Heating costs, Gas or Electric?

[anobium]

Been thinking of replacing our old inefficient gas boiler.
This in turn got me thinking why should I automatically go for gas, the reason used to be it was much cheaper then electricity but now!
With gas stocks dwindling it is only going to get more expensive, I have heard that it will increase by another 25% early 2009 on top of the current increases.
What with that the installation costs, maintenance of gas boilers etc isn't there now a good case for considering electric central heating?
Or am I missing the obvious.
Could this be a turning point in those highly paid plumbers

 

[joe-90]

Insulation is what you want.

 

[anobium]

Got all that Joe, walls, roof, dg, etc.
Seriously though which type of heating is now the most economical.

 

[gremlin16]

Seriously though which type of heating is now the most economical.

3 Jumpers and thermal socks

 

[blondini]

Gas is going up in price, but most of our electricity in the UK is generated by gas so electricity price rises will follow...

 

[Watchmaker]

My own view is that we should not get rid of our cylinders. Every so often, British Gas put the frighteners onto me by telling me that I should pay around £15 a month to cover the cost of possible failures of circuit boards, fans, heat exchangers etc, costing up to £600/700. I don't have fans or circuit boards because I have a well maintained, simple boiler/indirect cylinder system, complete with immersion heater running on Economy Seven rates.
The modern trend, to go for instant type, complicated, and expensive gas fired systems, with no, well insulated, cylinder to store, or heat water, is misguided in my view because, without a doubt, gas supplies will be diminishing and rising in cost, whereas electricity, generated by nuclear, solar, or wind power systems, will, I think, be the major source of domestic energy. This is only my view but, in my opinion, we should consider that having, in a domestic system, no alternative method of water heating, could be shortsighted. Also, the development of electric boilers is bound to advance now that gas and oil are so expensive.

 

[tim west]

Its about time that we did away with power stations etc and householders generate their own.

 

[blondini]

Seriously though which type of heating is now the most economical.

Here's a random example from a price comparison web site. The price per unit, per kwh, for gas is a fraction of that for electricity.

Last Price Change: 25/07/2008
Standard Charge - Gas Standing charge £0.00
Unit Rate 5.1650p up to 4575kwh, then 1.9845p

Standard Charge - Electricity Standing charge £0.00
Unit Rate 27.1530p up to 728kwh, then 10.0590p.

 

[anobium]

Blondini just had a look at my latest gas and elec bill and the figures are different to that you quoted viz
Gas 6.151 per kWH for first 683 then 2.580
Elec 22.857 per kWH first 127 then 10.273
I have been told that a boiler loses around 10/15% of the heat it produces whereas electricity loses nothing, is that correct?
Surely the modern electric systems are more efficient than they used to be, and there must come a point when they become as cost effective as gas.
PS the above figures do not include the recent 30% price increase in gas or 10%in elec

 

[gremlin16]

and householders generate their own.

I agree with that but try telling the wife

 

[blondini]

Yeah it was just a random example, some deals will be worse, some better and it obviously depends on your level of consumption.

Ordinary electric heating is 100% effiicient, AFAIK you can't improve on that unless you go for a heat pump.

A new high efficiency gas boiler should save you money. It did for me.

 

[JohnD]

I have been told that a boiler loses around 10/15% of the heat it produces whereas electricity loses nothing, is that correct?

No it is absolutely wrong, and a lie spread to trick the unwary!

Where does your electricvity come from? A generator turned by a steam engine run from a big boiler. the big boiler loses heat and so does its big chimney. The distribution cables lose heat. the transformers lose heat. There is also a loss in energy between that put into the generator and that extracted as electricity.

On London streets on a frosty morning you can see the grey tarmac where the underground cables are doing their job of keping the rats warm.

Once it come isto your house, the heat that is generated inside heating appliances does not go to waste, but the heat generated by the lamps, TV etc is all wasted unless the house is cold.

 

[Steve]

I have been told that a boiler loses around 10/15% of the heat it produces whereas electricity loses nothing, is that correct?
Surely the modern electric systems are more efficient than they used to be, and there must come a point when they become as cost effective as gas.
PS the above figures do not include the recent 30% price increase in gas or 10%in elec

A gas boiler looses heat through its flue - this is the 10/15%, also the pilot light is a loss, as is the fans, timer, controls etc, powered by electricity which does nothing for heating your home.

An electric heater runs current through a thin wire and makes heat. There are no losses. Normally - clearly theres some loss with a fan heater and any little lights on it, but its nothing compared to the heat wasted up the flue of a boiler.

However, as demonstrated above, the comparitive low price of gas makes up for it. And condensing boilers have much improved the efficiency ratios, by turning the warm exhaust air into cold exhaust air.

Thermal heat pumps are the future. Google ground source heat pump. Essentially its an air conditioner in reverse. Electrically powered AND 400% efficient. They have a good case as a renewable source, but not many people know about them!!!!! Spread the word!!!!!

 

[jefoss]

is solar amy good?

 

[Steve]

is solar amy good?

Its a similar outlay to ground source (probably 5-10k), and entirely free energy after that, whereas GSHPs have a running cost. For heating water I've heard good reviews on solar. NOT for electric generation though.