I wish electricity was cheaper than gas ... no don't laugh !

[CB750K2]

Last year I asked what people thought about getting rid of my gas boiler and heating the house with oil filled radiators and using an immersion heaters.

Everyone laughed and I understand why,

My reason for wanting heating by electric instead of gas is that heaters and immersion heaters are darned simpler to replace if and when there is a failure.

The downside of course is that electricity is much more expensive than gas.

Why I wonder couldn't the energy suppliers charge the same price

 

[sxturbo]

So you did get rid of your gas?

Your reasoning for switching is kinda silly.

Ones the pipes are in on a heating system there isn't really much different to the electric heaters.

Copper pipes in theory should last at least as long electrical wiring if the system is well looked after

 

[CB750K2]

No I haven't got rid of the gas.

My Vaillant has struggled on with occasional F22s .... despite Vaillant engineers many trips over the last few years and replacing many parts.

The F22s are mostly detected once I am in the shower and notice that the hot water isn't hot but freezing cold.

Which means out of the shower, loft hatch down, up in the loft and fiddle with the filling loop ... the previous owner thought it was a good idea to put the Vaillant in the loft ... I disagree.

I intend to replace the Vaillant with another brand and site it in the airing cupboard, where the orginal boiler was.

Undecided whether it should be another combi or a system boiler to drive a seperate hot water cylinder containing an emergency immersion heater.

 

[muggles]

Why I wonder couldn't the energy suppliers charge the same price

Electricity costs more to generate

 

[bernardgreen]

or a system boiler to drive a seperate hot water cylinder containing an emergency immersion heater.

Sensible, or even better a heat only boiler and external pump.

 

[M1957]

Why I wonder couldn't the energy suppliers charge the same price

Gas is used to generate a significant proportion of electricity, about 40% last year. But gas turbines are not 100% efficient, and there are further losses involved in distribution etc. In addition there is significant investment in transitioning away from fossil fuels.

If everyone used electricity for heating, the grid would need to have several times its present generation capacity.

 

[JohnD]

... the previous owner thought it was a good idea to put the Vaillant in the loft ...

A mistake that some people still make.

 

[fixitflav]

Last year I asked what people thought about getting rid of my gas boiler and heating the house with oil filled radiators and using an immersion heaters.

The downside of course is that electricity is much more expensive than gas.

Why I wonder couldn't the energy suppliers charge the same price

It's all down to the 2nd law of thermodynamics

 

[Zundapp]

What with Climate Change 'acomin in I expect in the longer term there will be other cheaper ways to generate electricity rather than using gas.

It would be nice to have a heating system in the home where the main component doesn't fail and need constant fettling.

 

[JohnD]

not a combi, you mean?

hydrogen may be the gas of the future.

 

[ianmcd]

I wish beer was cheaper than water but not gonna happen

 

[muggles]

hydrogen may be the gas of the future.

Pigs might fly

 

[Mottie]

the previous owner thought it was a good idea to put the Vaillant in the loft ... I disagree.

I have mine in the loft and have had two boilers in there since about 1992. The current one is a Vaillant although both have been heat only. The current one is also a sealed system. I find having it there it suits my needs. I know a few engineers on here are against boilers in lofts but I’ve not yet come across a heating engineer that has refused to repair/service/look at it. Yes, I know there is a danger of freezing but so is there with other pipes and storage tanks and at least the boiler has a frost protection built in. I have my filling loop and pressure gauge in the downstairs airing cupboard. Be honest, if your boiler was working correctly you would have no need to go into the loft and even if it wanted topping up, a filling loop in a convenient position would save you the bother.
One thing, my mate has a combi boiler in his loft and it takes an exceptional time for hot water to get to his kitchen tap. So much so they either wash up with cold water or boil a kettle. That, in my mind, is a good reason not to have a combi in the loft.

 

[Zundapp]

I have mine in the loft and have had two boilers in there since about 1992. The current one is a Vaillant although both have been heat only. The current one is also a sealed system. I find having it there it suits my needs. I know a few engineers on here are against boilers in lofts but I’ve not yet come across a heating engineer that has refused to repair/service/look at it. Yes, I know there is a danger of freezing but so is there with other pipes and storage tanks and at least the boiler has a frost protection built in. I have my filling loop and pressure gauge in the downstairs airing cupboard. Be honest, if your boiler was working correctly you would have no need to go into the loft and even if it wanted topping up, a filling loop in a convenient position would save you the bother.
One thing, my mate has a combi boiler in his loft and it takes an exceptional time for hot water to get to his kitchen tap. So much so they either wash up with cold water or boil a kettle. That, in my mind, is a good reason not to have a combi in the loft.

Thanks Mottie, as a layman I didn't realise that the filling loops could be located in a more convenient location.

Also a system boiler in the same location and an immersion heater in the airing cupboard seems a jolly sensible solution.

 

[Mottie]

Also a system boiler in the same location and an immersion heater in the airing cupboard seems a jolly sensible solution.

Some say a heat only boiler is better as you are not restricted to the expansion vessel or pump that is built into a system boiler as and when replacement is needed.