The compact Viessmann Vitodens 111-W B1LD-35 storage combi boiler easily fits into an airing cupboard or loft space. (Credit: Viessmann)
The Vitodens 111-W is a storage combi boiler that offers high performance and can meet the needs of most homes, even those with high hot water requirements. It’s equipped with a cylinder-loading system that has 46 litres of corrosion-resistant stainless steel storage capacity.
With a flow rate of 18 litres per minute, the Vitodens 111-W storage boiler can fill a bath in as little as eight minutes. It has a maximum output of 34kW for hot water and 35kW for central heating. According to Viessmann, its hot water performance is equivalent to an installed 150-litre cylinder. It is designed with future efficiency in mind, as it’s ready to run on 20% hydrogen mixed with natural gas.
The Vitodens 111-W is very easy to use, with a user-friendly LED touch screen and a standard wi-fi interface so that you can connect the heating system to the web if you need to. You can also add an optional ViCare thermostat and smartphone app for even greater control. This allows an engineer to inspect the boiler remotely if problems arise.
Viessmann is known for the quality of its engineering. The boiler is backed by a five-year guarantee on parts and labour as standard, but this is seven years if the unit is installed by a Viessmann-trained professional. Your seven-year warranty can be extended to 12 years for a fee.
With a 4.4-star Trustpilot rating, all indications are that customers are happy with their Viessmann products. There are many positive Trustpilot reviews about the 111-W B1LD-35 storage combi boiler specifically, with customers remarking on the model’s performance and reliability.
Technical information
Viessmann’s compact and efficient gas-condensing Vitodens 111-W B1LD-35 storage combi boiler offers nominal outputs of 34kW for hot water and 35kW for central heating. In terms of energy efficiency, this model is 94% efficient, class A-rated and hydrogen-ready. It provides the equivalent hot water performance of a separate 150-litre tank at a rate of over 18 litres per minute.
This wall-mounted boiler, like others in the Viessmann range, features a corrosion-resistant stainless steel Inox Radial heat exchanger and a modulating MatriX cylinder burner.
- Guarantee options: Up to 12 years on parts and labour
- Price range: From £1,575 to £1,700 (excluding installation)
- Efficiency rating: A
- Output rating: 34kW for hot water and 35kW for central heating
Key features
Highlights: A modulating ratio of 1:10, temperature control and optional outside temperature sensors for optimal weather-compensated performance.
Key benefit: The 35kW model can meet the heating demands of up to 15 radiators, making it perfect for larger homes.
Fuel: Gas (hydrogen-ready).
Flow rate: 18 litres per minute.
Pros and cons
A boiler is a significant investment that can affect your quality of life and energy bills, so we recommend weighing up the pros and cons of different models carefully.
Here are the advantages of choosing the Viessmann Vitodens 111-W B1LD-35 storage combi boiler:
- High efficiency: The stainless steel Inox-Radial heat exchanger accounts for a high efficiency of up to 94%, meaning very little energy is lost during heating. You can enjoy a warmer home and a reliable hot water supply with less energy usage.
- Generous warranty period: This boiler comes with a five-year manufacturer’s warranty. When installed by a Viessmann-trained installer, you get a seven-year warranty which can be upgraded to 12 years for a fee. The boiler is also protected by a 10-year warranty against leaks caused by corrosion.
- High hot water capability: You can enjoy a flow rate of up to 18 litres per minute with the Viessmann Vitodens 111-W B1LD-35 storage combi boiler. The hot water performance is equal to a separately installed 150-litre cylinder.
- Compact size: The wall-mounted 111-W B1LD-35 storage combi boiler weighs 68kg and measures 950 x 600 x 500 mm. A conventional boiler system may require a hot water cylinder, but this combi boiler does not. You can easily install your boiler in your loft or inside a cupboard.
- Instant hot water: Conventional boilers store hot water in an insulated tank, and it takes time to refill when empty. The Viessmann Vitodens 111-W B1LD-35 storage combi boiler has an internal tank and supplies hot water on demand.
- Easy installation: This boiler has very few external parts, making installation affordable and simple.
This boiler does have some drawbacks, including:
- Requires good mains pressure: If your mains water supply has poor pressure, you may not experience the benefits of this boiler’s high 18-litre-per-minute flow rate. Speak to your installer about booster pumps if you are worried about low water pressure.
- No immersion heater: Your Viessmann Vitodens 111-W does not have a built-in immersion heater. You will need to wait without hot water or central heating for the system to be repaired if it breaks down, or have a separate immersion heater installed.
- Pricing: This boiler’s price tag starts at £1,575 without installation costs, so it’s not the most affordable model on the market.
Optional smart thermostat integration lets you control your combi boiler remotely. (Credit: Viessmann)
How does the Viessmann Vitodens 111-W B1LD-35 storage combi boiler work?
A storage combi boiler has an integral thermal water store, meaning there’s a hot water cylinder housed within the boiler unit itself. This is different to system boilers that store water in an external hot water cylinder.
Like other combi boilers, your Viessmann Vitodens 111-W will draw cold water directly from your mains water supply and heat it on demand. It will also keep a supply of hot water stored at all times.
Storage combi boilers produce and deliver pressurised hot water in a similar way to a system boiler, with a high flow rate (in this case, 18 litres per minute). The modulating ratio of this boiler is 1:10, which means it can operate at 10% of its maximum output to keep your energy costs as low as possible.
The Viessmann Vitodens 111-W B1LD-35 storage combi boiler contains an erosion-resistant Inox-Radial stainless steel heat exchanger which creates a furnace-like environment to boost operational reliability and generate a high output. It also features a modulating MatriX cylinder burner.
You can control the boiler using a simple LCD touchscreen, or you can operate it from your phone using ViCare. ViCare is an optional smart-home integration.
How does the Viessmann Vitodens 111-W B1LD-35 storage combi boiler compare to other combi boilers?
The Worcester Bosch Greenstar CDi Classic Combi is a good alternative to the Vitodens 111-W. This model costs from £800 to £1,240, so it is much cheaper than the Viessmann. However, it still comes with similar warranty terms – five years for installations by a non-accredited installer and 10 years for an accredited installation.
You can buy the Greenstar CDi Classic Combi in a range of power outputs: 29–42kW. The 35kW Greenstar 34CDi Classic would be the closest comparable model to the Viessmann, but the option of a 42kW model might appeal if you have higher energy needs. This boiler measures 760 x 440 x 360 mm, meaning it’s smaller than the Viessmann Vitodens 111-W – ideal if you have a compact space.
Alternatively, the Vaillant ecoTEC Green iQ 835 combi boiler is a good choice. It offers the same efficiency as the Viessmann 111-W (94%) and has the same energy efficiency rating (A). This boiler is largely recyclable, which means you can reduce your environmental impact. According to general estimates, you will pay around £1,425 for a Vaillant EcoTEC Green iQ boiler.
How much does a Viessmann Vitodens 111-W B1LD-35 storage combi boiler cost?
Costs can vary between suppliers and installers, but according to online estimates, you can expect to pay upwards of £1,575 for your Viessmann Vitodens 111-W boiler, VAT included.
| Viessmann Vitodens 111-W B1LD-35 storage combi boiler cost | |
|---|---|
| Boiler unit only (including VAT) | From £1,575 to £1,700 |
| Average installation cost (including VAT) | From £500 to £1,000 |
| Sundries (filters, flues) | From £300 |
| Total cost | From £2,375 to £3,000 |
Maintaining your Viessmann Vitodens 111-W B1LD-35 storage combi boiler
Viessmann recommends servicing your boiler at least once a year to carry out small fixes and keep it in good condition. Attempting to fix your boiler yourself is not advisable, unless you are licensed to do so.
You can maintain your radiator pressure by periodically bleeding them. This involves removing any air that has accumulated inside.
You can check your boiler’s LCD display for common fault codes if you’re experiencing a loss in performance. Then, you should contact a ViPRO partner to help you address the problem. If you have a ViCare thermostat, an engineer can inspect your system remotely.
Final recommendation
The Viessmann Vitodens 111-W storage combi boiler is suited to most homes. At 950 x 600 x 500 mm, it’s not as compact as other combi boilers on the market (like the Worcester Bosch Greenstar CDi Classic Combi or the Baxi Platinum Combi), but it’s far smaller and less obtrusive than a floor-standing storage combi or system boiler.
The Viessmann Vitodens 111-W storage combi boiler is A-rated for energy efficiency, with a 1:10 modulating ratio and a powerful Inox-Radial stainless steel heat exchanger that further optimises performance. What’s more, this model comes with generous guarantees – especially when installed by a Viessmann-trained installer.
The 46-litre integrated storage tank performs as well as a system boiler and can fill a bath with hot water in minutes – even while you use other hot water taps. This means it’s a great solution if you have multiple bathrooms in your home.
Overall, this is a reliable and efficient combi boiler that’s ideal for homes with high energy consumption.
What the professionals say
“The Vitodens 111-W is known to be reliable, rapid and efficient. The Vitodens 111-W storage combi boiler outperforms the more expensive Viessmann boilers in this range due to its functionality, compact design and high performance. Not only do you get all this, but you get a Which? recommended gas boiler too.”
“The Viessmann Vitodens 111-W is a storage combi boiler designed for homes with high hot water demands. Unlike standard combi boilers, it has a water cylinder housed within the unit itself, this means that there is no need for a separate hot water tank. With a 46-litre storage capacity, the stainless steel storage tank integrated into the Vitodens 111-W is equipped to provide hot water to multiple sources simultaneously. This makes it an ideal choice for larger houses with multiple bathrooms.”
“With its integrated 46-litre storage tank, compact size dimensions and excellent design the Viessmann Vitodens 111-W is a natural choice for us to recommend. Due to the continually improved design of Viessmann’s own boiler range, they’ve been able to stay at the top of the leaderboard in terms of service, product quality and aftercare. . . . The 111-W comes as either a 26kW or a 35kW, the size you require is subject to your hot water requirements. The Viessmann Vitodens 111-W is ultimately a fantastic example of how you can further reduce your annual energy bills while still having a consistent supply of water for you and your property!”
Customer reviews
“We have a Viessmann Vitodens 111 storage combi and after having it one year can confirm it is all working well and as expected. Time will tell how good service and reliability is but all good for now.”
- Dean, Trustpilot
“I was recommended to purchase this boiler by three different agents. When installed unfortunately it did not work and a Viessmann engineer had to be called who fixed the fault. After a further two months, it developed a further fault which again was resolved quickly. Up to now no further problems and the boiler is better than previous ones. Water is much hotter. . . .”
- Kevin, Trustpilot
“Viessmann Vitodens 111 is a superb boiler. Viessmann online contact was good and the company who fitted it were efficient, providing an acceptable service. The boiler itself is fantastic, mine is LPG and it is quiet, economical but supremely powerful and without doubt the best combi I have ever had. Coupled to this we have a 10-year warranty from Viessmann which sealed the deal.”
Ron, Trustpilot
Our methodology
To compile this Viessmann Vitodens 111-W B1LD-35 storage combi boiler review, we analysed hundreds of customer reviews, technical documentation, brochures, forums and media articles. We then rated the Vitodens 111-W against our 100-point scoring which evaluates boilers based on the features and qualities customers care about most.
- The warranty period offered by the brand, for a total of 10 points;
- The overall reputation of the brand based on online reviews, for a total of 15 points;
- Trustpilot reviews, for a total of five points;
- Awards and accolades (eg, Which? Best Buy Awards), for a total of five points;
- Customer service performance, for a total of 10 points;
- The price range, for a total of 15 points;
- Efficiency ratings, for a total of 15 points;
- Installation and maintenance network and reviews, for a total of 15 points; and
- Overall performance (temperature, maximum flow), for a total of 10 points.