Electric Combi Boiler Cost Guide for 2023
Electric combi boilers are a great option for small homes, especially those that aren't on the gas grid. They work in a similar way to gas boilers, but use electricity to generate heat rather than gas. An electric combi boiler costs anywhere between £1,400-£6,000 to install, so what factors make up this cost?
How much is an electric heating boiler?
How much an electric boiler costs depends on the type of boiler you choose and its power output. Installation costs vary based on whether you’re replacing or getting a new electric combi boiler for the first time and where you live.
HaMuch has a large database of hourly rates for heating engineers across the country, but these are the average costs to expect:
|
Item |
Average cost including installation |
|
12kW boiler with no cylinder |
£1,400-£3,500 |
|
12kW boiler with integrated cylinder |
£2,000-£4,000 |
|
10-18kW floor-standing boiler |
£2,700-£6,000 |
What affects the cost of installing an electric combi boiler?
There are a few factors that affect the cost of installing an electric boiler:
Type of boiler
An electric combi boiler with a built-in cylinder will cost more than one that supplies water from the mains. This is generally due to the amount of working parts inside the boiler. Electric combined primary storage units, or CPSUs, are large electric boilers that are suitable for larger households or commercial properties, and these will cost much more.
Electric boiler brand
The brand and model of electric boiler you choose will affect the cost. Well-known brands will be more expensive, but they could be more reliable and they often come with longer warranties.
|
Electric boiler brand/model |
Price range |
|
Heatrae Sadia Amptec |
£600-£1,550 |
|
Heatrae Sadia Electromax |
£2,000-£5,800 |
|
EHC Comet |
£2,400-£3,900 |
|
Advance Appliances |
£350-£2,500 |
Whether the boiler is solar-compatible
Electric boilers that are compatible with solar panels may cost more, but in the long term they may save you money. As of March 2023, electricity is around 3.5 times more expensive than gas per unit, so electric boilers aren’t cheap to run. But if you power your electric combi boiler with solar panels that generate free electricity from the sun, your only costs will be the installation of the boiler and the panels.
If you get a solar battery storage system installed alongside your solar panels, you can store unused electricity generated in the day to use at night, which is ideal if you’re not home in the day to use the heating.
Whether it’s a new installation or replacement
Replacing an electric boiler will always be easier than installing a new electric central heating system, so expect your heating engineer to be around longer if they’re fitting a new electric boiler from scratch. That means you’ll spend more on labour.
Whether you want to move your boiler
If you want or need to move your boiler to another location, you’ll probably need new pipework and wiring. Installing new pipework and wiring will take the engineer longer, so again, you’ll pay more in labour.
Whether you choose a local or national engineer
While national boiler installation companies may have more availability and have lots of glossy brochures to show you, they generally charge more to install an electric combi boiler. Local heating engineers generally have fewer overheads than national companies, so it’s best to stick with a trusted tradesperson in your area.
Electric boiler running costs
Electric boilers do cost more to run than gas boilers, but you might be surprised to learn that it’s not as bad as it seems.
While electricity rates are around 3.5 times higher than gas per unit, electric boilers don’t use as much energy as gas boilers. On average, an electric combi boiler will use less than half the energy of a gas or oil boiler of the same size.
For example, a gas boiler in an average detached house will use around 23,000kW (kilowatts) of gas per year, while the equivalent electric boiler will use just 9,100kW. That means that a gas boiler will cost approximately £2,300 per year to run, while an electric boiler will cost £3,094 to run.
The electric boiler may still cost more to run, but if you don’t have a mains gas supply it’s certainly worth considering installing one. Electric radiators or night storage heaters will cost even more, and you’ll still need to consider how you’ll heat your hot water.
Can you run radiators off an electric boiler?
Yes, you can run radiators off an electric boiler – and this is one of the main benefits of electric combi boilers. You can have a ‘wet’ central heating system, the same system used by gas boilers, even if you’re not connected to mains gas.
The number of radiators you’ll need affects how powerful you’ll need your boiler to be. It’s best to speak to a heating engineer so they can recommend the best electric boiler to be, but the general rule is to add 1.5kW of power for each radiator. For example, if you have 8 radiators your electric boiler will need to be 12kW.
Should I replace gas central heating with electric?
If you have gas central heating already, it’s probably not worth replacing it with electric central heating. That’s because while not as expensive as some people think, it still costs more to run an electric combi boiler than a gas one.
However, if you have solar panels, it’s well worth considering replacing your gas central heating with electric. Choose an electric boiler that’s compatible with solar and you can power it using free solar electricity, meaning you’ll save on monthly heating costs and reduce your reliance on the National Grid.
If you’re not connected to mains gas and have a small home, an electric combi boiler is a great option. If you’re ready to compare prices, post your job on HaMuch to get quotes from qualified heating engineers in your area.