For Course Advice Call:
0800 808 5465
Options Skills - Electrical, Gas & Plumbing TrainingOptions Skills - Electrical, Gas & Plumbing Training
  • Home
  • Gas Courses
      • Birmingham Gas Training
      • London Gas Training
      • Manchester Gas Training
      • ACS Gas Training Course
      • Fast Track Intensive Gas Courses
      • Gas Training for Plumbers
      • ACS Renewal
      • ACS Initial Assessment
      • How To Become A Gas Engineer
      • Gas Engineer Qualifications
  • Electrician Courses
      • Electrician Courses in Birmingham
      • Electrical Courses in London
      • Electrician Training In Manchester
      • NVQ Level 3 Electrical Training Course
      • Domestic Electrical Installer Award
      • Accelerated Electrical Training
      • Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations Award
      • 18th Edition Wiring Regulations
      • How to Become an Electrician
      • Electrician Qualifications Explained
      • What is a Competent Persons Scheme?
  • Plumbing Courses
      • Birmingham Plumbing Courses
      • London Plumbing Courses
      • Manchester Plumbing Courses
      • NVQ Level 2 Plumbing Training Course
      • Fast Track Intensive Plumbing Courses
      • How To Become A Plumber
  • Blog
  • About
      • Become a Mentor
      • Candidate Resourcing
      • Career Opportunities
      • Job Club
      • Birmingham Training Centre
      • Manchester Training Centre
      • Purley, London Training Centre
      • Wembley, London Training Centre
      • Resources for Existing Students
      • Career Development
  • Contact Us
  • About
    • Options Skills Birmingham Training Centre
    • Options Skills Manchester Training Centre
    • Options Skills Wembley, London Training Centre
    • Options Skills Purley, London Training Centre
    • Blog
    • Become a Mentor
    • Career Opportunities at Options Skills
    • Resources for Existing Students
  • Gas Courses
    • ACS Gas Training Course
    • ACS Renewal
    • ACS Initial Assessment
    • Fast Track Intensive Gas Courses
    • Gas Training for Plumbers
  • Electrician Courses
    • NVQ Level 3 Electrical Training Course
    • Domestic Installer Award
    • Accelerated Electrical Training
    • 18th Edition Wiring Regulations
    • Fast Track Intensive Electrician Courses
    • Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations Award
  • Plumbing Courses
    • NVQ Level 2 Plumbing Training Course
    • Fast Track Intensive Plumbing Courses
    • How To Become A Plumber
  • Resources for Existing Students
  • Contact Us

Going Green Guide

  • Home
  • Going Green Guide
  • Will Electric Boilers Replace Gas Boilers? | Going Green

Will Electric Boilers Replace Gas Boilers? | Going Green

  • Posted by Catherine Connolly
  • Categories Going Green Guide
  • Date March 22, 2021
Electric Boilers

With the rising threat of climate change, industries worldwide are looking for ways to become more environmentally friendly.

As electricity is a secondary energy source, it leaves us with many options.

Though we are still using fossil fuels to produce a significant amount of electricity, renewable sources create just as much. In the third quarter of 2019, 39% of electricity in the UK came from coal, oil and gas, but another 40% came from renewable sources. 20% came from wind, 12% from biomass and 6% from solar. (Source: Carbon Brief)

With improved technology, renewable sources could soon produce more electricity. In which case, could that mean electric boilers will quickly replace the traditional gas boiler?

How Do They Work?

Electric boilers work in a very similar way to gas boilers by warming up water to heat your home.

Connected to your main electricity supply, water from the mains passes through the element, which heats up inside the boiler. Warming the water, it then travels to your taps and radiators. Electric boilers are an excellent alternative for homes where gas is not an option. Usually, a gas boiler is unsuitable for listed buildings and can’t be installed in homes where it’s simply not safe enough to have gas in the building. Electric heating is preferred in flats and apartment buildings due to the ease of installation and low maintenance required.

As opposed to gas boilers, electric-powered boilers are generally small and compact, and with no need for a flue to be connected, they can be installed anywhere in the home. These attributes provide a lot more flexibility in terms of the layout of the house.

With water supplied on demand from a single source, hot water temperature and pressure may drop when using more than one outlet at the same time. Because of this, electric boilers are generally not recommended for large or busy homes and those with more than one bathroom. (Source: Boiler Guide)

Cost

An electric boiler’s cost can range anywhere from £500 to £2,500, with installation costs varying between installers. A survey will be able to determine your heating and hot water requirements. Brands across the UK produce electric boilers ranging anywhere from 4kW to 15kW, and your home size and heating requirements will determine what output you require.

Types of Electric Boilers 

Direct Acting

Direct-acting electric boilers are the more affordable option, with the lowest installation costs. An element heats the water on demand; therefore, you cannot store heated water for later use.

Storage Electric Boilers

With a hot water cylinder or storage unit, you can heat and store water for use later. The advantage of this is the use of “time-of-use” tariffs such as economy 7. Storage electric boilers are more expensive and larger, however.

Dry Core Storage Boilers

Like electric storage boilers, dry core boilers utilise lower price tariffs, heating water and storing for later. Dry core boilers heat bricks, with the heat released into the water when needed.

Pros

  • Cheaper Installation: With no need to connect gas mains, it means quicker and more affordable installation.
  • More energy efficient: The boiler does not directly use fossil fuels.
  • Compact: Due to there being no flue, electric boilers are much more compact and take up less space in the home.
  • Quiet – Electric boilers are generally very quiet to run due to there being no elements within the boiler to create heat.
  • Less Maintenance: Electric boilers have fewer mechanical parts, meaning less maintenance. Hot water cylinders should undergo an annual service.
  • Flexible In Placement – As there is no flue, there is no need to put your electric boiler against an outside wall.
  • No Gas Supply Needed – Electric boilers are excellent for homes off the gas grid or those that, for safety reasons, cannot use gas.

Cons

  • Expense – Electricity can be up to 30% more expensive than gas for heating.
  • High Water Demand – Standard electric boilers can only heat water on-demand.
  • Carbon Production – Creating electricity can produce carbon which arguably negates the eco-friendliness of an electric boiler.
  • Power Cuts – Lights, heating and hot water would be unavailable during a power cut.

Tag:Electrical

  • Share:

Previous post

How To Pursue A Career In The Electrical Trade
March 22, 2021

Next post

Tradespeople Share Their Customer Horror Stories
29 March, 2021

You may also like

  • Heat Pumps - Going Green
    Will Heat Pumps Replace Gas Boilers In New Builds? | Going Green
    22 February, 2021
  • Gas boilers in the training centre workshop
    Will Gas Boilers Be Banned By 2025? | Going Green
    14 January, 2021
  • two gas industry students in the workshop
    How The Gas Industry Is Changing | Going Green
    3 January, 2021
We aim to respond to all enquiries within 24 Hours, Monday - Friday.

LATEST NEWS & UPDATES

  • Find Employment With British Gas & Options Skills April 9, 2021
  • Tradespeople Share Their Customer Horror Stories March 29, 2021
  • Will Electric Boilers Replace Gas Boilers? | Going Green March 22, 2021
  • How To Pursue A Career In The Electrical Trade March 19, 2021

Categories

  • Careers
  • Company News
  • Going Green Guide
  • Homeowner Guide
  • Nice & Local
  • Small Business Guide
  • Student Resources
  • Success Stories
  • Testimonials
  • Trade News
  • Tradesperson Guide

Company Info

Options Skills Logo

0800 802 1306

Existing student? Need assistance? Contact Central Support on
0121 638 0966

EMAIL US

Birmingham 

Options Skills Birmingham
The Jubilee Centre
130 Pershore St
Birmingham
West Midlands
B5 6ND

 

Manchester

Options Skills Manchester
68 Grosvenor Street
Manchester
M1 7EW

Purley, London

Options Skills London
Fairbairn Close,
Purley,
CR8 2EJ

Wembley, London

Options Skills London
Unit 3
Abercorn Commercial Centre
Manor Farm Rd
Alperton, Wembley
HA0 1AN

Gas Safe Register
No. 601148

Options Skills Payment Methods
Up to 31st December 2020 Regulated qualifications and UKAS Accredited certificates of competence issued in the UK were widely recognised by other EU member states. However since the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, individual member states that previously recognised a UK qualification may now no longer do so. Learners undertaking qualifications on the basis that it is recognised by an EU member state should in the first instance make enquiries with the relevant bodies in that Country to confirm its recognition status.
Options Skills is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
We undertake in both regulated and un-regulated business for which we are authorised for under FRN 754473

© Copyright Options Skills Ltd 2020

  • Complaints Procedure
  • Accessibility
  • Price List
  • FAQs
  • Course Booking T&Cs
Business As Usual

Our phone lines are open and our course advisors are here to talk. If you wish to get in touch, request a callback via our contact form or call us directly.