Anyone considered an electric boiler?

w12ee3e

I'm just trying (and struggling) to decide whether it's worth upgrading the ancient storage heaters and massive water tank in a small 1 bed flat (one bathroom and 3-4 storage heaters) obviously I'd lose the storage aspect and benefits on economy 7 electricity. However, I would be able to get proper radiators a thermostatic controls so I wouldn't need to second guess whether it's cold tomorrow and manually set all the individual storage heaters. Plus, if I'm away I'm not needlessly heating water.

Any second opinions?

Probably comes down to high upfront costs with overtime savings probably not recouping the initial outlay.

ComicGeek

No, electric boilers are the worst possible solution. They lose efficiency when heating the water, and then use electricity to pump it around the flat. It would be cheaper to plug in an oil filled electric heater in each room.

Modern storage heaters are worth considering. If you're away, then turn off the water heating. 

Bendy_House

When you think about it, if you are going to have an electric boiler, it'll be running when it is required, so you won't take be able to take advantage of cheaper rate leccy. Which means that if you put a £30 oil-filled rad for each room, it'll do the exact same thing - except won't have cost you £3k for installation. More like £100.

Swap the large hot cylinder for a tiny one, and charge that up overnight on cheap. Or, just fit a short immersion in your existing tank. Or even instant hot water sink thingies, and an electric shower.

Ectophile

Why spend all that money installing something that's hideously expensive to run?

Storage heaters work on cheap overnight electricity.  Heat pumps can be 300 to 400% effeicient (even though that sounds impossible).  Electric boilers require vast amounts of standard rate electricity whenever you turn the heating on.

Either upgrade to new storage heaters, or get a heat pump.  Or if you really must, individual electric heaters in each room, so at least you can trun them on and off as required.

SirMSE

Aren't heat pumps very expensive to buy and also to run?

molerat

SirMSE said:

Aren't heat pumps very expensive to buy and also to run?

Relatively expensive to install but costs close to gas to run.