Gas V Electric heating

outlaw777

Hi I moved into a new flat that has electric heating only, my flat has a gas connection  and I have been quoted £3500 to get  new gas boiler and radiators however my current electric heating system is new from Fischer heating with fancy thermostats, I was wondering long term what is better and cheaper my current electric or going for new gas boiler? I'm in Scotland so use alot of heating during winter?

Robin9

Your panel heaters will use on peak electricity and cost you a fortune.
If you own the flat and the freeholder is co-operative install gas

outlaw777

What should I do to get rid of my old electric radiators?

Gerry1

Go for gas but get some competitive quotations, do your research to make sure you know exactly what you want (e.g. combi or non combi) and make sure you know exactly what is being supplied, especially things such as the programmer and TRVs etc.

Don't end up with a poor quality, under-dimensioned system.  Gas CH will be far, far cheaper to run than expensive daytime electricity and will add value to your flat and make it easier to sell, especially as new builds won't be able to have gas CH before very long.

Whoever bought Fischer heaters simply hadn't a clue !

Gerry1

outlaw777 said:

What should I do to get rid of my old electric radiators?

ebay, Freecycle or Freegle.

tim_p

If you’re using the Fischer rads now then start reading your meter daily at the same time to get a rough idea of running costs. I would expect it to be staggering, depending on number of heaters and how warm you like the place to be. Get a couple more quotes for the gas install, ideally from local installers.
Out of interest, what and when was your opening electricity meter reading and what is it now?  This will give you a rough idea of how much you’ve spent / used since moving in. £3500 buys a lot of electricity but then again, those rads will use a lot. 

outlaw777

Gerry1 said:

Go for gas but get some competitive quotations, do your research to make sure you know exactly what you want (e.g. combi or non combi) and make sure you know exactly what is being supplied, especially things such as the programmer and TRVs etc.

Don't end up with a poor quality, under-dimensioned system.  Gas CH will be far, far cheaper to run than expensive daytime electricity and will add value to your flat and make it easier to sell, especially as new builds won't be able to have gas CH before very long.

Whoever bought Fischer heaters simply hadn't a clue !

Hi please can you tell me more about what you mean by programmer and TRVs and Combi and Non Combi?

Gerry1

There will be a device to control when the hot water and central heating come on.  The better ones will allow you to have different times for different days of the week, etc.  Similarly, you may have a simple thermostat or one which is cleverer, e.g. with an outside temperature sensor so that the place will be warm by the time you specify, staring a bit earlier when the weather is colder.

A Thermostatic Radiator Valve allows you to set a lower temperature for the relevant room.  Not a big deal because they're relatively inexpensive, but it's an obvious corner that can be cut to give a slightly lower price.

As with any purchase it's worth doing your homework first, otherwise you may get a cheap and nasty system and only recognise the limitations and drawbacks after you've bought it.  It's the equivalent of buying a phone that looks nice only to discover that it's just 2G with no camera or that your Costa Packet holiday hotel is at the end of the runway next to the sewage farm.  Just decide which bells and whistles are important to you.

A combi is like an old fashioned geyser, the water for the bath isn't stored in a hot tank in the airing cupboard, it's heated instantaneously (and the CH is paused).  Can mean weak showers and slow baths because the water flow will be slow.

But the good news is that gas is a no brainer.  Why pay 15p or whatever for a kWh of heat from electricity when you could have it at under 3p with gas?

matelodave

Is this the same plumber that "ripped you off" with your kitchen tap?

Hasbeen

outlaw777 said:

What should I do to get rid of my old electric radiators?

Simple,  Fischer radiators LOL, take them to your local recycling depot and throw them in a skip where they belong.

I am assuming you have had your gas supply connection fixed since last august? That's when you also asked for advice on your kitchen tap?