Save Money and Energy with Electric Combi Boilers
Having a good boiler makes a big difference in a household, especially during cold UK winters. There is an array of different types of boilers, but combi boilers are an efficient and quiet way to warm up your house, and simultaneously provide hot water.
An electric combi boiler is a great choice if you need to replace your old gas or oil boiler. There are several advantages to an electric combi boiler, such as:
- It's a cleaner and non-polluting solution, as it doesn't release any gas into the atmosphere.
- It's space efficient, as you don't need extra space for storing an oil tank.
- It comes in various different sizes and can be placed conveniently in your kitchen or laundry cupboard.
- It doesn't need to be connected to the gas grid.
- Combi boiler prices are considerably cheaper than a gas or oil boiler, due to the low installation and maintenance costs.
We provide you with a free of charge and no obligation service that allows you to request quotes and compare combi boilers, so that you can find the most suitable solution for your needs. Just fill in the form to request offers.
Electric Combi Boiler Prices
The average price of an electric combi boiler is £1,500 for a 9 kW model. Smaller boilers are cheaper to buy and run, but may not be as efficient as larger models, which are priced up to £2,500. Premium models that are built more robustly and are long-lasting, however, can have a higher price tag of up to £4,500.
Electric boiler technology is no longer a small niche market, but rather a developing competitive industry, where the advanced technology has made electric boilers as reliable as gas boilers.
More and more people prefer an electric central heating boiler systems to oil, gas heating, or biomass boilers due to its convenience: the system is silent, needs very little maintenance, and is independent from the gas grid.
| Type | Power | Price Range* |
|---|---|---|
| Boiler without in-built cylinder | 12 kW | £899 - £1,300 |
| Boiler with in-built cylinder | 12 kW | £1,499 - £2,500 |
| Wall-mounted boiler with cylinder | 3-15 kW | £1,749 - £2,000 |
| Floor-standing boiler with cylinder with long warranty | 10-18 kW | £2,349 - £4,500 |
*excl. VAT/installation
Are Electric Combi Boilers Expensive to Run?
It has been estimated that the total price of electric combi boilers is c.a £2500 per year which includes space heating costs, hot water costs and a standing charge. The table below breaks down the comparison between gas boilers and electric boilers based on different metrics, thereby giving you an overview of both types.
Are Electric Boilers Cheaper than Gas?
Although it might not be the cheapest heating technology regarding running costs, electric boilers have a higher efficiency rate and they do not need annual maintenance or safety inspections.
Look at the following table that compares two types of combi boilers and their running costs. The numbers are considered for an apartment and a house with 4 residents. The annual costs were calculated with a presumption that 1 kWh of gas costs 3.61 pence and 1 kWh of electricity is 17.60 pence. Note that the electric system in your home should be able to handle a 5-15 kWs load in order to use an electric combi boiler.
| Dwelling Type | Gas Boiler | Electric Boiler | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment | House | Apartment | House | |
| Size | 96 sq.m | 143 sq.m | 96 sq.m | 143 sq.m |
| Energy rating (sq.m/year) | 120 kW | 143 kW | 120 kW | 143 kW |
| Hot water usage (per day) | 60 litres / 4 persons | |||
| Boiler efficiency | 95% | 99% | ||
| Gas unit price | 3.60 p/kWh | n/a | ||
| Electricity unit price | 17.60 p/kWh | |||
| Energy required for space heating (per year) | 12,126 kWh | 22,127 kWh | 11,636 kWh | 21,233 kWh |
|
Energy required for hot water |
5,361 kWh /year | 5,144 kWh /year | ||
| Total gas/ electricity price (per year) | £729.60 | £1,090.60 | £2,954.30 | £4,643.80 |
|
Total electricity consumption |
377 kW /year | 396 kW /year | n/a | |
| Total electricity price (per year) | £151 | £155 | n/a | |
Even though you can see that the running costs of electric combi boilers are higher, there are more additional costs to consider in case of gas combi boilers. When choosing an electric combi boiler, you save money on not having to pay for the yearly gas certificate.
Additionally, the regularity of repairs needed decreases, and even though gas is quite cheap per unit, the efficiency is lower than with electric boilers as it burns more gas than it needs for creating heat that should not be paid for in the first place. What is more, the government tries to financially support any type of green investment you choose to make regarding your home, making the cost of a new boiler even cheaper for your home.
Electric Combi Boiler Types
Overall, the electric combi boilers differ mainly in the output power and size. Another variable is whether a hot water storage cylinder is built into the system or not. In the UK, there are several brands that sell electric combi boilers. See some of them listed below.
- Comet Boiler
Comet electric combi boilers are offered in 3 different versions with various energy output sizes. You can choose between 9 kW, 12 kW or 14.4 kW with a stainless steel heat exchanger. - Elektra Boiler
Elektra offers two types of electric combi boilers, Elektra BP and Elektra C. They are both 12 kW types, one of them being more suitable for larger properties whereas the other one is made for flats. Both types are sold with 144 litres of hot water storage built into the system. - Heatrae Sadia Electromax Boiler
Electromax offers boilers of 9 kW and 6 kW output. You can choose if you want a boiler that delivers heat for central heating and hot water or if you prefer one for underfloor heating and hot water. Hot water tank of 180 liters volume is included. - Elnur Mattira Wall Mounted Boiler
Mattira Mouned boilers are within a range of 3 to 15 kW. In order to provide users with instant hot water, 50 litres integral water storage is included.
It is advised that electric combi boiler is not chosen for large houses with more than 2 bathrooms as it may not meet the high hot water demands.
What Size Combi Boiler Do I Need for My House?
Though many Brits don't know their home's size, it is important to know your square footage, as this will dictate the amount of heating you will need. As a rule of thumb, 1.5kW of boiler performance is needed per radiator or 70W per m2 for underfloor heating.
The average UK home is 85 m2 and 5.2 rooms, which results in about 8kW for central heating or 6kW for underfloor heating.
However, the insulation and outside walls have a very significant influence on the boiler size, so calculate a couple of kWs in addition until a professional assesses the exact situation and needs of your home.
What Is the Best Combi Boiler for a Large House?
Not all boiler manufacturers offer systems large enough for many bedrooms and multiple bathrooms, but brands such as Worcester, Vaillant, Ideal, and Comet are recommended. It is always a good idea to have a professional check your home, as the boiler should be able to supply a sufficient amount of hot water even when multiple rooms need to be heated at the same time.
What Are the Pros and Cons of an Electric Combi Boiler?
If you are still in doubt about what exactly you would profit from when opting for electric combi boilers, then read on to see all the advantages and disadvantages that may come with this type of boiler.
Advantages of Electric Combi Boiler
- Completely silent
An electric combi boiler allows you to enjoy complete silence whenever it is running as its inner elements do not move fast in order to generate heat. - Energy efficient
In the process of producing heating or heating up water, very little heat is lost, which makes electric combi boilers a highly efficient option reaching up to 99.9% efficiency. - Environmentally-friendly
An electric combi boiler is a form of low carbon heating, and can significantly reduce your home's carbon footprint as it does not use fossil fuels to run. - Digitally displayed temperatures
The maximum power output can be limited and the digital display shows the temperature of the water that is circulating. - Lower installation costs
When installing an electric boiler, there is no need for having a clue for the waste emissions which automatically reduces the potential installation costs. Moreover, if the property does not have direct access to gas mains supply, installing a gas pipelines would add much more to the initial costs. - Compact size
Electric combination boilers require less space when compared to conventional boilers, as there is no requirement for a flue. - Low need for maintenance
Unlike its other counterparts, electric combi boilers do not require regular check-ups as they contain only few mechanical parts. - Summer months adjustments
For warmer summer months, the heating system can be disconnected from the boiler and keypads locked to prevent any changes.
Disadvantages of Electric Combi Boiler
- Not viable for big homes
Combi boilers cannot produce high heating output and are therefore suitable to only small houses. They do not generate enough electricity to cover the needs of large properties.
- Power cuts
Electric combi boilers do not work during power cuts. If your region has power cut issues regularly, this could mean no hot water during that time, which is a downside of these boilers.
Request Quotes on Combi Boilers
The best way to find out about electric boiler prices, running costs, and electric boiler efficiency is by filling in the form at the top, and we will provide you with up to four different quotes on electric combi boilers. Our service is free of charge, simple and with no obligation. It will take no more than a few minutes to fill in the form, and it will save you time on extensive market research and money on your specific needed product.
