Worcester Bosch Boiler Review: Greenstar CDi Highflow, Combi
The Worcester Bosch Greenstar CDi Highflow combi boiler is ideal for larger homes because of its heating capacity and water flow rate. This impressively-efficient, floor-standing boiler model is for households with two or more bathrooms and a standard radiator system.
Why Would You Choose a Greenstar CDi Highflow Combi Boiler for Your Home?
This boiler owes its attractiveness to several features. First, the "Highflow" in its name refers to the flow rate, which measures the amount of water that the boiler sends to your showers, faucets, or heating system. Another vital feature is heating capacity, which is how much water the system can heat.
Other key features include efficiency, the ability to use internet-connected control and data systems, and proven reliability, and an extensive warranty.
On their own, these features might not mean much to you but think about it in practical terms.
What Can the Greenstar Highflow CDi Do for You?
If you have a large family home like I do, you probably have two showers or baths. You likely also have a radiant heating system that uses your boiler to warm your rooms.
As your family members rush to get ready for school or work in the morning, they often use both showers at the same time. Of course, you are going to get enough water for those two showers. However, if you have a boiler that does not heat enough water to supply the two bathroom fixtures, then someone is going to have a very unpleasant and cold shower.
This issue is especially real if you are running the radiator system or other water-using appliances at the same time.
As long as your home has enough water pressure, the Worcester Bosch Greenstar CDI Highflow boiler can provide the heating capacity to make enough hot water for your busy family's needs.
Performance Specifications (and What They Mean for You)
The Worcester Bosch Greenstar CDI Highflow combi boiler comes in two varieties. The CDi 440 combi boiler uses 29 kW of power to heat water. With this level of energy, it can warm 20 litres of water per minute. The second model, the CDi 550 Combi Boiler, uses 30 kW to heat 25 litres per minute.
What do these kW and heat capacity numbers mean in a real home? In my experience, 20 litres per minute is sufficient to provide hot water to everyone in my house, even on the busiest of mornings. You can get an engineer to assess your home’s heating and water needs and provide a suggestion about which boiler meets those needs.
How Large is the Worcester Bosch Greenstar CDi Highflow?
This boiler is large. It has a 600 mm square base, and it is 850 mm tall. The size is similar to a washing machine. Because it is a floor-standing boiler, it can fit under a standard kitchen worktop or in a basement or exterior garage. The unit comes with frost protection, so you don’t have to worry about putting it in an unheated place such as a basement or garage.
Because it heats water instantly and has an integrated filling tank, (and has the performance specifications to bring water to wherever it is needed), this boiler does not require extra tanks, cylinders, or other equipment. It has everything that you need in one place.
Even though it is larger than a wall-mounted boiler, you can find places to hide this boiler away so that it does not take up living space.
What if My Heating Needs Change?
The most significant advantage of the Greenstar CDi Highflow is that it can provide you with hot water when you need it. But you can also adjust the settings if your needs change. In addition to easy-to-understand controls, thermostats, and a reset button, you can also use the Bosch EasyControl system. This internet-connected digital tool measures hot water usage so that you can program your boiler and heating system for maximum efficiency.
You can also program your heating system using these smart features so that you can maximize efficiency without sacrificing comfort or performance.
How Efficient is This Boiler?
Efficiency is one of the Greenstar CDi Highflow's strongest suits. The Energy Saving Trust recommends it as a high-efficiency boiler. The boiler operates at 93% efficiency, which means that 93% of the energy that it uses goes directly into heating water.
I know from experience that replacing an old boiler with a newer energy-efficient model will lead to significant savings on your energy bill. Also, better efficiency means lower emissions. If you are concerned about the environment, one of the best steps you can take is to get a high-efficiency appliance like this. This will limit the emissions caused by your home as much as possible without forcing you to sacrifice the necessities of home heating and hot water.
What About Reliability?
A new boiler is an investment. How long will it last?
You can get a warranty that lasts up to seven years on Worcester Bosch boilers. This includes a standard five-year guarantee on parts and labor.
If your family needs a significant amount of hot water, the Greenstar CDi Highflow combi boiler could be your best choice.
