Electric Boilers whats the difference?

fizzybabe

Im in the process of buying a new home which I will be rennovating. The house does not have gas mains, so I am looking at installing an electric boiler.

Im rather confused as to which type of boiler would best suit my needs, I understand there are regular electric boilers and then combi electric boilers and some which have water storing facilities.

Some of the rooms in the house will have electric under floor heating but most rooms will have standard radiators. As I have a baby I prefer a boiler which can be programmed by individual room temperatures rather than on a timer, I will have solar panels to the roof which will help decrease the extensive costs which I know are associated with electric boilers. As well as needing to heat the radiators we will also have standard washer, dishwasher 2 basins and 2 showers to power so I need something which can cope with these demands. I would prefer instant hot water at any time due to our familys love of baths, I dont want to be limited by a tank.

Is anyone able to help explain what system would better suit my needs - or at least explain the different options available. Also (this may sound silly) do you have to have an electrician or a plummer to fit the system (or someone who can do both?). Thank you !!!!:)

macman

I can't help you much with electric boiler specs, but both your dishwasher and washing machine are cold fill (unless the latter is very old) and do not require a hot feed, so they will not affect your choice of system.
If you require hot water on demand then you will have to go for a combi system, however this will not produce a sufficient flow rate to run 2 showers, or a shower and a bath, simultaneously.

fizzybabe

Thanks for clearing up the washer/dishwasher part. The boiler ranges I have been looking at say underneath them what their capabilities are (im looking at around 12kw these are the ones without storage tanks), and they do claim to be able to run 2 showers at once - not that we would need them running at the same time. Is this really not the case? would the pressure just not be there? Many thanks

Cardew

fizzybabe wrote: »

Thanks for clearing up the washer/dishwasher part. The boiler ranges I have been looking at say underneath them what their capabilities are (im looking at around 12kw these are the ones without storage tanks), and they do claim to be able to run 2 showers at once - not that we would need them running at the same time. Is this really not the case? would the pressure just not be there? Many thanks

12kW will not run 2 showers effectively! Most(stand alone) electric showers are 8.5kW to 10.5kW.

It is not a question of pressure but 12kW will not heat the water fast enough, particularly in winter when the mains water is cold.

Frankly for Hot water purposes, in your case, you would be better off with a Hot Water tank and an Immersion heater.

You might want to re-examine why you want a 'wet' electric system with radiators which will be very expensive to install. There are plug-in panel heaters etc that are just as effective and much cheaper to install.

fizzybabe

Thanks Cardew, to be honest I'm really not sure about the other options available. I appreciate your help The house already has radiators installed (so I thought it would be easier to make use of them), but has a coal fired boiler. Im basically wanting an econimical way to heat the house and have hot water. As there is no gas to the house and will have solar panels, heating by electricity would seem to be a cheaper option than gas but I really don't know enough about the different types of systems available to make an informed decision. I've read so many different websites that I feel worse off than when I started and the few companies Ive spoken to which sell heating systems seem out only to get the biggest amount of money from me. Im really after a system which can offer hot water as and when needed (screaming babies dont like waiting for water if we need an unscheduled bath) and then room heating, either by underfloor or by radiators.

macman

How can heating by electricity be cheaper than heating by gas? Electric heating is by far the most expensive option.

Cardew

fizzybabe wrote: »

Thanks Cardew, to be honest I'm really not sure about the other options available. I appreciate your help The house already has radiators installed (so I thought it would be easier to make use of them), but has a coal fired boiler. Im basically wanting an econimical way to heat the house and have hot water. As there is no gas to the house and will have solar panels, heating by electricity would seem to be a cheaper option than gas but I really don't know enough about the different types of systems available to make an informed decision. I've read so many different websites that I feel worse off than when I started and the few companies Ive spoken to which sell heating systems seem out only to get the biggest amount of money from me. Im really after a system which can offer hot water as and when needed (screaming babies dont like waiting for water if we need an unscheduled bath) and then room heating, either by underfloor or by radiators.

If it has(had) a coal fired boiler then it must have had a Hot water tank. These are usually fitted with an immersion heater.

If that is so it will take care of your requirement for lots of hot water.

Why are you getting solar panels? They cost £thousands and only give useful amounts of Hot Water in the summer and virtually nothing in the winter. They are just about the worst buy available.*
In any case that system requires a Hot water tank.

Steer clear of all these firms offering electrical heating systems that purport to be cheap to run - they ain't!! All electrical heating gives exactly the same amount of heat for the same running cost. That applies to a system costing £thousands to a £10 fan heater from Argos. Regardless electrical heating on a daytime tariff is the most expensive method of heating available.

Is there any reason why you are discarding the coal fired boiler? If it is working it will save you a lot of money in a new installation.

As you are home all day you might consider storage heating.

* that may change if they are covered by the RHI(renewable Heat Initiative) - details due to be announced in June.

fizzybabe

Cardew wrote: »

If it has(had) a coal fired boiler then it must have had a Hot water tank. These are usually fitted with an immersion heater.

If that is so it will take care of your requirement for lots of hot water.

Why are you getting solar panels? They cost £thousands and only give useful amounts of Hot Water in the summer and virtually nothing in the winter. They are just about the worst buy available.*
In any case that system requires a Hot water tank.

Steer clear of all these firms offering electrical heating systems that purport to be cheap to run - they ain't!! All electrical heating gives exactly the same amount of heat for the same running cost. That applies to a system costing £thousands to a £10 fan heater from Argos. Regardless electrical heating on a daytime tariff is the most expensive method of heating available.

Is there any reason why you are discarding the coal fired boiler? If it is working it will save you a lot of money in a new installation.

As you are home all day you might consider storage heating.

* that may change if they are covered by the RHI(renewable Heat Initiative) - details due to be announced in June.

Im not paying for the solar panels, they are free, basically the firm that fits them looks after the maintenence and they receive the money back from the energy comapnies for electric going back into the grid, I just benefit from free elctricity during daylight hours. (benefits of having a large south facing roof.)- The solar panels are pv and generate electricity for power rather than for hot water.

I don't want to keep the coil fired boiler as its a bit of a hassle with a baby in the house. I ujust want to be able to flick a switch (or even better have a thermostat just bring the heating on when the room temp drops too low). I work part time to Im home through the day half the week and out the oher half.

I understand the house already has a hot water tank with immersion as a back up heat source, I didnt realise this could be used as the only source for hot water - would it be a case of knocking the immersion on an hour or so before the hot water is needed?

Thanks again for your hlpe, I appreciate you taking the time to reply to me

macman

Just put the immersion heater on a timer to come on at the required times.

Cardew

fizzybabe wrote: »

Im not paying for the solar panels, they are free, basically the firm that fits them looks after the maintenence and they receive the money back from the energy comapnies for electric going back into the grid, I just benefit from free elctricity during daylight hours. (benefits of having a large south facing roof.)- The solar panels are pv and generate electricity for power rather than for hot water.

I don't want to keep the coil fired boiler as its a bit of a hassle with a baby in the house. I ujust want to be able to flick a switch (or even better have a thermostat just bring the heating on when the room temp drops too low). I work part time to Im home through the day half the week and out the oher half.

I understand the house already has a hot water tank with immersion as a back up heat source, I didnt realise this could be used as the only source for hot water - would it be a case of knocking the immersion on an hour or so before the hot water is needed?

Thanks again for your hlpe, I appreciate you taking the time to reply to me

Ah the solar panels are PV panels that produce electricity not hot water.

They really have little to do with hot water or heating, you just get to use the electricity they generate, mainly in the summer and best around midday.

Putting the immersion heater on for an hour will give you loads of hot water. You just need to experiment to get the correct procedure for your usage.

Any form of electrical heating will enable you to control the level of heating in your house.

fizzybabe

Thank you Cardew