Electric Boilers vs Oil Boilers vs Gas Boilers – Hot water is essential for modern living, but not every home uses the same method or equipment to heat water. The decision on which is best for your home is often down to a simple contest – electric boilers vs oil boilers vs gas boilers. Do I need an Oil Boiler Replacement ? Gas Boiler Replacement or New Electric Boiler
Each has its own benefits and disadvantages, and it is not just a matter of choosing which you’d prefer. Sometimes, other factors are in play, and it isn’t your preference that decides what is best for your home.
Electric Boilers vs Oil Boilers vs Gas Boilers – Which can I choose?
The first consideration you need to look at is what fuel supplies are available at your home. While large parts of the country have access to mains gas, many areas do not. In these cases, electric boilers or oil-fired boilers are the only options.
Oil boilers are relatively uncommon in towns and cities, but they are an option for homes that do not have access to mains gas. In rural areas, oil boilers are much more common due to necessity. Luckily, other than the fuel, oil boilers have the same basic installation process and maintenance requirements as a gas boiler.
If you have mains gas, the decision is between electric and gas boilers. There is no denying that gas boilers are more common. Still, electric boilers can be more compact and are often suited to high-rise buildings and apartments where there might be limited space or difficulty installing gas boilers.
Electric boilers can have a higher efficiency rating than gas boilers, but that doesn’t always make them cheaper to run. The overall running cost will depend on the price you pay for your gas and electric supply.
Electric, Oil or Gas Boilers – Will they heat my home?
It is often perceived that certain types of boilers can only heat certain sizes of homes. You might think an electric boiler is better suited to a small home, while an oil boiler can heat a whole warehouse.
However, the fact is that boilers come in all shapes and sizes. The size of your home doesn’t affect the outcome of electric boilers vs oil boilers vs gas boilers, as the relative power of each boiler is measured in kilowatts.
Each type of boiler can be low (e.g., 15kw) or high powered (e.g., 45kw) – the higher the rating, the larger the space that can be effectively heated.
The bottom line is that electric boilers, oil boilers, and gas boilers can all heat your home effectively, and it is simply a matter of choosing the right size of boiler for your individual needs.
Electric, Oil or Gas Boilers – Can I get hot water on demand?
This is again unrelated to the fuel source. Combi boilers are available for all fuel sources and can heat water on demand. These are one of the most common types of boilers in Ireland and provide hot water and heating simultaneously.
You might need a separate hot water tank or cylinder with other boiler styles. In this case, the water is normally preheated and stored, which means it can run out. With a combi boiler, hot water isn’t stored and is heated as required.
A combi boiler might not be the best option for very large homes, but this won’t affect the fuel choice. The NRM team can advise on which type of boiler will best suit your needs, so if you’re in doubt, please get in touch.
Noise levels
All modern boilers are much quieter than their older counterparts, but electric boilers are the quietest. This is simply due to the minimal number of moving parts with the boiler.
As gas boilers and oil boilers are often installed in a cupboard or in a room away from the main living area, any noises are less likely to be noticed – but modern boilers are very quiet in operation.
Are they safe?
Any boiler can pose a risk if it is not installed and maintained correctly. However, electric boilers are generally considered the safest option as there is no naked flame or risk of explosion. As with any appliance that uses gas or oil, there is a risk if the boiler is not installed and maintained by a professional.
You can trust the team at NRM plumbing Dublin to install and service your boiler correctly and to advise you on the choices involved in electric boilers vs oil boilers vs gas boilers – or any other queries you might have about heating your home.
Electric Boilers vs Oil Boilers vs Gas Boilers – Which is best for the environment?
Electric boilers produce zero emissions, making them the most environmentally friendly option. However, the electricity used to power electric boilers needs to be generated somehow, and this usually comes from gas or coal-fired power stations. So while electric boilers don’t produce emissions themselves, how they are powered might impact the environment.
Oil and gas boilers both produce emissions, but new boilers produce far fewer emissions than older boilers. Careful and clever design means that the latest boilers are much more efficient than their predecessors, including condensing boilers that capture waste heat and use it to preheat cold water coming into the boiler. This means they use less fuel overall (making them cheaper to run) and produce lower emissions too.
Electric, Oil or Gas Boilers – Which is best for my home?
Ultimately, it comes down to which type of boiler is most suitable for your home and the needs of the people who live there. The team at NRM are experts in electric boilers, oil boilers, and gas boilers and can advise you on the best type of boiler for your home.
Please get in touch today for more information or to book a free consultation.
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