Alpha E-tec 28kw combi boiler review, prices & installation guide
Imagine a product where you actually get what some of the best products in that category are offering but for hundreds of pounds less, well, that is pretty much what you can get with the Alpha E-Tec Plus 28kW boiler.
This boiler is marketed as a budget boiler mainly due to the low new boiler costs but the Alpha Etec combi boiler comes with a huge 10 years warranty, so why pay more when you can get new boilers online now for less? Let’s find out…
Alpha E-Tec 28 Combi Boiler Review
- Boiler Price – From £1,699 with installation (E-Tec Plus)
- Available in combi boiler, system boiler & regular boiler
- Combi boiler outputs – 28kW, 33kW & 38kW
- Dimensions – 712 x 440 x 268mm
- Gas Condensing Boilers
- Energy efficiency rating – A
- Flow Rate – From 12.1 l/min
- 10 years warranty (13 Years available with extra parts & costs)
Alpha E tec 28 Dimensions
| 712mm | 440mm | 268mm | (HxWxD) |
The Alpha e tec dimensions are marketed as compact boilers, however, this boiler is compact in height and depth but it is a bit wider than most other compact boilers. A true compact boiler will be 700mm high or under and 300mm or under wide but Alpha claim this boiler can still fit in kitchen cupboards.
Alpha E-Tec 28kw Combi Gas Boiler Review – Is it affordable and reliable?
The Alpha E-Tec plus is designed to be affordable and reliable. The reviewed specification as above just gives you an idea of how many boilers you are getting at a fantastic price.
You’re probably thinking, surely this is too good to be true, so let’s take a look at some of the features of the Alpha boilers and find out why they can sell them at this low price.
What’s new?
The Alpha boiler has recently been updated with a stainless steel heat exchanger to ensure longevity. The boiler has gradually gotten smaller over time and is marketed as a compact boiler.
The dimensions of this boiler are smaller in-depth than most other boilers but larger in height and width.
The design from the Alpha still seems a little dated though and the controls for the owner to use are still a nit in the past. But this is where money is saved. The Alpha does its job, it isn’t fancy and hasn’t been given the new colour LCD screens that are now more common.
How much does the Alpha E-Tec 28 Combi Boiler cost?
The Alpha E-Tec plus 28kW combi boiler costs around £1,600 including installation. This is the most popular model and comes with a 10 years Alpha boiler warranty as standard, therefore in terms of price, this is probably the best combi boiler you can buy.
There are 2 other models available in the E-Tec plus combi boiler range if you have higher water demand but these will also cost more for installation as the units themselves cost more. This however may be worth the expense as you need to ensure that you get the perfect boiler that suits your home’s hot water demands and needs.
You can see the latest Alpha boiler prices here.
Alpha E-Tec Combi Boiler Boiler Price Review
| Boiler Make | Boiler Model | Output | Type | Boiler Installation Price |
| Alpha Innovations | E-TEC Plus | 28kw | Combi Boiler | £1,600 |
| Alpha Innovations | E-TEC Plus | 33kw | Combi Boiler | £1,650 |
| Alpha Innovations | E-TEC Plus | 38kw | Combi Boiler | £1,700 |
The main features of the E-Tec combi boiler range reviews
You may already have noticed that this is a basic boiler that is concentrated solely on heating water and keeping your home warm. The features that are marketed from Alpha are mainly internal features that keep the boiler going.
There are no major awards, accreditations, no hydrogen ready capabilities and no fancy controls to make things easier for the actual user. Let’s take a look at what it does have.
Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger
Stainless steel heat exchangers are renowned for their reliability and longevity. Adding this to the E-Tec can only be a good thing and is one of the main selling points of the boiler.
Compact Boiler
Alpha claim this is a compact boiler. It is in some ways and not in most. It is higher and wider than a lot of boilers but it is not as deep. If you need a boiler not to come out too far from the wall then this may be a good option for you. Always check the measurements of where a new boiler is going to go.
Energy Efficient boiler
What the Alpha E-Tec does very well provides energy-efficient heating. Its no-frills build means it just gets on with the job of keeping your energy bills down whilst keeping your home warm and hot water hot. Low initial cost & low running costs are what the E-Tec is all about.
E-Tec Plus System Boilers Reviews
The Alpha E-Tec boiler is also available as a system boiler for people who have a higher hot water demand in their homes. you can get system boiler quotes in under 20 seconds online now.
These boilers work with a hot water cylinder so you either must have one already or if you don’t you would need to get one installed at an extra cost to you. The E-Tec system boiler comes with a 7 years warranty as standard and is available in 3 different outputs.
Alpha E-Tec System Boiler Price Table
| Boiler Make | Boiler Model | Output | Type | Boiler Installation Price |
| Alpha | E-Tec S | 20kw | System Boiler | £1,650 |
| Alpha | E-Tec S | 30kw | System Boiler | £1,700 |
| Alpha | E-Tec S | 35kw | System Boiler | £1,750 |
Alpha E-Tec 28kw combi boiler review verdict
This Alpha E-Tec is clearly a basic boiler that offers you a low-cost heating solution right from the start. It doesn’t boast built-in Wifi, special features out of the ordinary, or high-profile awards. If you look at it from the plus side, this means that there is less that can go wrong.
If your not bothered about any of those things and just like the price tag and long warranty, then the E-Tec could be perfect for you. As with many Alpha reviews, let’s see what marks out of 10 we gave it…
Performance – 7/10
In terms of performance from a heating and hot water point of view, we can’t fault the E-Tec. If you also take the price into consideration too then you’re looking at a winner.
If you want a few extra’s such as quietness, Wifi and hydrogen ready to futureproof your home, then you need to look elsewhere.
Reliability – 7/10
The E-Tec plus has been given a 10-year warranty so Alpha is saying that they are confident in their work.
The Alpha is known to be reliable, it’s just also known to have a few breakdowns too. Something that isn’t as common with a Worcester or Viessmann for a bit more money.
Pricing – 9/10
The Alpha E-Tec is a budget boiler with a budget price tag. The 10 years warranty ensures that this boiler stands out in this area.
Other boilers in this price bracket around £1,600 only offer up to 7 years with added extras.
Warranty – 9/10
If it wasn’t for the 10 years warranty then this boiler wouldn’t be that great value. The 10 years warranty for the E-Tec plus is great. A boiler with a low price tag and years of potentially hassle-free heating is just what some people are looking for but ensure that you get an Alpha boiler service every year too to maintain the warranty.
Overall Review Score 7.5/10
With a score of 7.5, we are saying that this boiler is good. It’s not great, and if you can afford an extra £50 you can get a quieter more compact boiler in the Worcester Bosch 2000, a boiler with guaranteed reliability. You don’t get the full 10 years warranty but you may not need it.
Alpha Boiler Thermostats & Controls
Many boiler manufacturers are delving into the world of smart thermostats to control their new boilers.
Alpha has yet to bring one out, as such you have their own wireless thermostat you can still connect to from anywhere to choose from, or if you want a fully smart thermostat, you would have to buy a universal one.
Alpha Connect Wireless Thermostat
Whilst you can still connect to this thermostat remotely from anywhere, it isn’t quite a full smart thermostat. It doesn’t learn and give you the full controls a smart thermostat does.
It does however do all the basics well and gives you more control than a standard thermostat.
Alpha Climatic Wireless Thermostat
Designed specifically to be used with the Alpha E-Tec range to maximise the efficiency of the boiler, this wireless thermostat does everything it should. It can be set to come on at certain times in the say and used to regulate the temperature of your home.
Hive & Nest
These main 2 universal smart thermostats can be used with Alpha E-tec. If you have one already then you can just switch it over to be used with your new boiler.
These smart thermostats are great for keeping extra control of your heating to either cut costs or keep your home extra toasty ready for when you get home on a winter’s night.
Where can I buy a new boiler?
If you are looking for a new boiler, you can buy a brand new Alpha or any other boiler brand online with one of our recommended boiler installation companies. This means you can choose the perfect model for your home and then also book them to come and install a new boiler in your home on a day that suits you.
How much does a new boiler replacement cost?
A boiler replacement costs around £2,200 on average, which includes the boiler unit itself, full Gas Safe installation and all parts, fixtures and fittings. The boiler installation cost can vary depending on the amount of work involved and the price given here is for a direct like-for-like combi swap.
Alpha E-tec 28 Review Summary
If you’ve come across the Alpha E-Tec and wondered why it was such a good price then we hope that we have answered your questions. It has its place in the market and is stand out in the budget boiler category with its long warranty.
