Are Vokera Boilers Any Good? What to Know Before Replacing Yours

Vokera boilers are a reasonable choice for a replacement when the model is sized correctly, fitted by an installer who knows the brand, and serviced every year. Vokera is a UK brand, part of the Italian Riello group, that sits in the value-to-mid part of the market, often priced below Worcester Bosch and Vaillant. Many London flats still run on an older Vokera, so the more common question is not whether to buy one fresh, but whether to replace an old Vokera with a new one or switch brands.

Are Vokera boilers any good?

A current Vokera condensing boiler does the same basic job as any other brand: it meets the same Building Regulations, the same efficiency rules and is installed, commissioned and registered in the same way. The practical differences are price, warranty length, how easy parts are to get and how familiar your installer is with the brand.

Engineers' opinions of Vokera are mixed, and a lot of that reputation comes from older models that have been on walls for fifteen years or more. That tells you little about a new boiler. What matters more for any brand is whether the output suits your home, whether the system is cleaned and protected with a filter when the boiler goes in, and whether it is serviced. A well-installed Vokera will usually outlast a badly installed premium boiler.

What Vokera boilers are on the market?

Vokera mainly sells gas combi boilers, with a smaller choice of system boilers. The combi ranges include models such as the Easi-Heat Plus and the Vision, plus higher-output combis for homes with more hot water demand.

Range names, outputs and warranty terms change over time, so the only reliable reference is the current specification sheet for the exact model on your quote. When you compare quotes, make sure each one names the full model and its output in kilowatts, not just "Vokera combi". A quote that only names the brand cannot be compared with anything.

If your home has a hot water cylinder and needs a system or regular (heat-only) boiler, check early whether the Vokera range has a model that suits. The choice is narrower than with the larger brands, and the right boiler type for the house should always come before the brand. Our guide to combi, system and regular boilers explains how to tell which one you have now.

Should I replace an old Vokera Mynute or Unica with a new Vokera?

Only if a new Vokera is the right type and size for your home. Brand loyalty is not a good reason to pick a replacement, and a new boiler of any brand will need new connections, so staying with Vokera does not make the job simpler.

Older Vokera boilers such as the Mynute and Unica ranges are common in London flats and conversions. They were often fitted in kitchen cupboards and sized generously. When one of these reaches the end of its life, a like-for-like swap by brand is less important than three questions: is a combi still right for the flat, what output does it actually need, and can the flue stay where it is under current rules. The output should come from a heat loss estimate, not from the number on the old boiler, worked out room by room before a quote is written.

If the old boiler is still working and just getting tired, it is also worth asking whether it has a genuine fault that needs repair, or whether it is simply old. Age alone is not a fault, but an old boiler that needs repeated repairs and has hard-to-find parts is usually a replacement case.

How does Vokera compare with Worcester Bosch, Vaillant and Ideal?

Vokera is usually cheaper to buy than Worcester Bosch or Vaillant, and in a similar price area to Ideal's mid-range and budget models. The trade-off is often in warranty length, the choice of models and how widely the brand is stocked by merchants and fitted by installers.

• Price: the boiler is only part of a replacement bill. Labour, flue, controls, a system clean and a filter often outweigh the price gap between brands.
• Warranty: manufacturer warranty terms vary by model and by whether the installer is registered with the brand. Compare the length in writing on each quote.
• Parts: most parts for mainstream brands, including Vokera, are available from London merchants, but ask your installer how quickly they can get them for the model they are quoting.
• Installer familiarity: an installer who fits a brand every week knows its quirks. That is worth more than a small difference in specification.

For a wider comparison of how the main brands position themselves, see our guide to choosing a boiler brand.

How long is a Vokera boiler warranty?

It depends on the model and on who fits it. Vokera, like other manufacturers, sets its own warranty terms, and some models can carry longer cover when installed by an installer registered with the brand.

Ask each installer to write down the model, the warranty length that comes with it, and whether they hold the registration needed to offer that length. The warranty usually depends on the boiler being registered with the manufacturer after installation, the Benchmark checklist being completed, and an annual service by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Our article on how long a new boiler warranty lasts covers what voids it and what happens if you move home.

When is a Vokera the wrong answer?

When the quote is chosen for price alone, or when the model on offer does not match the home. A cheaper boiler that is the wrong type or size costs more over its life than a correctly chosen one.

Be cautious if a Vokera combi is proposed for a house where two showers regularly run at once and the mains flow is weak; a system boiler with a cylinder may suit better, whatever the brand. Be cautious, too, of a quote that names no model or output, or of a large combi going into a small, well-insulated flat because it is what the installer carries. In those cases the answer might be a different Vokera, a different brand, or keeping a cylinder. All gas work, including fitting any new boiler, must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

If you want a specific recommendation for your home, book a free survey and the written quote will name the exact model, output and warranty, so you can compare it fairly with any other quote.