Combi Boiler for Electric Only Flat

tsears

Hi all,
I'm in the process of purchasing a top floor, 2 bed flat which was probably built around 2010. It has double glazing, EPC is C and is 45 square meters.
Currently has electric heaters and a electric immersion for hot water. I'm thinking of possibly getting a combi boiler with wet rads installed to help keep the running costs low as long as the installation cost isn't too bad. 

I guess my main question is, would an electric only boiler be cheaper than the current setup? I asked the vendors and they said it costs around £70 a month but could have been saying less than what it is so I would go ahead with the buying the flat... 
I'm out all day at work so would just need for some heating in the evening/weekend and shower in the morning and some evenings after footy. 

Any advise would be much appreciated! 

MWT

If those electric heaters are not night storage heaters, then just about the only thing you could do to make it more expensive would be to install an electric 'boiler' with wet radiators...

matelodave

I can only agree with what MWT says, there is another thread on a very similar subject from someone who has already lumbered themselves with a place which has something similar - here it is and it's well worth reading - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6247587/electricity-meter-readings-seem-too-high-bill-is-excessive/p1

look here for a comparison between the cost of running gas and electric flow boilers, just to give you some idea of the inadvisability of fitting an electric flow or combi boiler. Wall mounted panel, convector or electric radiators will be more than gas but a lot less than an electric combi

Gas Boilers vs. Electric Boilers

Dwelling Type	Gas Boiler		Electric Boiler
	Apartment	House	Apartment	House
Size	96 sq.m	143 sq.m	96 sq.m	143 sq.m
Energy rating (sq.m/year)	120 kW	143 kW	120 kW	143 kW
Hot water usage (per day)	60 litres / 4 persons
Boiler efficiency	95%		99%
Gas unit price	3.60 p/kWh		n/a
Electricity unit price	17.60 p/kWh
Energy required for space heating (per year)	12,126 kWh	22,127 kWh	11,636 kWh	21,233 kWh
Energy required for hot water	5,361 kWh /year		5,144 kWh /year
Total gas/ electricity price (per year)	£729.60	£1,090.60	£2,954.30	£4,643.80

Hasbeen

tsears said:

Hi all,
I'm in the process of purchasing a top floor, 2 bed flat which was probably built around 2010. It has double glazing, EPC is C and is 45 square meters.
Currently has electric heaters and a electric immersion for hot water. I'm thinking of possibly getting a combi boiler with wet rads installed to help keep the running costs low as long as the installation cost isn't too bad. 

I guess my main question is, would an electric only boiler be cheaper than the current setup? I asked the vendors and they said it costs around £70 a month but could have been saying less than what it is so I would go ahead with the buying the flat... 
I'm out all day at work so would just need for some heating in the evening/weekend and shower in the morning and some evenings after footy. 

Any advise would be much appreciated! 

Electric boiler and wet radiators  equals bankruptcy.

Equivalent  to throwing lots of £20 notes onto an open fire. 

What are the electric heaters? Night storage, panel, or magic dust heaters?

Lmc74

I have electric wet central heating and a separate immerser which is never used 3 bed semi 70 sq metres. Average at 120 per month. Just had my 3 months winter bill and its 660 and I have a log burner 

Robin9

Do nothing  - live with the existing for 12 months - learn about the controls, timers, thermostats.  Read your meters weekly, monthly and know where and when your energy is being used.

Get onto the cheapest tariff

bagand96

At least you asked here first!

Have a look at this thread from this week to see the  real world running costs of an electric boiler wet radiator system! 

Electricity meter readings seem too high & bill is excessive — MoneySavingExpert Forum

Edit: a bit slow on the uptake this evening just seen @matelodave has already posted a link to that discussion!

Gerry1

If it's impossible to get a gas supply for that flat, buy one a different one with gas central heating.

tsears

Thanks for all the advise everyone - It looks as though getting an electric combi boiler is not a good idea! I'll have a read of all the forums links provided. I'd normally go for flat with gas as well, but this is the probably the most I can afford. All other properties I have been interested in have been shared ownership which I'd like to avoid. 

I believe the electric heaters are quite new as the vendor mentioned they have just been put in.

missile

You could ask vendor for a copy of their most recent electricity bill. This would confirm how much they are currently paying.

Obviously their bill will depend on how much hot water they use and how warm they like the flat. You might be more or less.

tsears

I may ask them - although its just me living there so will be less usage than them as there is a couple living there currently.
I'll just have to work out the most energy efficient way to live there. It may not be as bad as I'm thinking.
I think I'm just panicking as I rented a terrible electric only flat in the past, but that flat didn't have double glazing windows and had drafts coming from everywhere and was fairly big and spread out! So hopefully a better experience this time round.

Either way its going to be a drastic change from living in rented accommodation with all my bills included! I'm going to have to change my habits...