Gas or oil heating not practical, available, or your first choice for heating your home? Electric boilers are a great alternative to generate heat and warm your home and water supply.
Are you interested in alternative heating options? Visit GreenMatch for more information and comparisons for heating homes, electric boilers in the UK, and more.
3 Benefits of Electric Boilers
We all want to know the best heating options for our homes, and with prices rising, it’s essential to keep up-to-date with which method suits you best.
Here is a list of the five benefits we consider most influential to why homes across Thurrock install electric boilers.
- Safety
Electric boilers are considered a safer option for heating systems you could have in your home. Electric boilers do not produce harmful emissions, such as carbon monoxide, and are, therefore, safer to use in your daily routine.
There are several reasons that electric gas boilers are a safer option. One of these is that they produce no combustion.
Electric boilers do not burn fuel, therefore, do not produce any combustion by-products, such as harmful gases. This means that having an electric boiler in an enclosed space such as your home does not require ventilation, making a great choice of buildings with poor ventilation access.
As electric boilers do not require a gas supply, there is no risk of gas leaks, making them feel a much safer option. Gas boilers require a gas supply, which can pose a hazardous risk that nobody wants to deal with.
Electric boilers do not have a pilot light or flame, so they do not increase the chances of fire risk. Making them a safer option for households.
- Energy efficiency.
Everybody wants to have the best efficiency when it comes to energy, especially in this living crisis that is causing so many homeowners to struggle to heat their homes without using their whole paycheck.
Electric boilers are very energy efficient as they convert all their energy into heat, whereas gas boilers lose some of this valuable energy through exhaust gases.
Unlike gas boilers, electric boilers do not have a tank. This increases their efficiency as there are no standby losses. Gas boilers lose efficiency points because heat is being lost through the tank’s walls – losing you money.
- Making your life easier
Electric boilers require very little maintenance compared to gas boilers, for example. They have fewer moving parts and don’t require annual servicing. Saving you a lot of time and energy.
Not only this, but electric boilers are also space-saving, saving you the effort of having to make accommodations to fit in a large gas boiler – the ideal heating option for your home with limited space.
Their quiet operation style, without any combustion noise, makes them ideal for apartments, for example, or even shared living spaces. You don’t realise it now, but not having to hear every time your heating kicks will make a huge difference.
Their cost-effective and easy installation is just another one of their advantages. Your electric boiler will be up and running in no time.
Are Electric Boilers Expensive?
Something that all homeowners need to take into account when on the search for their heating alternative is expenses.
A survey by the Energy Saving Trust ran a comparison test on the expenses of boilers. The survey found that the average annual cost of running an electric boiler in the UK is around £1,000, which is higher than running a gas boiler but lower than that of running an oil boiler.
However, the study notes that electric boilers may be more cost-effective in areas with low gas availability or high electricity penetration. So it’s important to research your area and get plenty of quotes before committing to one provider or installer.
3 Cost Considerations of Your Electric Boiler
Here are some cost considerations to keep in mind when comparing electric boilers to other types of boilers:
- Cost Upfront
In comparison to gas or oil boilers, electric boilers tend to have higher upfront costs as they require electrical components and wiring that can be complex. But as the saying goes: you pay for what you get, and with the higher price tag, you will receive an easy and prompt installation.
- The Cost to Run
As electric boilers run off electricity, their running costs will depend on the price of electricity in your area and the insulation levels of your home. You don’t know this information? Research and planning will guide your journey to an alternative energy source. Visit GreenMatch for more information on solar panels, which could drastically reduce your energy prices.
- Maintenance Expenses
Electric boilers have a lower necessity for maintenance, as we previously discussed. Their lower maintenance costs than gas or oil boilers, fewer moving parts, and lack of requirement for annual safety inspections or flue cleaning make them an attractive choice.
Are Electric Boilers the Future?
Electric boilers are becoming increasingly important in the UK’s heating mix as the country seeks to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a low-carbon economy.
Despite the price tag, their environmental advantages and several high efficiency and low maintenance benefits make them an attractive option.
From an environmental point of view, electric boilers are seen as a promising technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency. From reducing emissions, creating a renewable energy source, and improving efficiency to the enhancement of smart technology, electric boilers are a promising energy solution for our future.
Article written by GreenMatch.
