Worcester 32CDi Compact (Combi Boiler Review)

Are you looking for a powerful new boiler that doesn’t take up too much of your precious space at home? We’ll make your search a bit easier: in this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at one of the best compact boilers on the market, the Worcester 32CDi Compact combi boiler.

In our review, you’ll learn about this model’s features, prices, sizing, and top alternatives from other brands.

Want to get a fixed price on screen for a 32CDI Compact? Use this clickable form (no personal details required), and get a price within 90 seconds.

About the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 32CDi Compact

The Greenstar CDi Compact range from Worcester Bosch is a set of boilers designed to fit in small spaces, such as kitchen cupboards. You won’t get this with their most popular boilers, such as those from the Greenstar 4000 range, as they are slightly bigger.

The dimensions of all three CDi Compact boilers are 690 x 390 x 280. So, if you’re trying to save space, or simply don’t want a wall-hung boiler, the CDi Compact could be suitable for your home.

The Worcester Bosch Greenstar CDi Compact Series

There are 3 combi boilers in the range, including:

• 28CDi Compact
• 32CDi Compact
• 36CDi Compact

Across the range, you’ll be able to get a boiler to suit most properties, from small to large, with 1-2 bathrooms.

The difference lies in the hot water and flow rate, because central heating output is 24kW on all 3 boilers. You’ll get just 10l/min from the 28CDi (small properties), 11.9l/min from the 32CDi (medium properties) and 12.9l/min from the 36CDi (large properties).

Worcester Bosch 32CDi Compact Features

Below, we’ll walk you through a few of the most prominent features this combi boiler from Worcester has to offer.

Frost Protection

Worcester Bosch 32CDi Compact has a special feature that keeps condensate pipes from freezing in cold weather. A frozen condensate pipe is one of the most common boiler faults. It’s simple to fix, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t cause headaches — like boiler downtime in the coldest parts of the year plus emergency repair bills.

Most of the time, the condensate pipe freezes when flue gases condense and accumulate inside, turning to ice and causing a blockage. Worcester knows this is a big issue, so the 32CDi Compact comes complete with their CondenseSure siphon. The device builds up a pool of these condensed gases, then releases them in short, sharp bursts, so there’s little chance of them freezing over. The CondenseSure siphon offers weather protection down to -15°C for up to 48 hours, which is more than adequate for the UK.

Boiler Warranty

Warranties are a key piece of the puzzle when you’re buying a new boiler. At the end of the day, even a cheap boiler is going to set you back around £2,000. And, some lesser brands will offer warranties in the 2-5 year range (or even lower, in some cases).

I’m not sure about you, but I don’t want to be footing expensive repair bills for my £2k+ boiler just a couple of years after installing it. So, it’s always better to protect yourself with a long warranty.

Unfortunately, the Worcester Bosch warranty can be confusing. It varies depending on the boiler model, whether you use a Gas Safe accredited Worcester installer, and own branded parts, such as filters and controls.

To avoid confusion, you can get a 10-year warranty on a 32CDi Compact from Heatable.

That’s a standard warranty they’re able to offer on all their boilers, and the biggest selling point for the 32CDi.

Boiler Efficiency

The Worcester Bosch Greenstar 32CDi Compact has an A-rating, and can be 99.5% efficient when operating at 30% capacity. This level of energy efficiency can lead to £100s per year in fuel savings. In contrast, older boilers are typically just 60% efficient — meaning that for every £1 you spend on natural gas, you only get 60p worth of heat.

What’s more, the model’s low-energy pump means that the boiler’s electricity consumption remains low while it’s in operation.

This potential for long-term savings is great news, since getting any new boiler is a sizeable investment, likely costing you £2,000 or more. With an efficient boiler like the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 32CDi Compact, you can expect the device to pay for itself in the span of a few years.

Controls

The Worcester 32CDi is flexible when it comes to the control options that you get. For instance, you can opt for a budget thermostat if that’s what you prefer. Or, you could get a more expensive smart thermostat that affords far greater control over your room temperature, such as the Bosch EasyControl (which replaced the Worcester Wave protocol), or the Nest learning thermostat.

At time of writing, Heatable include a smart thermostat as part of your installation package, which you can check out here.

Boiler Protection

If you decide to go for the Worcester Bosch Compact 32CDi, make sure you get a system flush (cleans existing debris from the heating system) and a magnetic boiler filter included in the price. The magnetic filter will catch rust from pipes, radiators and towel rails, protecting your boiler from breaking, and your bank from expensive repair bills.

Along with the thermostat, Heatable currently include quality filters for central heating systems.

Is the Worcester Greenstar 32CDi Compact the Right Size Boiler for You?

Put simply, this isn’t a one size fits all approach — your property size and hot water demand are the principal determining factors. A 32CDi Compact boiler might be suitable for one 3-bedroom property, whilst another could get away with a 28CDi. Or, if your demand for hot water is above average, you may need another boiler type altogether.

The easiest thing to do is fill out use this online calculator from Heatable to determine the correct boiler size for your home. In around 90 seconds, you’ll narrow down the boiler sizes and get fixed prices on the most suitable boiler for your property.

Worcester Greenstar 32CDi Compact Prices

There ARE other brands besides Worcester Bosch that are worth a mention: Baxi, Ideal, and Vaillant, for instance. In general, their retail price is similar or thereabouts when compared directly to Worcester. If anything, you’ll find that a boiler from Ideal is likely to be a bit cheaper.

However, that’s only when comparing local installer prices. It’s worth jumping over to Heatable, who are an industry-leading online installation site. Naturally, because they work with the biggest boiler manufacturers on the market, they get preferential rates on Worcester boilers, including the 32CDi Compact. This means that you’ll get a quality boiler cheaper or at the same price as lesser brands.

 

With Heatable, you’ll get a long warranty, plus the Bosch filter and smart thermostat included in the price. And if you don’t want a compact boiler, or if the 32CDi is too powerful for your property, you’ll find that Heatable also offer cheaper options.

Worcester Bosch 32CDi Compact Verdict

The Worcester Bosch 32CDi Compact is a stellar boiler option if you’re trying to maximise your space at home without sacrificing heat or hot water flow. This model readily fits into a kitchen cupboard, and comes with variations to suit different levels of hot water demand. The boiler packs several handy features, such winter protection, and a range of control options. It’s also A-rated, so you can expect maximum efficiency if you operate it properly.

On the downside, the Worcester Bosch 32CDi Compact is limited to a heat output of 24kW, so it won’t be sufficient for larger properties, such as a detached home with multiple bedrooms and over 2 bathrooms.

If you’re not sure whether this model will suit your needs, or want to get a snapshot of the current pricing, we recommend you fill in this quick online form from Heatable, and get your answers on the screen in just minutes.

What’s Next?

Thanks for reading our Worcester 32CDi Compact boiler review.

To learn more about boiler replacements, you can head over to our guide to new boiler costs.

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