studio flat with gas boiler worth replacing for electric

PollySouthend

Hi,

I have a studio flat that currently has a gas boiler. Seams like a bit of a waste as the place doesn't get that cold being a flat and the shower is electric.

Was just going to replace with storage heaters as the boiler maitainace and replacement costs just don't seem worth it for a studio.

Is there any reason why they have installed a gas boiler in a studio? Maybe there is some good reason why I shouldt replace with electric?

Andy_WSM

Hi Polly.

Do you know how many kW of gas you use over an avergae Winter?

You could cost up the equivalent amount of kW at your electric tariff price, take away you gas boiler maintenance & servicing costs, capital cost of boiler divided by life expectancy and gas standing charge and see where you end up.

I suspect that for a small place it may actually end up about the same cost to run all electric heating, but electric heating doesn't need servicing and should last longer.

If the place doesn't really get cold then storage heaters probably aren't the answer. Just some good quality electric heaters with decent timers & thermostats.

Pincher

Standing charge.

A halfway house is wall mounted gas heater, no leaking radiators.

Pray Ebico keeps the no standing charge tariff.

Nada666

I am not sure what difference a wall-mounted gas heater versus only using a single central heating radiator (well tuned) would make (or, indeed, if it is just one room with a couple.) Comparing gas usage to electricity you would compare less than two-thirds of your gas usage in kWh, not the same amount.

But no point changing (I think) until the boiler actually is kaput. And there is no need for annual maintenace - just a one-off check when you move in.

As it is a studio there is no point switching to storage heaters - you will lost the on demand only using heating when essential flexibility. As you are insulated you could easily find there are whole winters when the number of evenings you need heating are very few.

Is your hot water gas or electric?

Pincher

Nada666 wrote: »

I am not sure what difference a wall-mounted gas heater versus only using a single central heating radiator (well tuned) would make (or, indeed, if it is just one room with a couple.)

No leaking radiators and pipe work, no central heating pump, no combi diverter valve, no Honeywell programmer. Just an on/off appliance.

macman

Because single rate electricity is about 300% more per kWh than gas? 12p per kWh vs about 4p.
One gas boiler annual service at around £75 is the only extra expenditure.
I really can't think of a better way to reduce the value of any property with gas CH than replacing it with E7 or an electric boiler.
You don't say if the existing boiler is a combi or not, but if it is (most likely in a small flat), then E7 is not necessarily going to work, as you have to find space for a hot tank and immersion heater.