Electric heating system - does anyone have the answer??

Inactive

yogajo wrote: »

Can't understand why so many plumbers and electricians have been unable to give, clear, understandible advise!

That's a bit strong, you have been given excellent advice.

If you are not capable of digesting it, it is hardly the fault of those that have freely offered to help.:rolleyes:

baldelectrician

forgot to add - if your water pressure is poor then it will be very hard to have a stand alone instantaneous water heater.

The only alternative water heater (other than the cylinder you have) is a over counter one (like the naff looking ones you get in offices)

Fred56

Please do't do this to yourself.

Electricity is approx 2.5 times the price for each unit of energy.
The carbon dioxide emissions are approx 3 times per unit of energy compared to buring gas in a modern boiler.

If your road is private you are in a lucky position, you won't necessarily need an approved highways contractor, just a competent ground worker. Digging is really cheap (I was paying £18.50 per hour for man and machine when I built my last house in 2006) and blue alkathene pipe really really cheap. Talk to the water utility and determine the true reason for the low pressure. If it's just a case of running in a new or even larger bore pipe, do it. You may not even have to dig, a competent contractor may be able to mole it in.

amtrakuk

yogajo wrote: »

Hi all!


Well, I have sworn, kicked things and been close to screaming!
All the internet researching has just confused me further so I have come here to hopefully get straight answers.

I cannot seem get any sound advice about installing an electric boiler and storage heaters.

In a nutshell, I want to:

1) Replace my gas bolier with an electric one (just to heat water!)
2) Replace my gas radiators with energy efficient electric radiators/heaters
3) Lose the large ugly water cylinder in the airing cupboard.

I have a reasonably small 3 bed terrace house with one bathroom (overhead shower). There is a sink, washing machine and possible dishwasher in the kitchen and obviously a sink in the bathroom.

However, our water pressure is rubbish and we don't have the money to dig up the road and lay a new pipe (this is the only way as the road is privately own by us and our nieghbourss).

I am 100% resigned to changing to electric and just want some logical advice as to exactly what I need to buy.

Please, please, can anyone give me the solution?

With all my thanks in advance
Jo

I made a project of ditching gas as my gas combi gave up the ghost about this time last year. Got estimates which were horrifying to replace it.

Most importantly get a qualified sparky in to get the electric work done!

I wanted to be in full control and not rely on timers that waste electricity as I might not be in the house when they clicked on. I Tried oil filled radiators but these took time to respond and would take a good hour or two before I would feel any benefit. Therefore I decided on cheap wall mountable convection heaters from argos - with thermostats so I wont overheat the room. 1 x 3KW heater in the front room, 4 x 2kw heaters 1 each in the kitchen, box room, master bedroom, attic room.

Another benefit of electric heating is you can individually control how much heat you need in each "Zone". I keep the front room at about 20 degrees, the kitchen, unused rooms and my bedroom at about 18.

For Hot water I would recommend a 12 KW Redring Powerstream, that works abit like a combi boiler, it only uses electricity when you turn on the hot tap. Bare in mind it only rises the water by about 20 degrees when the taps fully on, if you want more you will have to decrease the flow. If you want showers wash your hands, do the washing up then you'll be ok with it.

For cooking the sparky put in an electric point and I got a second hand cooker for 100.00. Clean and works well. But mainly I use a tabletop induction hob I got from ebay and a nuwave oven used day to day.

Bills: My direct debit is currently 60.00 a month although I think it should be more like 70-80 a month as during winter, that's if it is as hard as last year I will be burning about 80-100 of electric a month. Now it is summer I use very little electric but am building a nice credit.

amtrakuk

JorgAlBear wrote: »

We have been looking at putting in oil filled electric radiators rather than gas central heating, and my builder came up with an amazing product, which he has in his office / gym / granny flat, and they are very economical and work really well. Here is the site ... http://www.meaco.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Elnuroilwall

I had a look at these but they take time to take effect and heat the room. Some people gont like convection heaters but I liek them due to instantly giving out heat when you want it.

amtrakuk

baldelectrician wrote: »

forgot to add - if your water pressure is poor then it will be very hard to have a stand alone instantaneous water heater.

The only alternative water heater (other than the cylinder you have) is a over counter one (like the naff looking ones you get in offices)

True I forgot the member has poor water pressure. therefor I'd suggest a cistern type water heater, something like http://www.santon.co.uk/santon/santon.nsf/ProductLookup/RUnits?OpenDocument

Ideally put in the loft or highest point of the house.