase its life span.

2. What is the best type of boiler to buy?

The type of boiler depends on your needs and the factors mentioned above. Nonetheless, the combination boiler seems to be a popular choice thanks to its energy-saving and space-saving nature. 

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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