Best Central Heating Pumps (Expert Guide)
There are a plethora of central heating pumps on the market at the moment, so choosing one out of hundreds may seem daunting. Fear not, if you are looking to buy a new central heating pump, look no further then look at our recommended options below.
This blog will cover the following:
- Which is the best central heating pump to buy?
- What to look for in a good central heating system pump
- Best Grundfos Central Heating Pumps
- Best Lowara Central Heating Pumps
- Best Stuart Turner Central Heating Pumps
Which is the best central heating pump to buy?
If you’re on the market for a new central heating pump, we’ve got you covered. We have compiled a list to help you decide, read on to see our reviews of the best central heating pumps on the market.
All of these central heating pumps have been tested by our in-house engineers and are the best central heating pumps available on the market.
We’ve scored each central heating pump in the factors that matter the most, including the price.
What to look for in a good central heating system pump
A good central heating pump is pivotal for your home to remain heated across the year, most importantly during the cold months.
There are many factors that make a central heating system the right one for you, the criteria our engineers tested against to find the highest quality central heating pumps were the following:
Energy efficient
Does the central heating pump move water around your heating system without using too much electricity? An energy efficient heating system means cheaper bills which could save you money in the long run.
Price
Is the pump fairly priced when compared to competitor pumps? Is it value for money?
Technology
How flexible is the pump in letting you control your central heating system? Are you able to comfortably control the speed settings and circulation of the water across your home?
Endurance
Are the pump components up to scratch? Will they have the endurance needed to last over the years ahead?
Best Grundfos Central Heating Pumps
1. Grundfos ALPHA3 15-50/60
If you’re looking for the all-singing, all-dancing premium central heating pump, then the Grundfos Alpha 3 is probably the pump for you.
So, what makes the Grundfos Alpha3 15-50/60 so great?
First, it has different settings for how you want to use the pump. You can set the pump to underwater heating mode, radiator heating mode or user-specific mode.
If you choose underwater heating or radiator heating pump mode, the pump will then use its auto-adapt functionality to find the perfect settings based on head pressure requirements of your system. This saves time on the installation and helps the home or building owner be more energy-efficient, consequently saving them money.
If you need a specific spot setting for a commercial building, then you can use the user-specific mode to find the ideal constant or proportional settings for your needs.
Second, the pump is the first of its kind to have a built-in Bluetooth connection which can be used to connect to the Grundfos Go and Go Balance app. This makes it easier to set up, balance and monitor the status of your pump. You can do things like:
- Install the pump to your specific requirements
- Find the exact cause of different alarms or problems with the pump
- Shut off the pump during the summer on a daily timer
Finally, the pump also has a firmware update feature. This allows you to update the settings of the pump in the future, which should help make further energy efficiencies.
All in all, this pump offers four key things:
- Energy savings
- Pump remote access
- Peace of mind
- The ability to keep the pump up to date
Making it, in our opinion, the best central heating pump on the market.
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2. Grundfos UPS3 15-50/65
Regarded for its high quality, the Grundfos UPS3 15-50/65 is a universal replacement pump that directly replaces the highly commended UPS 15-50/60 and UPS2 15-50/60 models.
So, what makes the Grundfos UPS3 15-50/65 such a great central heating pump?
First, the USP3 looks like something from the future. I mean look at the interface… beautiful. However, if you’re worried about the beautiful interface being complicated to use, DO NOT WORRY.
The interface is super user-friendly and features three control modes, these are:
- Constant pressure control
- Proportional pressure control
- Constant curve mode
These features allow you to effortlessly optimise your central heating at the click of a button. Changing the speed that water is circulated around the system and distributed to radiators and faucets has never been easier.
Second, the pump housing is made completely of cast iron. None of the plastic rubbish which is likely to corrode and quickly cause issues. The pump is also painted in a coating of electrocoat which further improves corrosion resistance. All this means that the pump is likely to last longer and perform better than regular central heating pumps.
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Best Lowara Central Heating Pumps
1. Lowara Ecocirc Premium 25-4 (180)
Approximately 10-15% of average household electricity consumption is used by domestic heating circulators. However, with the Lowara Ecocirc Premium 25-4 (180), you could lower the electricity consumption of your central heating pump by up to 10%. The innovation that allows you to save so much electricity is the ECM-technology that actively monitors the speed of your circulatory system and optimises the pump for increased efficiency. This pump will literally pay for itself within a short period of installation.
Another major feature of the Ecocirc is how quiet it is in performance. The motor is powered by a spherical rotor, which is shaftless, reducing the amount of noise as the motor turns. An important consideration if you live in a particularly echoey home.
Finally, the last feature you need to know about the Ecocirc Premium is the built-in sensors that monitor the temperature within the pump. A common issue with central heating pumps is that components will overheat and break when the water reaches 125 degrees. However, with the Ecocirc Premium, your pump will actively monitor the temperature of the water and shut itself off to prevent overheating if the water reaches 124 degrees. Clever little thing.
All in all, by saving you money, staying quiet and with thermal overload protection, the Ecocirc Premium is probably the best central heating pump on the market.
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2. Lowara Ecocirc 25-4 (180)
If you like the sound of Lowara’s Ecocirc Premium model but you’re a little put off by the price, then maybe the Lowara Ecocirc 25-4 (180) model will be a little more appetising.
It’s basically the same pump, but it’s just missing a few of the Premium model’s key features. First, it doesn’t have the latest ECM-technology, so it can’t save you as much electricity when compared to the Premium version. However, when compared to regular central heating pumps, this pump is still far more energy-efficient.
Another missing feature is the interactive interface. This can make setting up and configuring the pump a tad more difficult.
Finally, the pump doesn’t have the noise-reducing spherical rotor design. This means that the pump will be a little louder in operation.
Not quite the Ecocirc Premium, but still one of the best central heating pumps on the market.
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Best Stuart Turner Central Heating Pump
1. Stuart Turner ST 15/60
If you’re looking for a quality central heating pump at the cheapest price, look no further than the Stuart Turner ST 15/60.
One of the major features of this particular circulatory pump is the frequency converter. The pump is highly efficient as the converter detects any changes in demand within the system and adapts to one of the six variable speed settings available. This helps keep your electricity bills to an absolute minimum.
Another feature you need to know about is the permanent magnet synchronous motor. The device can generate torque at zero speed which in turn, creates constant oscillation through water membranes. This increases efficiency, enabling hot water to be pumped at high speed to radiators and faucets as and when required.
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Need help finding the best central heating pump? Contact us!
If you’re struggling for advice, call our dedicated pump experts for free advice on: 0800 112 3134 or 0333 577 3134. We’re open Monday to Friday 07:00 - 17:30 and Saturday 08:30 - 12:30.