Shower Heating Costs: Gas vs Electricity

securespark · 20 Jun 2019

Refitting ensuite.

We currently have an electric shower.

I would like to take the opportunity to fit a mixer shower. I would like to leave the electric shower on the wall in case of boiler breakdown.

To be convinced, Mrs Secure would like to compare the costs of heating water for a 10 minute shower.

A 10 min shower with our electric unit is 22.15p

How the heck do you work out the cost for gas?

motorbiking · 20 Jun 2019

unit by unit, its about 1/3rd the price with Gas, but you will lose some efficiency in the pipes and hot tank. Still at least 30-40% cheaper.

JohnD · 20 Jun 2019

the energy from gas costs about a quarter the price of energy from electricity, but an electric shower is a weedy little thing that dripples out warm water like a cat peeing on you, so you you might use four times as much water with a proper supply from a combi or unvented cylinder.

p.s.
I've just signed up to a new 2-year BG deal. My rates are

Gas 3.122p per kWh

Electricity 14.037p per kWh

4.5 times dearer energy from electricity (less efficiency losses)

Your prices may vary.

Brigadier · 20 Jun 2019

Just do what you want, and make the figures up. Sound authoritative. That's the key

motorbiking · 20 Jun 2019

getting on for 5 times cheaper. It might not always be like that though.

conny · 20 Jun 2019

Electric showers are weak with regards pressure. Showers from a combi seem to use mains pressure and be hotter. Given the choice I would pick gas every time. Even our oil fired combi gives a better shower than an electric one.

empip · 20 Jun 2019

Our three lowest, gas monthly bills £28.08 average since 2010, with household of two (retired).
So our full (gas fired) hot water usage including washing / washing up etc is equivalent to £0.905 per day or approx 4 showers at your electricity costing.
I guess we average 2 showers total per day - So I feel the cost, using gas is pretty good.

Have gravity fed mixer shower Mira Excel (1999 vintage) - one new control cassette recent years.
No complaints about soakworthiness even at the green shower head setting.
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securespark · 21 Jun 2019

I pay 13.99p for electricity (less VAT) and 2.95p for gas.

Thanks fellas.

Quite like the look of the Mira ERD range as our pressure is not A1. Wondering WTH the differences are between them all.

empip · 21 Jun 2019

Our prices pre tax, Gas 3.07p : Elec' 14.32p.
CWS tank raised prescribed amount in loft - etc.
After years of use, I think I would move away from flush fitting control, I was lucky to spot our leaking cassette unit.
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Bodd · 21 Jun 2019

I cost aside, if you have a Combi, I'd definitely keep the Electric shower..

Harry Bloomfield · 21 Jun 2019

JohnD said:
but an electric shower is a weedy little thing that dripples out warm water like a cat peeing on you, so you you might use four times as much water with a proper supply from a combi or unvented cylinder.

My electric shower is perfectly satisfactory, winter or summer. I use it every morning without fail. Litre for litre of water, gas will be around 50% of the cost, but it may tend to use much more water per shower and some of the heat will be wasted in the pipework. So electric might well be the overall cheaper option, especially if you are on a water meter.

Bodd · 21 Jun 2019

Harry Bloomfield said:
My electric shower is perfectly satisfactory, winter or summer. I use it every morning without fail. Litre for litre of water, gas will be around 50% of the cost, but it may tend to use much more water per shower and some of the heat will be wasted in the pipework. So electric might well be the overall cheaper option, especially if you are on a water meter.

If you have good water pressure a 10 Kw electric shower will give a very good shower.

Most combis and cylinders without a secondary return will waste water. The longer distance the shower is from the source the more water will be wasted. With an electric shower the heat if pretty much instant. Using less water.

maltaron · 23 Jun 2019

If you really want cheap, solar PV with a diverter which routes excess power to the immersion heater has got be cheapest. On a reasonable sunny day I can have two HW cylinders to 55C in 2 hours and with good insulation its still at 45c in the morning.

lostinthelight · 23 Jun 2019

How many kwh system do you have

ETAF · 23 Jun 2019

i have just installed a 10.5Kw shower and also a hotwater mixer tap heated by gas.
We have to heat the entire tank, not on a combi boiler, to use the shower , so we are not heating the water for the shower only.
We used to have a combi in old house and it worked fine

in you calculations , do you have a combi heater ?
I have just changed suppliers this week,
Gas
2.783 per KWH - 21.54p per day rent
electric
15.036 per KWH - 23.14p per day rent
cheapest fixed deal i could get

Shower Heating Costs: Gas vs Electricity

Bodd

Bodd

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