Things to consider when choosing an electric boiler?
If you have been wondering whether an electric boiler is right for you, our straightforward guide will help you determine the best option for you and your home. Energy prices are always in our thoughts and many of you may only have used a traditional gas boiler and might be reluctant to change.
Electric Combi Boilers
Both gas and electric boilers work under the same principle; each using their respective energy source to heat water within the system. This undoubtedly makes the electric combi boiler an extremely viable option as it gives the benefits of central heating with no need for a gas supply.
This is particularly useful for those properties that have gas boiler restrictions and of course for any properties which have limited or no access to mains gas supply.
Electric combi boilers are perfectly suited to smaller homes due to their compact size thus taking up less space in congested storage areas and decreased demand for hot water. They are certainly an ideal choice if you are looking to reduce energy bills whilst protecting the environment. Technology is so advanced nowadays that although electric central heating units may be more expensive to run, they have become just as reliable as more traditional methods such as oil and gas supply.
Electric Central Heating Boilers
Electric boilers and electric storage heaters differ massively. The latter radiates heat throughout your home the next day after storing up electricity during off-peak electricity periods whereas the former uses electricity (in a similar way to a gas or oil burner) to heat the water in a wet central heating system.
Although it is recommended, there is no necessity for an annual service on an electric boiler. There are also much fewer moving parts which decrease the likelihood of problems occurring after installation. Other benefits include no risk of carbon monoxide leaks, no emissions given off at your property and they are generally quiet in operation.
If you have a larger home then you may wish to consider that electricity is generally more expensive than gas and is also considered to have a larger effect on greenhouse gas emissions.
What size Electric Boiler do I need?
This is primarily down to the required heating at your property or the size of your home. Which will determine what kW output you will need from your boiler.
To simplify things, you will be able to supply more taps and radiators simultaneously the higher your kW rating is. This rating is an indication of the maximum demand your boiler will be able to meet at its peak and provides guidance on the power output of hot water and heating you will receive measured in kilowatts.
Gas boilers can have a much higher output rating which is why they are usually better suited to large demands for heating and hot water in large properties. Electric boilers do not tend to rate much higher than 15kW and are therefore less powerful.
If you average 1.5kW per radiator around your property then it will provide a better indication of what you are looking for. In this case, a 12kW electric boiler would provide adequate heating for 8 radiators as an example.
In Britain, models range from 4kW up to 14.4kW and can be sourced via a variety of electric boiler manufacturers. The larger models tend to be more efficient and durable whereas the lower kW boilers as you would expect have lower running costs and generally cheaper to purchase.
Electric Boiler cost
The average price of an electric combi boiler is £1500. The cost of course depends on the manufacturer themselves and will usually be calculated on power (in kWh) and size. Lower end models can start at around £500 ranging all the way up to the more advanced versions that will come in at around £2500. You can reduce costs further by just running your combi boiler at night when costs are generally lower for most.
Electric Boiler Cost Calculator
As discussed previously, compared to gas, electricity is proven to be more expensive. With that in mind, after the installation of your boiler comes the running costs. This is where an electric boiler cost calculator can help you to gain an understanding of the costs involved.
Your tariff will differ depending on where in the UK you live. Average prices for gas are 3.8p/kWh in comparison to electricity’s average of 14.4p/kWh. That may seem a drastic difference at first but as eluded to above you can switch to an economy 7 tariff where during the night electricity rates are reduced.
So, there are a wide range of benefits that come with an electric boiler and it is clear to see that they are a better option in certain circumstances. Of course, the choice of boiler you require will be determined by a range of factors, all of which will need to be considered.