Electric combi boiler advice needed!

[Deleted member 99053]

Hi,

I want to install electric combi boiler in my holiday home. It's a 2-bed cottage that will have 1 bath and underfloor heating.
Ideally, I would like direct system and compact boiler. The space is an issue, so I would prefer something without a water cylinder, unless it's a bad idea.
Needs to be reasonably priced.

What would be your recommendations, that meet the requirements of my brief?
Thanks.

 

[Timmy D]

Need to confirm you can provide the required electric power first.

Electric combi’s need a lot of juice. Lower end need around 60-70amp. Can your consumer unit handle that?

 

[king of pipes]

Lpg would be a better choice electric costs a fortune to run and as above chances are the incoming supply will not be up to the job.

 

[Stu-B]

I’ve not installed any myself but there’s an apartment block (converted school) near me and I’ve fixed a few. They’re mainly storage combi’s from EHC, run at about 50A on 10mm cable, which is about the same as a bigger end electric shower.

12kW Comet Electric Combi Boiler | @electricheatingcompany

The 12kW Comet Electric Combination Boiler offers the comfort & convenience of heating & 144L of hot water for domestic properties with no access to mains gas

www.electric-heatingcompany.co.uk

they seem to do the job ok and are a clean and tidy unit.

 

[Deleted member 99053]

I’ve not installed any myself but there’s an apartment block (converted school) near me and I’ve fixed a few. They’re mainly storage combi’s from EHC, run at about 50A on 10mm cable, which is about the same as a bigger end electric shower.

12kW Comet Electric Combi Boiler | @electricheatingcompany

The 12kW Comet Electric Combination Boiler offers the comfort & convenience of heating & 144L of hot water for domestic properties with no access to mains gas

www.electric-heatingcompany.co.uk

they seem to do the job ok and are a clean and tidy unit.

Thank you for your input.
Yes, this kind of thing seems to be most efficient. If I'm going for the one with water tank I think I'd prefer 9kw Heatrae Sadia Electromax. It's significantly cheaper and it's, well, Heatrae Sadia.
No problem re 50amp supply.
[automerge]1607330611[/automerge]

Need to confirm you can provide the required electric power first.

Electric combi’s need a lot of juice. Lower end need around 60-70amp. Can your consumer unit handle that?

Yes

 

[IND_Nick]

I have fitted a number of the Electromax systems where gas has not been present and they are about the best solution we could find to supply a wet heating system with mains hot water. I have a block of 6 flats where they have been in over 5 years running UFH and providing hot water and never had an issue.
If you can find space I think these are current of the best all round solutions.

 

[Deleted member 99053]

I have fitted a number of the Electromax systems where gas has not been present and they are about the best solution we could find to supply a wet heating system with mains hot water. I have a block of 6 flats where they have been in over 5 years running UFH and providing hot water and never had an issue.
If you can find space I think these are current of the best all round solutions.

Thanks! I was leaning towards Electromax because it's Heatrae Sadia, so now I'll just get one of them and be done with it 😊

 

[king of pipes]

Electra stream would be another choice but they aren't cheap electric heating is all about getting on a economy tarrif minimum economy 7 but preferably 10 or even 18 if you can find a supplier. Kop

 

[Deleted member 99053]

Electra stream would be another choice but they aren't cheap electric heating is all about getting on a economy tarrif minimum economy 7 but preferably 10 or even 18 if you can find a supplier. Kop

Thanks, but I'm not convinced it's better than Electromax. Doesn't say anything about underfloor heating, only has 1 year guarantee and more expensive. I'll stick to Heatrae Sadia, but will follow your advice re Economy tariffs.

 

[king of pipes]

Your choice at the end of the day best of luck with the project. Kop

 

[IND_Nick]

Thanks, but I'm not convinced it's better than Electromax. Doesn't say anything about underfloor heating, only has 1 year guarantee and more expensive. I'll stick to Heatrae Sadia, but will follow your advice re Economy tariffs.

If you go down the route of the Electromax you will need to do the maths on the E7 options. Although you will save in the hot water heating over night, running the heating during the day will be expensive. The ones I have run on a standard tariff and generally are fairly comparable to what it would be to heat with gas, I think.

 

[Deleted member 99053]

If you go down the route of the Electromax you will need to do the maths on the E7 options. Although you will save in the hot water heating over night, running the heating during the day will be expensive. The ones I have run on a standard tariff and generally are fairly comparable to what it would be to heat with gas, I think.

True, but UFH is very efficient plus I will only need it half of the time. HW is needed all year around. Mind you, I will have electric hob and oven, so you are probably right... Do you think E10 or E18 would make it worthwhile?

 

[Brambles]

Try looking at the tracking tariffs such as Agile Octopus - there are an increasing number of suppliers around. If you can avoid the use of electricity between 5pm and 8pm they seem to be good value

 

[Jerry]

I have fitted gear from EHC and was pretty happy with it.

The 14kw system boiler needed the main fuse charge to 100A, a 16mm2 cable to feed it and a 60A fuse on the board to protect it (I think. don't hold me to it).

Any larger requires 3 phase...

It was more powerful than the last electric boiler and the client was aware that he had to heat the house and hot water at different times, if he wanted it to work properly.