slowtwitch73
Well-known member
Aside from operating/utility cost are electric and gas boilers for home similar as far as longevity, performance, efficiency, etc?
Electric boiler vs gas... any experience?
- Thread starter slowtwitch73
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Walkers
Well-known member
No. Lots of differences between brands and grades of product within brands. Also, are you referring to a boiler or an automatic storage water heater?
OP
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
For sure the first, which serves a mix of under floor and baseboard radiant. Not sure about the auto storage water heater....
We have a Boilermate indirect-fired water heater.
Given two boilers of the same brand/quality does electric work as well or better than gas is what I'm getting at.
We have a Boilermate indirect-fired water heater.
Given two boilers of the same brand/quality does electric work as well or better than gas is what I'm getting at.
Wrench97
Well-known member
Expense is usually the deciding factor, around here running on gas is probably a third of the cost of electricity .
HoosierBuddy
Well-known member
"Aside from operating costs"
Why would you ever do anything without considering the operating costs?
Oh....let me guess....this is a rental and the plan is to make the tenant pay the bill.
Am I right?
Why would you ever do anything without considering the operating costs?
Oh....let me guess....this is a rental and the plan is to make the tenant pay the bill.
Am I right?
OP
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
Uh, no. I'm curious as to the mechanical aspect. I have seen lots of gas boilers, never electric. I am wondering if 'they are a thing' and how they work efficiency wise.. strictly a mechanical inquiry.
Wrench97
Well-known member
Think instahot systems only larger.
modernize.com
Electric Boiler for Home Heating: 2026 Buying Guide With Costs
See how much you'll pay for an electric boiler, how it works, the best manufacturers, and answers to common boiler questions in this guide.
modernize.com
Firebrick43
Well-known member
The electric boilers I have been around have poor element life, and big wiring requirements.. I would never use one personally even if the cost of energy was similar. I would never use an on demand water heater (LP or NG) either as they are not designed for the low delta T of radiant heating.
HoosierBuddy
Well-known member
Any form of electric resistance heating should be avoided at all costs.
I'll back that up with two points:
1. NG is going to be 1/4 to 1/5 the price of power on a KWH vs BTU basis. Why pay 4 to 5 times the cost to operate?
2. If you are going to go with electric heat, you should choose a heat pump based solution as they are roughly 3 to 5 times as cost effective. Moving heat is cheaper than creating heat. Why would you pay 3 to 5 times the cost to operate AND waste all that energy?
Money where my mouth is....in my house I have:
Gas Heating (combined forced air and hydonic)
Gas Water heating (Tank style)
Gas Cooking (range, ovens (2), and outdoor grill)
Gas clothes dryer
Gas backup heating (ventless logs, ventless heater, and furnace transfer switch if needed)
The only electric heating in my house is my wife's hair dryer and my soldering iron. Come to think of it, does anyone make a gas hair dryer?
Phil
I'll back that up with two points:
1. NG is going to be 1/4 to 1/5 the price of power on a KWH vs BTU basis. Why pay 4 to 5 times the cost to operate?
2. If you are going to go with electric heat, you should choose a heat pump based solution as they are roughly 3 to 5 times as cost effective. Moving heat is cheaper than creating heat. Why would you pay 3 to 5 times the cost to operate AND waste all that energy?
Money where my mouth is....in my house I have:
Gas Heating (combined forced air and hydonic)
Gas Water heating (Tank style)
Gas Cooking (range, ovens (2), and outdoor grill)
Gas clothes dryer
Gas backup heating (ventless logs, ventless heater, and furnace transfer switch if needed)
The only electric heating in my house is my wife's hair dryer and my soldering iron. Come to think of it, does anyone make a gas hair dryer?
Phil
OP
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
Good info..thanks
iced98lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Parents had an electric boiler that heated about 1000sq ft of basement floor (rest of the house was forced air). It was new construction in zone 4 and insulated properly under and around the basement. They did it because it was that or propane and the electric co-op here offers a "heat rate" which made it somewhat feasible and "all electric" is a thing to avoid propane costs. YMMV esp the cost of power or other fuels regionally.
It was a pretty small boiler, it took a 40 amp dual pole breaker (their house had two 200 amp panels so that wasn't a problem for this install) and never failed. Installer did put a conditioner in the loops but this was a while ago before I really cared to pay attention to such things in life. I know it lasted 7 years without so much as a hiccup but they moved and I don't know how it went after that.
Mechanically they are very simple devices, just like a resistive water heater. If you are shooting for very low water temperatures then an air to water heat pump is likely a much more efficient but also more complicated/more expensive up front option.
It was a pretty small boiler, it took a 40 amp dual pole breaker (their house had two 200 amp panels so that wasn't a problem for this install) and never failed. Installer did put a conditioner in the loops but this was a while ago before I really cared to pay attention to such things in life. I know it lasted 7 years without so much as a hiccup but they moved and I don't know how it went after that.
Mechanically they are very simple devices, just like a resistive water heater. If you are shooting for very low water temperatures then an air to water heat pump is likely a much more efficient but also more complicated/more expensive up front option.
OP
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
But why besides cost? That's what I'm getting at. Thanks.
Seriously, it is a pretty broad question. A good cast iron boiler running Natural gas will run for years with very little service. Change it to propane and the service goes up a bit. Now go natural or propane and a high efficiency, 95% boiler and they need annual service to keep them in good running condition. If you do not service them they will keep running until they fail, and fail expensively.
Electric boilers? For the most part they are fairly trouble free. I installed one in my in laws home 15 years ago. It was their main source of heat. I had to go out and "tune it up" a couple years back. It had not been touched in roughly 12 years.
If you put good clear water with a bit of treatment into any boiler it will live longer than a boiler with crappy, hard water.
All this makes no difference depending on the "fuel" you have available, that is why I asked if you have natural gas available. If you do, go Natural gas.
Electric boilers? For the most part they are fairly trouble free. I installed one in my in laws home 15 years ago. It was their main source of heat. I had to go out and "tune it up" a couple years back. It had not been touched in roughly 12 years.
If you put good clear water with a bit of treatment into any boiler it will live longer than a boiler with crappy, hard water.
All this makes no difference depending on the "fuel" you have available, that is why I asked if you have natural gas available. If you do, go Natural gas.
slackdaddy1
Well-known member
When I built my shop I had the supplier run load calcs,, elec mini boiler was dead even with a Propane boiler,, and a lot cheaper to install.
I love the damn thing, been running flawless for 4 years
I love the damn thing, been running flawless for 4 years