I'm looking for some advice and opinions on the choices of central heating options available to me.
I currently have a 3-bed semi which has a coal fired central heating system and hot water supply.
We do not have access to mains gas and an lpg tank has been ruled out due to the layout of the boundaries of the property and close proximity to an electric pylon.
I have been researching oil and electric combi boilers for central heating and hot water.
I know the oil tank has less restrictions on where it can be sited and there are internal and external oil combi boilers available.

I'm hoping someone would be able to give advice on the electric combi boilers available.
I don't know of anyone who uses them to get feedback regarding running costs etc.

I've been looking at the Thermaflow Electric Combi boiler (http://www.thermaflowheating.co.uk/thermaflow_range.htm)
This appears to me to be a possibility and running the electric boiler on Scottish Power's Economy 2000 tariff will give have price electricity costs for 18 hours per day.

I would be grateful for other people's thought, opinions and especially experience of using the Thermaflow boiler.

craig_1979:

If I understand the tariff its only available for a storage boiler and if I understand the Thermaflow description its not a storage boiler. Hope I'm wrong as its seems a very generous tariff.

Hi Jalexa,

The literature I've read re the Thermaflow Boiler states it's suitable for the Ecomony 2000 tariff. It does appear to be a generous tariff with 18 hours per day off peak. That was the main reason for considering installing this electric boiler. I wouldn't even attempt to do any calculations to compare it to oil but the website states the following example:

Examples of Tariffs Available for electric wet heating systems

This example is based on the requirements of a typical family home where hot water is required to heat seven radiators and supply hot water to taps. During the winter, which we will assume covers half the year (180 days), heating and hot water is required for 8 hours each day. During the summer (180 days) water heating is only required for 1 hour each day.

The heating is on as follows;

Winter: 7-11am & 5-9pm

Summer: 5-6pm

THERMAflow Boiler
The Thermaflow storage boiler range are able to operate on the Scottish Power Economy 2000 tariff which will give 18 hours of constant electricity supply at half price.

This example is based on a 210 litre Thermaflow with an output of 9kW

The shut down periods are:
00:00 - 02:00
08:00 - 10:00
16:30 - 18:30

If the boiler is used at maximum, (heating and hot water), for 180 days a year - consuming 9kW/hr, and used for hot water over 180 days - consuming 3kW/hr, the total annual consumption is 13500kW/hrs.

This is Off-Peak electricity and the rate at 01/01/2007 is 5.5 pence per kW/hr.

(cost = electricity used x rate)Peak Rate Electricity used 0kW/hrsOff-Peak Electricity used 13500kW/hrs.Cost of electricity used£663

Economy 10 tariff for other Electric Combi Boilers

Flow type boiler using economy 10 tariff
'Flow' or 'Direct Acting' boilers can only operate on meters that provide 10 hours of Off-Peak electricity per day provided by Scottish Hydro Electric.

This example is based on a 9kW boiler and a 3kW hot water element.

Off-Peak times are:
04:30 - 07:30
13:30 - 16:30
20:30 - 00:30

If the boiler is used at maximum, (heating and hot water), for 180 days a year - consuming 9kW/hr, and used for hot water over 180 days - consuming 3kW/hr, the total annual consumption is 13500kW/hrs.

This will have to be based on 7 hours of On-Peak and 1 hour Off-Peak per day in winter and 1 hour at peak rate per day in summer.The On-Peak rate at 01/01/2007 is 9.1 pence per kW/hr.

(cost = electricity used x rate)Peak Rate Electricity used 11880kW/hrsOff-Peak Electricity used 1620kW/hrsCost of electricity used £1170

As demonstrated above the THERMAflow boiler offers a saving on cost of electricity used of £507 over the first year compared to using the equivalent direct acting boiler based on electricity tariffs available in Scotland May 2007.
Contact your electricity supply company for accurate and up to date tariffs and their costs.