Electric Combi-Boilers
 

Has anyone here got an electric combi-boiler (heating & hot water)?

My gas boiler is on its last legs and I am looking for a replacement. I've been thinking about getting an electric one so I can get rid of the gas supply. I know electricity is a bit more expensive per therm (or kwH - or whatever its called) but I reckon that it will work out a bit cheaper getting rid of the gas standing charge. I seem to pay more for the standing charge than for actual gas used.

Are they reliable? Can they be installed easily or does it involve extensive re-plumbing? I am in unchartered territory here so if you have one and can offer any insight then it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Re: Electric Combi-Boilers
 

They slot into the pipework as easily as a gas boiler would. Once they’re in they don’t need the annual service a gas boiler would. However I’d be amazed if operating one works out cheaper than gas. Gas is 7p per kWh, with a daily standing charge of 27p, at the present price cap. Electricity is 28p per kWh with a 45p standing charge. If you cut off your gas you save 27p per day, but …

Gas: 2 kWh of hot water heated, plus one day’s standing charge = 41p
Elec: 2 kWh of hot water (and you’re already paying the standing charge anyway) = 56p

So if you use only 2kWh of electricity per day where you would previously have used gas, it’s already costing you more.

The only places I’ve ever seen these is in villages where there’s no mains gas, and historically most houses in that situation would have used oil for water heating in preference to electricity as that’s still cheaper. We’re off main and use a wood pellet boiler. If you have mains gas, then it’s almost certainly cheaper to use it, *unless* your hot water requirements are vanishingly small (like a holiday flat perhaps).

Re: Electric Combi-Boilers
 

We are all going to be weaned off domestic gas, so perhaps prices for leccy boilers will drop due to economy of scale?

Presently I've seen them on sale for between £1k and £2k, with fitting as a replacement around £250 as you need both an electrician and a plumber. New fits are far more expensive.

They are almost 100% efficient, just being pulled back from perfection by the power used by the pump and electronics.