Boiler for electric-only flat

AngelaDub

Hi all, I had such great advice about my storage heating query and together with other threads on the forum I now have a plan to solve our heating problem.

But now I have to move on to the hot water supply problem. Background: electric only flat using Economy 7 because storage heaters. 2 bedroom flat with 2 occupants who both work away all day. No access to gas.

Our electricity bill was very high so we switched off the heating and it dropped by a third and then switched off the immersion heater water tank and it dropped by another third to about 40 GBP per month. We now regularly check the meter and keep the immersion heated water off. (Heating off too.)

We have been quite happy keeping immersion tank off because we have pretty good electric showers. To wash my face and wash the pots & pans I just boil a kettle. Dishwasher handles the rest.
However, occasionally we might want to have a bath. And the pressure of the hot water from the electric showers could be better, we love high pressure showers.

These are our showers, we have two showers like this (not allowed to post links so remove the spaces): https /ibb.co/cd2PQv

This is our current immersion heated water tank, looks really old doesn't it? (not allowed to post links so remove the spaces): https /ibb.co/jcTZsa

So, we're looking to upgrade our hot water supply. Keeping the monthly electric bill low is important to us. Initial outlay is obviously a consideration but we are willing to save up for a good system.

Ideally we'd like to be able to remove the electric showers and have high pressure hot water. We'd like to know what the best options are for upgrading our system - what is the best type on the market, and anticipating not wanting to spend the Earth, what are the best alternatives?

One option we're considering is an electric combi boiler? Does this make sense on Economy 7? We've also heard about the type where the mains in heated through a tank of hot water which heats up at nighttime?

Any advice would be so greatly appreciated as we're feeling really overwhelmed and suppliers just want to sell us their product. Thank you so so much.:j

Pincher

Heat pumps?

macman

I can't access your pix, but by 'boiler', I presume that you mean an immersion heater?
An electric boiler (combi or conventional) is the single most expensive way of heating and hot watering a property. You say that 'keeping the monthly electric bill low is important', but removing E7 and switching to an electric boiler on a single rate tariff will increase your heating and DHW costs by around 300%.
The flow of your showers is dependent on water pressure, supply pipework and shower rating, so there may be a solution if you want more flow, without abandoning electric showers.
You can't sensibly have DHW only from an electric boiler, and leave the storage heaters in, because then you would be paying even more to run your electric boiler on E7 peak rate for hot water.
So I don't think you've really thought this through.
The cheapest route in terms of running costs is gas CH and DHW, if you have access to a mains supply.

AngelaDub

Hi macman, thank you for your reply.
To answer your questions, and I will edit OP: we do not have access to mains gas, and the current boiler is an immersion heated water tank, yes.
To view the photos please removed the two spaces, one at the http and one at the dot com. (I couldn't post links because I am still a newbie.)

Is there a hot water option that will take advantage of the Economy7?

coffeehound

AngelaDub wrote: »

Ideally we'd like to be able to remove the electric showers and have high pressure hot water. We'd like to know what the best options are for upgrading our system - what is the best type on the market, and anticipating not wanting to spend the Earth, what are the best alternatives?

One option we're considering is an electric combi boiler? Does this make sense on Economy 7? We've also heard about the type where the mains in heated through a tank of hot water which heats up at nighttime?

Haven't used one but the thermal storage tanks that heat the water by passing it through a coil seem to be quite complex and large. Also the first water coming out of it may be hotter than the stream that follows.

Can't see your photo but I doubt a standard sized cylinder would contain enough water for two high-flow showers and you'd need to check that pressure and flow is sufficient to supply mixer showers as well.

Assuming your mains pressure and plumbing is up to the job of supplying two thermostatic mixer showers, your best bet may be a generously-sized unvented cylinder heated overnight by immersion heater. This would enable supply to the showers with both hot and cold at the same pressure. The insulation will keep unused water hot all day if it is not all used. A downside is that unvented tanks require mandatory annual safety inspections.

Cardew

AngelaDub wrote: »

And the pressure of the hot water from the electric showers could be better, we love high pressure showers.


So, we're looking to upgrade our hot water supply. Keeping the monthly electric bill low is important to us. Initial outlay is obviously a consideration but we are willing to save up for a good system.

Ideally we'd like to be able to remove the electric showers and have high pressure hot water. We'd like to know what the best options are for upgrading our system -

One option we're considering is an electric combi boiler?

Firstly no type of combi boiler(gas/oil/electric) will provide high pressure showers. Another drawback of an electric combi is the need for heavy duty wiring, which can be very expensive.

To achieve the aim of high pressure showers you will need to retain your hot water tank - heated overnight on Economy 7 - and have some form of electrical pump to a new shower. It is important to realise that pumped('power') showers use huge amounts of water.

You don't say the electrical rating of your electric showers; they are generally between 6.5kW and 10.5kW. A higher rated shower will improve the water flow, but again might need expensive modifications to the wiring in the property; and of course cost more to run.

macman

AngelaDub wrote: »

Hi macman, thank you for your reply.
To answer your questions, and I will edit OP: we do not have access to mains gas, and the current boiler is an immersion heated water tank, yes.
To view the photos please removed the two spaces, one at the http and one at the dot com. (I couldn't post links because I am still a newbie.)

Is there a hot water option that will take advantage of the Economy7?

Yes-you already have one-your immersion heater.
Sorry to labour the point, but you do not have a boiler. Describing an immersion heater as a boiler just causes confusion (as your pic link does not work, even when the spaces are removed-it just takes you to the log in page for that site).

AngelaDub

Hi
Please have a look at the photo of our immersion hot water tank by removing the spaces in the link. Is this heater really old? And it seems really big for just two people!

https /ibb.co/jcTZsa

Richie-from-the-Boro

AngelaDub wrote: »

Hi
Please have a look at the photo of our immersion hot water tank by removing the spaces in the link. Is this heater really old? And it seems really big for just two people!

https /ibb.co/jcTZsa

The URL you post make no sense, just post the whole thing longhand as its written and we will be able to work it out and post the photo here for you.

molerat

http://ibb.co/cd2PQv
http://ibb.co/jcTZsa
works for me.

Robin9

I would suggest you but a replacement lagging kit for your hot water cylinder and ensure a snug fit. A modern tank cylinder has its own insulation and is much better.

You've not said whether you rent or own .