Millions of people across the UK will need to transition away from gas or oil heating in the coming years. If you are looking to decarbonise but don’t have the space for an air-source heat pump, or want to keep your existing radiators, then an electric boiler could be the option you’ve been waiting for.
Electric boilers act similarly to gas boilers both in size and usability. We are going to take a look at what makes electric boilers an excellent replacement for gas boilers.
How efficient are electric boilers?
The simple answer: At the point of use, electric boilers are 100% efficient. But what does that mean?
All electrical heating appliances are 100% efficient at the point of use. Meaning they convert all of the energy they consume into heat.
Gas boilers, and other alternatives, are not, and never will be 100% efficient. On average, the efficiency of a top of the range A++ rated gas boiler will be in the high nineties. For gas boilers over 25 years old, the efficiency may be as low as 60%. Low efficiency means energy and money are being lost.
But with electric boilers, £1 of energy equates to £1 of heat
How long do electric boilers last?
Gas boilers have an expected life span of around 10-15 years (depending on the model). Fischer’s Electric boiler doesn’t have these limitations. There is no set lifespan on the Fischer electric boiler. This may differ for other brands of electric boilers; however, from our research, no lifespan is specified.
Fischer’s boilers are manufactured using the same technology that has been used to develop commercial-scale electric boilers for many years. They are extremely robust, and built with only the highest quality components. Giving you peace of mind in your new electric central heating!
How often should electric boilers be serviced?
Although we cannot speak for other boilers, When installing Fischer’s heat only electric boiler, you are not required a scheduled yearly service. Instead, we recommend that the anode within the boiler is checked every 2-3 years. This can be done by the customer, as the part is easily and safely accessible.
Fischer’s Duo Boiler requires a yearly service.
With a gas boiler, you are required to service the boiler every 12 months to maintain your warranty. As the gas used to power gas boilers can be a hazard, you must also have the boiler serviced yearly for safety reasons.
Electric boilers rely entirely on electricity, thus no gas safety checks are required.
How do electric boilers compare to gas?
There are some similarities between gas and electric boilers, but there are also many differences.
Servicing
Gas boilers require yearly servicing in order to maintain your warranty and prevent an unexpected gas leak or at worse, an explosion.
Most electric boilers do not require a scheduled yearly service, instead, you are advised to carry out periodic checks, examining the state of the boiler.
For example, it is recommended that the Fischer EB be checked over by a qualified plumber every 5 years.
Efficiency
Gas boilers are never 100% efficient. The average gas boiler will be somewhere upwards of 95% and even a top-of-the-range ‘A++’ grade boiler will only reach a maximum of around 98% efficiency. All electric boilers are 100% efficient at the point of use, converting one hundred percent of the electricity they use into heat.
Whilst electric boilers themselves are 100% efficient at the point of use, some of this efficiency might be lost through pipework and radiators, so it’s important to maintain upkeep to ensure maximum efficiency from your EB.
Control
Most gas boilers come with a central thermostat, which is usually wall mounted and installed in the hallway. This means that if you set a temperature on the thermostat in the hallway, only that one room will ever reach your set temperature, as that is where the temperature reading is taken.No one spends time in their hallways, so it seems pointless to take your temperature from it.
With the Fischer Electric Boiler, a wireless thermostat is supplied as standard, so you can control your boiler from anywhere in the home. This also means that the boiler will not switch off until that room is at the right temperature. You can position this in your lounge, where you may spend most of your time, or any other room in your property for an improved level of control.
Are electric boilers cost-effective?
By taking away the multitude of additional and sometimes surprising costs associated with gas boilers, the long term cost effectiveness of an electric boiler is plain to see. There are no annual maintenance costs or expensive breakdown fees. Worrying about your boiler breaking down in the winter is now a thing of the past.
Factoring in the efficiency of modern electric central heating compared to gas and having peace of mind that all of the costs put into heating are being used for that purpose and not lost due to outdated and ageing appliances.
You also must bear in mind that the installation of gas boilers has been banned in all new properties from 2025.
The government is also set to widen this ban to the majority of properties by 2035.
Finally – The environmental cost of no longer using fossil fuels is unparalleled in the long run for our planet.
What are the best electric boilers?
Fischer offers both duo and heat only electric boilers.
By using a nickel-iron-chromium alloy, with the addition of molybdenum, copper and titanium – Fischer electric boilers provide high levels of resistance to a large number of corrosive environments.
As electric boilers don’t use fossil fuels; the Fischer EB has no requirement for a combustion tank or a chimney.
The duo boiler is equipped with two independent tanks, insulated with 10mm of icolem. One tank is for hot water, with a capacity of 100L, manufactured in stainless steel, designed to work up to 70c. There is also an in-built expansion vessel.
Due to the volume of water contained in the tank, you can remove your existing system boiler and hot water cylinder, and simply replace them with one single Fischer Electric Boiler.
The second tank is carbon steel and is part of a closed circuit for heating, designed to work up to 90c, also with its own expansion vessel.
Opting for Fischer’s heat only boiler, means you can stick to your existing hot water system or upgrade to a more efficient solution like an Aquafficient or Aquafficient Eco+ for your hot water supply.
Manufactured as standard with a wireless thermostat, you can be in full control of your heating from anywhere within your home.
By keeping your existing radiators, we can quickly and efficiently replace your existing boiler, allowing a seamless, mess-free transition to electric central heating!
- The Importance of Genuine Customer Experiences - August 14, 2024
- What Is the Best Electric Water Heating 2024? - August 9, 2024
- Five Steps for Improving Home Energy Efficiency - July 30, 2024