Gas or Electric Central Heating?

dfgmavis

I've just bought a 2 bed 1950's ex-council flat in N16, London. It doesn't have any central heating in it at all & I'm not sure whether to go for gas or electric heating?

Currently there is only an electric supply, however there is a gas pipe coming in to the kitchen & British Gas have said they can reconnect it and give me a meter free of charge.

I've no bills to go on to be able to compare units, nor do I have any idea as to how much I will be using as previously I lived in a much bigger victorian conversion, with gas heating and a gas fireplace so I assume this will cost a lot less to heat.

At the moment its just me in my flat & I work from home, but that could change if I was to get a full time job in an office.

I'm going to get a new electrical ring main & consumer unit put in anyway because there is currently only one single socket in each room, so if I went for electrical heating I could get that done at the same time. The cost would then be the cost of heaters as they've said the cost to install would be negligable given they were putting in the new sockets anyway.

But everyone tells me that gas central heating is much cheaper on the bills.

Any advice anyone can offer would be much appreciated!

Thank you in advance,

Mavis

t0rt0ise

Gas heating is much cheaper to run than electric heating. As is hot water heated by gas. But the cost of installing it is obviously greater. I'd reckon a small boiler and half a dozen radiators would be worth it for the comfort and the cheaper bills.

dfgmavis

I think I'll only need 3 radiators (2 bedroom & 1 living room) & 1 small one in the bathroom.

I've just seen there is a thread on heating - sorry if I've put this is the wrong place!