Gas vs electric

cherryblossomzel

Hello expert-people

I am currently looking into buying my first home and could use some help. I currently live in a one bed flat with economy 7 electricity only.

To start with I was adamant that I want to buy something with GCH, but in looking around I realise that it is not as common as I had hoped in my price range. Not impossible to find, but insisting on it definitely takes some otherwise nice properties out of the running.

The reason I wanted to move away from storage heating is that it seems an extravagant expense to turn on the heating at this time of year for a short spell during the day/evening just to the "take the edge off the chill", which seems so easy with GCH. I also slightly resent that hot water diminishes throughout the day and it takes planning to take a hot shower at night.

I had convinced myself that GCH will be cheaper to run. Am I correct? I've never owned before so I don't know how the costs of maintenance compares.

Should I stick to my initial conviction of insisting on GCH, or am I just being bloody minded for no good reason?

McKneff

Gas central is the cheapest, no contest

matelodave

GCH is more flexible and probably cheaper to run than electric heating, even storage heaters and for that reason makes houses and flats that already have GCH more expensive than those which don't.

AndyPK

yeah GCH is more flexible and cheaper

If the house is cheap enough, and requires renervation, you could always get it fitted.

jk0

Work out what central heating will cost to install at any of the properties you like that don't have it, and offer that amount off what you would otherwise offer.


Then IIWY, see if you can cope with the electric heating for a few years, and only pay out for gas if you get a windfall from somewhere.

Undervalued

Although I largely agree with what everybody has said so far, having experienced both can I add a bit of balance?

Installation of GCH will cost a significant amount of money. It will be disruptive, floorboards will never go down the same etc. It will require at least an annual service. Modern boilers, although more efficient, tend to have a reduced lifespan and are more prone to blockages due to hard water and / or scale as the system ages. So, after any initial warranty budget for the cost of an annual service contract even if you decide to "self insure".

GSC doesn't work at all in the event of a power cut! Storage heaters require very little if any maintenance and once hot will work through one daytime power cut and still give a little heat even the next day.

Gas wins hands down on controlability and is certainly cheaper for the same amount of heat. A GCH system will probably increase the resale value of the house.

Payback period? Quite a few years, don't forget to count interest (or lost interest) on the money plus the average annual servicing costs.

cherryblossomzel

Undervalued wrote: »

Although I largely agree with what everybody has said so far, having experienced both can I add a bit of balance?

Installation of GCH will cost a significant amount of money. It will be disruptive, floorboards will never go down the same etc. It will require at least an annual service. Modern boilers, although more efficient, tend to have a reduced lifespan and are more prone to blockages due to hard water and / or scale as the system ages. So, after any initial warranty budget for the cost of an annual service contract even if you decide to "self insure".

GSC doesn't work at all in the event of a power cut! Storage heaters require very little if any maintenance and once hot will work through one daytime power cut and still give a little heat even the next day.

Gas wins hands down on controlability and is certainly cheaper for the same amount of heat. A GCH system will probably increase the resale value of the house.

Payback period? Quite a few years, don't forget to count interest (or lost interest) on the money plus the average annual servicing costs.

Thanks. I have been using storage heating for the last several years, and though I'd prefer not to, at least I know what I'm letting myself in for and I have experience of keeping the bills down.

I think I should put GCH on my "nice to have" rather than "must have" list, if it's otherwise a good choice.

AndyPK

Clutching at straws.

SH work during Power cut.

Anthorn

cherryblossomzel wrote: »

Hello expert-people

I am currently looking into buying my first home and could use some help. I currently live in a one bed flat with economy 7 electricity only.

To start with I was adamant that I want to buy something with GCH, but in looking around I realise that it is not as common as I had hoped in my price range. Not impossible to find, but insisting on it definitely takes some otherwise nice properties out of the running.

The reason I wanted to move away from storage heating is that it seems an extravagant expense to turn on the heating at this time of year for a short spell during the day/evening just to the "take the edge off the chill", which seems so easy with GCH. I also slightly resent that hot water diminishes throughout the day and it takes planning to take a hot shower at night.

I had convinced myself that GCH will be cheaper to run. Am I correct? I've never owned before so I don't know how the costs of maintenance compares.

Should I stick to my initial conviction of insisting on GCH, or am I just being bloody minded for no good reason?

Pretty much common knowledge that it takes the same amount of energy to boil the same amount of water in the same container whether you're using electricity, gas or even a candle. In my area gas per kWh is a lot cheaper than electricity so go figure.

tk47

Anthorn wrote: »

Pretty much common knowledge that it takes the same amount of energy to boil the same amount of water in the same container whether you're using electricity, gas or even a candle. In my area gas per kWh is a lot cheaper than electricity so go figure.

But, with the greatest respect, it's not as straightforward as simply applying the first law of thermodynamics (known by some as the law of conservation of energy)

Electrical heaters are typically 100% efficient.
An older gas boiler could be typically 60% efficient (and further losses can accrue in a gas fired heating system due to losses from pipework, and indeed the electrical pump required to pump water around a system.) Even the newest of gas boilers are typically no more than 91% efficient. New gas boilers must be at least 88% efficient.

Gas is currently about 3-4p kWh
Electricity at normal rate (so will probably be used to power heating pumps) costs typically between 13-16p/kWh

You can get cheap rate electricity at about 6-8p/kWh

Owain_Moneysaver

cherryblossomzel wrote: »

I also slightly resent that hot water diminishes throughout the day and it takes planning to take a hot shower at night.

The slight loss of heat from the hot water cylinder contributes to the background heat in the flat. However your cylinder should stay hot enough for you to have a shower the following evening.

McDonald Cylinders say Part L of the Building Regulations states that hot water cylinders for both new build and replacement cylinder will have a minimum of 50mm insulation. Older cylinders may have 35mm or even just a loose jacket.

Newark Cylinders say for each additional 25mm of insulation there is a 25-35% reduction in heat loss, and they (and possibly others) can make up to 75mm foam insulation as an option.

The pipe layout and insulation can also make a big difference; pipes should be angled down as they leave the cylinder to prevent hot water in the cylinder thermosyphoning into the pipe, cooling, and returning to the cylinder.