Are Glow-worm and Vaillant the same?

They share a group but are separate ranges. Glow-worm is sold as the value make and Vaillant as the premium one, so the products differ and not every part is shared. Both are well supported, and neither has been left without backing.

Is choosing a Glow-worm a false economy?

Not necessarily. Installed properly on a clean system and serviced every year, one can run reliably for a long time. Most of the trouble we see comes from how it was fitted and looked after, not the name on it, although the budget combis do come to the end of their economic life earlier.

My Glow-worm has broken down. Should I move up to a Vaillant?

Only if a Vaillant is right for your home, not simply because it is the dearer make in the group. We offer choices at more than one price, and sometimes the best answer is another Glow-worm, fitted properly this time.

Can you repair and service my Glow-worm boiler?

Yes. Our gas work is done by Gas Safe registered engineers, as the law requires for any gas boiler, whatever the make.

Tier 1 · Gas

Glow-worm boiler repair and service engineers in London

Value make of the Vaillant group for many years, with a large number of older boilers still in use.

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Fully insured and Gas Safe registered
Every fault diagnosed before we quote
You agree the price before we start
Our workmanship is guaranteed

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The make

Glow-worm boilers

Within the Vaillant group, Glow-worm is the value make. It has gone into British homes for so long that the boilers still in use cover several decades of models. Ninja Plumbers comes across them most in homes where the last replacement was picked to fit a budget rather than designed for the property, and in London flats owned by landlords.

The Glow-worm range

Glow-worm is based in Belper, Derbyshire, and has been the Vaillant group’s value brand for more than twenty years. Betacom and Easicom are compact budget combis. The Energy range covers combi, system and heat-only boilers in the middle of the market, and Ultimate is the better-specified option. A well-installed Energy combi does the same job as plenty of dearer boilers in a two-bedroom flat.

Faults we often find on Glow-worm boilers

Older boilers past the point where repair pays
Diverter and pressure faults you would expect at this age
Budget replacement boilers fitted in a spot that does not suit them
No magnetic filter on the system, so sludge cuts the boiler’s life short
Outside condensate pipes left without frost protection

This list reflects what Ninja Plumbers finds across Glow-worm boilers in general. It is not a diagnosis of yours, and we confirm any fault on site before giving a price.

Glow-worm servicing

The warranty usually depends on registration and an annual service by a Gas Safe engineer; check your warranty terms, as they vary by model and installer. Because many Glow-worms were fitted to a budget, the service often finds corners cut at installation rather than boiler faults: no magnetic filter on a sludgy system, an unprotected condensate pipe outside, or a pressure relief pipe ending somewhere it should not.

Repair it or replace it?

The lower purchase price cuts both ways. A small repair is usually worth doing at any age, because it keeps an inexpensive boiler going for little outlay. A big repair on an older Betacom or Easicom is different: once it is a large fraction of the price of a new boiler and the unit is past ten years, replacement often wins. Energy and Ultimate models need a case-by-case answer.

Our services

Work we do on Glow-worm boilers

Glow-worm boiler repair

We find the fault first, then quote for the fix.
Glow-worm boiler service

An annual check, which most manufacturer warranties require.
Glow-worm boiler installation

Matched to your home, at a price agreed up front.
Glow-worm boiler replacement

You see repair and replacement costs side by side first.

FAQs

Questions about Glow-worm boilers

Are Glow-worm and Vaillant the same?: They share a group but are separate ranges. Glow-worm is sold as the value make and Vaillant as the premium one, so the products differ and not every part is shared. Both are well supported, and neither has been left without backing.
Is choosing a Glow-worm a false economy?: Not necessarily. Installed properly on a clean system and serviced every year, one can run reliably for a long time. Most of the trouble we see comes from how it was fitted and looked after, not the name on it, although the budget combis do come to the end of their economic life earlier.
My Glow-worm has broken down. Should I move up to a Vaillant?: Only if a Vaillant is right for your home, not simply because it is the dearer make in the group. We offer choices at more than one price, and sometimes the best answer is another Glow-worm, fitted properly this time.
Can you repair and service my Glow-worm boiler?: Yes. Our gas work is done by Gas Safe registered engineers, as the law requires for any gas boiler, whatever the make.

More makes

We handle every make of boiler

Problem with your Glow-worm?

Tell us the model and whatever fault code the display shows. We can often say what the likely problem is before an engineer is on the way.

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