One of the toughest decisions you will have to make is what type of fuel to select for your boiler. There are several options to choose from. Therefore, you need to decide which is best for you. The following is information about the pros and cons of an electric boiler. It may help you to decide if you should go with this design.

What is an electric boiler?

Firstly a little background. Certain boilers can use electricity to heat water and power the central heating systems. The electric comes from the mains to provide convenient, consistent supplies.

How do they work?

Generally, the boiler will have a large water tank attached to it. In the bottom, there will be a series of heating elements. When electricity passes through them they reach very high temperatures and the water is heated up. A pump will send this hot water to radiators and taps when it reaches the right temperature.

What are the pros?

There are several benefits to choosing this kind of boiler over other types of fuel. It is worth considering all of them.

Efficiency

The thing to remember with electric boilers is they don’t produce waste gas. That means there is no lost heat at all, resulting in better efficiency. Many models are 99% efficient, outperforming appliances powered by gas and biofuel.

Better for the environment

An added benefit of the lack of waste gas is the boilers are better for the environment. They don’t release any of this pollution at all.

Modern gas appliances now feature condensing technology to reuse the gas rather than waste it. Unfortunately, this produces a hazardous sludge that needs to be disposed of. Again, electric appliances don’t produce this.

Space-saving

Electric boilers don’t need a flue because there is no waste gas to expel. As a result, they can be placed in far more locations within a property. No fuel tank is needed either. As such, the units are generally smaller.

A good alternative

Not all properties have a gas connection. In these cases, electric boilers can be a great choice still allowing you to get the heat and hot water you want.

Cheaper installation

It is easier to hook up an electric boiler to the mains than it is to install a new gas line. Generally, all it takes is a little additional wiring. As a result, boiler installation is usually cheaper.

Safer

There are no concerns about gas leaks with electric boilers because they don’t use the fuel at all. Besides they don’t create carbon monoxide. This means your safety is more assured.

Easier maintenance

The only real maintenance you need to do on this kind of boiler is clean out the tank periodically. You need to do this to get rid of any debris brought in with the water. There is no burning so no residue to clean or concerns about pilot lights. This should also result in fewer boiler repairs.

What are the potential cons?

Although there are several benefits to consider, there are a few downsides. Again you should carefully weigh them up, particularly against the pros.

Electricity is more expensive

Everybody knows that gas is cheaper than electricity. As a result, the boilers running costs will be a little higher. Even a unit that is more efficient than its gas counterpart will come with slightly higher bills. You can find out more about the costs of installing electric boilers here.

Less heat

The major thing to keep in mind with electric boilers is they can’t generate as much heat as gas appliances. They are great for smaller homes but may struggle to effectively heat a larger property. It is wise to consider your heating needs and make sure the boiler you select can meet them.

Power cuts

Another issue is that a power cut will send your heating and hot water off too. If you live in an area where the loss of electricity is common, you will likely be better served with a gas boiler.

Weigh up all of the pros and cons of an electric boiler

As you can see, there are several things to consider. It is important to weigh the pros and cons of an electric boiler carefully before making your final decision. Think about short term upfront costs as well as ongoing maintenance and energy bills. Also, keep in mind the size of the property and how much you will need. Should you like to learn about the installation costs, you can click here for our helpful guide.

Call on Warm

If you need any additional help, warm.co.uk can put you in touch with an engineer. We compare hundreds of workers to bring you the best priced deals in your area.

Simply contact our team at 0800 311 8990. You can also make the most of our online quote form to make it as easy as possible to get help for your needs.