Cheapest way to heat water for business

hakko

I need hot water for hand washing and showers in the changing rooms for a new martial arts centre.

I was thinking all electric as gas loses heat via the flue. Whereas electric is direct contact (?)

Option 1: Electric boiler for water and heating and showers.

Option 2: Electric boiler for hand wash water and heating, electric showers.

Option 3: Gas boiler for hand wash water and heating, electric showers.

Hard water area, so worth using water softener to reduce maintenance and increase efficiency?

HappyMJ

If there is a gas supply then a gas boiler would usually be cheaper over the long term. You would also get much more hot water than an electric immersion heater could ever provide. I'd install a large cylinder and a gas boiler to provide hot water to the showers rather than installing several electric showers. Electric showers could also have a risk of scalding if they aren't used properly...i.e not allowing them to cool between uses you could have extremely hot water coming out of them for a few seconds. The temperature of the hot water in a cylinder can be set so that it isn't capable of burning anyone. You can install thermostatic showers that will mix cold water with hot.

macman

Yes, electricity is more efficient (100%). But it's also about 300% more per kWh, so gas is by far the cheapest option.

lstar337

We use on demand water heaters, they seem to do the job fine.

They require a lot of power 9/10kWh, but we only use them for hand washing and occasional dish washing so they work out pretty cheap.

Owain_Moneysaver

Instant electric showers will not provide the quality of shower expected in a quality sports centre, and having several of them that may be used simultaneously will need a hefty electricity supply.

Modern condensing gas boilers are about 95% efficient, and gas is a third the price of electricity.

hakko

Thanks for the replies.

I guess it's also a plumbing question. Electric showers off mains would be easier/cheaper than setting up tanks and a gas combi boiler?

Andy_WSM

hakko wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

I guess it's also a plumbing question. Electric showers off mains would be easier/cheaper than setting up tanks and a gas combi boiler?

It's not a gas combi boiler you want, it's a gas system boiler & tank that you want.

Several electric showers sharing a mains supply will possibly lead to pressure drop issues - and as already stated, the premises may not have a big enough electricity supply to cope with several showers being used at the same time.

Pincher

Have a look at this:

http://www.rinnaiuk.com/rinn/index.php?id=703

Click on brochure.

Page 5 onwards is the kind of thing you want.

Instantaneously heating water on demand from cold for say twenty showers is CRAZY. Realistically, you should be looking at a stored hot water design. Oh wait, UNISEX showers.;)