Boiler servicing is one of the most important yet often overlooked aspects of home maintenance. Your boiler plays a key role in keeping your home warm and providing hot water during the cold winter months. Without regular servicing, even the most reliable boilers can become inefficient, unsafe or prone to breakdowns.
Our ultimate guide to boiler servicing includes everything you need to know in one place. From understanding what a boiler service includes and how often it should be carried out, to recognising warning signs and knowing when to repair or replace, this guide acts as a complete reference point.
Whether you need to book an annual service or are considering a new boiler installation, this guide will inform you of everything you need to know about boiler servicing.
The role of your boiler is to keep your home warm and your water hot. You only realise how important it is when it’s too late. Strange noises, low temperatures and regular breakdowns are all common signs your boiler needs servicing.
In this guide we’ll cover these tell-tail signs, so you’re not left out in the cold this winter.
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Looking to upgrade or replace your heating? Understanding the types of boiler systems is a smart place to start. Whether you’re exploring energy efficiency or future-proofing your home, the right boiler can make a big difference.
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Do you know when to replace a boiler? You may start to notice boiler warning signs when it’s not functioning as it normally should, like a literal flashing light or a strange humming louder than usual.
Don’t panic just yet because it could be as simple as excess moisture and cleaning away condensation, or it could be a warning your boiler is about to pass. We urge you not to ignore these signs, and dive deeper into what to look out for before upgrading your boiler.
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Choosing between an electric boiler and electric radiators isn’t straightforward. Both promise low-carbon heating, but they work differently, cost different amounts to run, and suit different properties. Keep reading for comparisons of how each system works, its efficiency, running costs and size. You can decide which is right for your home.
An electric boiler heats water using electricity instead of gas or oil, so it produces no harmful emissions on site. Like gas boilers, electric models come as:
Combi boilers (combination)
Heat-only boilers (regular)
Smart boilers
System boilers
Their efficiency makes them a popular choice for small households and commercial properties.
What Is an Electric Radiator?
An electric radiator warms a room without relying on plumbing or pipework. It works independently of your central heating system, and its near-100% efficiency makes it a sustainable option for any property type.
How Does an Electric Boiler Work?
An electric boiler connects to the mains electricity supply, much like a kettle. Electricity heats an element, and cold mains water passes over that element to be heated. This heated water is then supplied to your taps and radiators.
How Does an Electric Radiator Work?
An electric radiator also connects to the mains power supply, but it converts electricity into heat directly. Inside, a thermodynamic fluid expands and heats up as electricity passes through it. As the fluid expands, it releases heat into the room.
Which Is More Efficient: Electric Boilers or Electric Radiators?
Both electric boiler and radiator systems are considerably more efficient than a standard gas boiler, which rarely exceeds 90% efficiency.
Electric boilers achieve a 99-100% efficiency rating, though they often carry an ErP rating of D.
Electric radiators are typically 100% efficient, converting all their energy into heat and pairing well with solar panels and renewable batteries. Running costs can be roughly half those of hydronic radiators in some cases.
Neither system burns fuel, so both produce no carbon emissions and can help lower your energy bills.
How Much Do Electric Boilers and Radiators Cost?
Electricity typically costs more per kWh than gas (around 31p vs 5p), though some tariffs charge less overnight. Even so, electric systems can still work out cost-efficient depending on usage.
Electric boiler price
Buying and installing a new unit: £900 to £4,500, depending on type and size
Typical annual running cost: up to £1,568, depending on property size and usage
As an example, a 12 kW boiler running 6 hours a day at 22p per kWh works out at:
Annual: up to £1,584
Monthly: up to £132
Daily: up to £4.40
Hourly: up to 18.3p
Electric radiator cost
Buying a single unit: £25 to £950, with smaller plug-in models cheapest to buy and run
A 3-bedroom home with 12-14 radiators: roughly £300 to £13,300 in total, plus up to £500 for installation
As an example, a 2,000W heater running 6 hours a day at 22p per kWh works out at:
Annual: £2,640
Monthly: £220
Daily: £7
Hourly: 30p
What Size Electric Boiler or Radiator Do I Need?
Electric boiler size
Electric boilers are larger than radiators, typically no more than 1.5m tall and 0.5m wide. Their output usually ranges from 7kW to 26kW, with 12kW and 14kW the most common. Most are wall-mounted in a kitchen or tucked into a storage cupboard.
Electric radiator size
Electric radiators are considerably smaller, usually 0.5m to 1m tall. Wattage typically ranges from 500W to 2,500W, with 1,000W the most common. They’re either freestanding (popular in communal areas) or wall-mounted (suits bathrooms and kitchens).
The Benefits of Each Electric System: Boiler vs Radiator
Electric boilers
Achieve 99-100% efficiency
Suit small spaces, such as flats
Low-maintenance, with no gas leaks, carbon monoxide or explosion risk
Compatible with underfloor heating and radiators
Offer precise electronic controls and smart home integration
Electric radiators
Convert almost all electricity into heat, with minimal waste
No pipework needed, so installation is simple and non-disruptive
No moving parts or combustion, meaning little maintenance
No risk of carbon monoxide leaks or explosions
Available in small, portable options to suit any space
Electric Boiler vs Electric Radiator: Which Should I Choose?
There’s no single right answer, as the best choice depends on your property and budget. Both systems are highly efficient and considerably kinder to the environment than gas alternatives. Over time, an electric boiler is likely to work out cheaper than running multiple electric radiators. It also comes with a broader range of benefits.
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The electric boiler system has grown in popularity in recent years. With a greater focus on reducing our carbon footprint, its growth shows no signs of slowing down.
However, many people still use gas boilers, which are the cheapest boilers on the market and the easiest to maintain. With this in mind, we have to wonder why so many people are making the switch from a gas to an electric boiler system.
In this article, we will provide an insight into the electric boiler system’s many benefits, including helping the environment.
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Replacing a boiler is a big decision for any homeowner or property manager. With so many boiler brands available on the market, it can be challenging to determine which one is the best fit for your home or business. In this guide, we’ll compare the best boiler brands, such as Baxi, Ideal, Worcester Bosch, Vaillant and Viessman to help you identify what the best boiler is for your property.
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Back boilers are still extremely common throughout the UK. Whilst they have been deemed illegal to install if there is no alternative heat source solution, there are still many heating homes. A lot of the time, back boilers remain installed despite their inefficiencies and are only replaced when they finally breakdown. Find out more about these old boilers and learn why you should remove back boiler and replace with a combi boiler even before your current back boiler breakdown.
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When is it a good time for a boiler upgrade? Obviously, if your current boiler is broken, then it needs replacing. However, that is not to say you should wait for your boiler to break down before you replace it. If you are looking for better efficiency, then you should buy a new boiler. But do you really need a boiler upgrade? Read more
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