The majority of properties in the UK heat themselves with either gas or electric boilers. Now that the UK Government is promoting low-carbon heating options in the face of a climate emergency, more homeowners are considering which boiler option is best for them. This blog post contains information on the available commercial heating systems that can help you choose between gas and electric boilers to make the right choice for the long-term future of your property.
What is a Gas Boiler?
As of 2020, around 80% of UK homes relied on gas boilers, making them the most common form of heating in the UK. They work by burning natural gas to generate heat whenever required, heating the water that runs through your taps and radiators, and either run on natural gas or liquid petroleum gas (LPG). Here are some of the critical traits that come with using natural gas:
Advantages of Gas Boilers
- They have a low cost when compared to alternative home heating systems.
- Gas boilers can efficiently handle the demands of larger properties.
- Experts like the commercial heating engineers at Accurate Mechanical Services are readily available whenever you require a gas boiler repair service.
Disadvantages of Gas Boilers
- They emit greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming.
- The UK government is currently developing laws to prevent gas boilers from being added to new-build UK homes within the next decade.
What is an Electric Boiler?
As there are much fewer electric boilers installed within UK properties than gas boilers, many people aren’t sure of the comparison between these two options. Rather than converting fossil fuels, electric boilers work by turning electricity into heat and are most typically used in smaller properties with less demand for heating and hot water. To learn more, take a look through the pros and cons of adding an electric boiler to your property.
Advantages of Electric Boilers
- The usage of electricity makes them better for the environment than a gas boiler.
- Electric boilers are very quiet and usually smaller in size.
- This type of boiler allows for flexible installation, as flue pipes aren’t necessary due to the lack of gas they produce.
Disadvantages of Electric Boilers
- Electric boilers aren’t as efficient at heating larger houses as other options.
- Electric models are more expensive on average than gas boilers.
What are the Key Differences?
To help you understand which option is best for you, here’s how the gas and electric options compare to each other within the four key traits homeowners need from their boilers.
- Cost – The critical difference in price is that gas boilers can be up to four times cheaper to run than electric boilers, saving property owners a lot of money.
- Efficiency – If your property has an older style of gas boiler, investing in a newer model is very worthwhile, as modern gas boilers use condensing technology to reduce the amount of wasted heat. Electric boilers are naturally energy efficient; however, producing electricity is carbon-intensive and reduces the efficiency of electric boilers unless renewable energy sources like heat pumps or solar panels are used.
- Installation – Both gas and electric boilers have different installation benefits. As gas boiler systems are so common, it’s quicker and cheaper to find quality installation options. However, the lack of flue pipes and gas lines in electric boilers also makes them a straightforward option to install.
- Repair – Electric boilers are less likely to require repairs than gas models. To avoid requiring repairs, it’s highly recommended that you request an annual service for your gas boiler from a Gas Safe registered engineer, such as the experienced team at Accurate Mechanical Services. If you do ever require emergency assistance, we can also offer gas boiler repair services that will help to keep your property warm and cosy whenever you need it.
The Future of Home Heating
As mentioned above, gas boilers release carbon emissions into the atmosphere when in use. Therefore, the UK’s widespread usage of gas boilers has a significant impact on climate change, with home heating accounting for 14% of all UK emissions. To combat this, the UK Government has confirmed that all fossil-fuel boilers will be banned from new-build houses within the next few years, with sustainable energy being promoted instead.
If you own a commercial property that would struggle to benefit from an electric boiler, you should consider adding eco-friendly heat sources such as solar panels and heat pumps in the future. Both of these options can assist commercial boilers that use electricity to make them more efficient and provide adequate warmth to your commercial property.
Commercial Heating and Heat Pump Installation
Hopefully, this blog post has helped you understand the differences between gas and electric boilers and how each can benefit your home or commercial building. If you use a gas boiler and want to keep it working until you switch to an eco-friendly alternative, Accurate Mechanical Services’ gas boiler repair service is flexible and hassle-free. Contact us today to learn about this, along with our commercial services, PPM and mechanical contracting, all of which we can tailor to your needs.