Fischer Electric Heating System

[Tigris]

Hiya,

we are currently looking at a property which needs work doing therefore we are hoping the seller will accept a lower offer.

The one problem we noticed is the property has a Fischer electric heating system which is going to cost us almost 3x as much as our current gas boiler to run.

Apparently solar panels will not suit the roof due to the angle.

We are debating going back to a gas boiler/central heating system which we have been quoted £7500 to do so. Boiler + 9 radiators. The Fischer system is actually quite new but checking the reviews/running costs seems an awful system. I think whoever used to live in the property was sold this system by a pushy door-to-door sales rep.

British Gas actually do a 0% interest over 3 years I think it was but when asked our current boiler, we then said Electric (fischer) the automated quote came back saying they can't do this. I'm wondering if it's because the aim is to move everyone away from gas boilers by around 2030?

The other option is a heat pump which again, i'm reading awful reviews about them?

Not sure which way to go with this one, any ideas??

 

[numbersrule]

Cost comparisons between gas central heating and electric radiators vary significantly depending on usage. There is also a great deal of misinformation in the energy sector due to competing systems making false claims. I can't comment on Fischer, but I can tell you about my experience switching from a gas system to a different electric system.
In November 2022 I had my gas central heating and hot water system replaced by Elkatherm Electric Radiators and SunAmp Hot Water System.
Prior to the switch of system before November 2022 the total annual energy bill (gas + electric) for my 3 bed semi was stated as about £2,300 (May 2022). The same bill gives the gas unit rate as 7p/kWh and electric unit rate as 27p/kWh.
Since then energy costs have risen and then fallen and currently my electric unit rate is 21.5p/kWh. I'm not using gas anymore and the supply has been capped off but my understanding is that a typical gas unit rate now is about 6.25p/kWh.
I know unit rates vary from supplier to supplier and there is also the standing charge to consider, but please consider that on the basis of the above comparisons, electricity costs have fallen by 20% whilst gas costs have fallen by 10%.
My decision to switch to an electric system was based on what I believe will be a long term trend of generally falling electric costs compared with gas costs not falling as much and in fact may actually rise significantly as gas is phased out.
Now that my new electric system has been in for nearly two years I have a predicted annual electricity cost of £1,700 which is 26% lower than May 2022. This means that the electric system is more efficient than the old gas system even after allowing for the reduction in electric unit cost.
I do not dispute that Fischer electric systems may have specific issues of their own, but in my opinion it would be madness to switch from electric to gas at this time. Have you considered changing to a different electric system?
I had to pay about £2,000 to have the gas fully disconnected. So have you considered what the cost of reconnecting or establishing a gas supply to your proposed house would be?

 

[Tigris]

Cost comparisons between gas central heating and electric radiators vary significantly depending on usage. There is also a great deal of misinformation in the energy sector due to competing systems making false claims. I can't comment on Fischer, but I can tell you about my experience switching from a gas system to a different electric system.
In November 2022 I had my gas central heating and hot water system replaced by Elkatherm Electric Radiators and SunAmp Hot Water System.
Prior to the switch of system before November 2022 the total annual energy bill (gas + electric) for my 3 bed semi was stated as about £2,300 (May 2022). The same bill gives the gas unit rate as 7p/kWh and electric unit rate as 27p/kWh.
Since then energy costs have risen and then fallen and currently my electric unit rate is 21.5p/kWh. I'm not using gas anymore and the supply has been capped off but my understanding is that a typical gas unit rate now is about 6.25p/kWh.
I know unit rates vary from supplier to supplier and there is also the standing charge to consider, but please consider that on the basis of the above comparisons, electricity costs have fallen by 20% whilst gas costs have fallen by 10%.
My decision to switch to an electric system was based on what I believe will be a long term trend of generally falling electric costs compared with gas costs not falling as much and in fact may actually rise significantly as gas is phased out.
Now that my new electric system has been in for nearly two years I have a predicted annual electricity cost of £1,700 which is 26% lower than May 2022. This means that the electric system is more efficient than the old gas system even after allowing for the reduction in electric unit cost.
I do not dispute that Fischer electric systems may have specific issues of their own, but in my opinion it would be madness to switch from electric to gas at this time. Have you considered changing to a different electric system?
I had to pay about £2,000 to have the gas fully disconnected. So have you considered what the cost of reconnecting or establishing a gas supply to your proposed house would be?

Up on checking the current owners bills it appears they are still paying the gas fee which is around £20 so this looks like the gas is still connected to the property.

We did look at the electric route but everyone i've spoken to has advised against it. Heat pumps won't work at the property (as well as hearing how unreliable they are) as well as the roof not being the best for solar panels.

 

[numbersrule]

I am totally mystified by what you say about everyone you've spoken to advising against electric.

As I say, there is a lot of misinformation in the energy sector.

I assume you are aware that when gas costs 6.25p / kWh and electric 21.5p / kWh this does not mean that electric radiators are 3.44 x more expensive to run. Electric radiators are much more energy efficient whilst gas systems are very wasteful and in addition are bad for the environment. The water pipework for gas central heating is inefficient. Gas is an indirect source of heat meaning as the kWh are used transferring to water and pipework there is significant wastage. Gas systems also need electric to run the water pump anyway.

Referring back to my example above, I am using far fewer kWh with the new electric system.

Do the sums.

Before November 2022 I was using 20,700 kWh of gas and 1,900 kWh of electric, some of which was the energy for the water pump for the old gas system.

Now in 2024 my latest bill (electric only) says 6,150 kWh.

What I would say is that sometimes it can be difficult to interpret other people's bills because a big factor can be whether or not people are being responsible with their use of energy.

I have a 2kW radiator in the hallway, but it is not the best use of kWh so that radiator is not on as much as the one in my cosy lounge.

 

[Tigris]

I am totally mystified by what you say about everyone you've spoken to advising against electric.

As I say, there is a lot of misinformation in the energy sector.

I assume you are aware that when gas costs 6.25p / kWh and electric 21.5p / kWh this does not mean that electric radiators are 3.44 x more expensive to run. Electric radiators are much more energy efficient whilst gas systems are very wasteful and in addition are bad for the environment. The water pipework for gas central heating is inefficient. Gas is an indirect source of heat meaning as the kWh are used transferring to water and pipework there is significant wastage. Gas systems also need electric to run the water pump anyway.

Referring back to my example above, I am using far fewer kWh with the new electric system.

Do the sums.

Before November 2022 I was using 20,700 kWh of gas and 1,900 kWh of electric, some of which was the energy for the water pump for the old gas system.

Now in 2024 my latest bill (electric only) says 6,150 kWh.

What I would say is that sometimes it can be difficult to interpret other people's bills because a big factor can be whether or not people are being responsible with their use of energy.

I have a 2kW radiator in the hallway, but it is not the best use of kWh so that radiator is not on as much as the one in my cosy lounge.

Have a look at reviews for Fischer. Awful company/system, not saying all electric is but that company is. People are saying the water barely gets warm and they provide extremely expensive to run equipment. Either way that current system needs to come out.

 

[NickGrogan]

I am totally mystified by what you say about everyone you've spoken to advising against electric.

As I say, there is a lot of misinformation in the energy sector.

I assume you are aware that when gas costs 6.25p / kWh and electric 21.5p / kWh this does not mean that electric radiators are 3.44 x more expensive to run. Electric radiators are much more energy efficient whilst gas systems are very wasteful and in addition are bad for the environment. The water pipework for gas central heating is inefficient. Gas is an indirect source of heat meaning as the kWh are used transferring to water and pipework there is significant wastage. Gas systems also need electric to run the water pump anyway.

Referring back to my example above, I am using far fewer kWh with the new electric system.

Do the sums.

Before November 2022 I was using 20,700 kWh of gas and 1,900 kWh of electric, some of which was the energy for the water pump for the old gas system.

Now in 2024 my latest bill (electric only) says 6,150 kWh.

What I would say is that sometimes it can be difficult to interpret other people's bills because a big factor can be whether or not people are being responsible with their use of energy.

I have a 2kW radiator in the hallway, but it is not the best use of kWh so that radiator is not on as much as the one in my cosy lounge.

6150 x 3.44 = 21156, so essentially no change.

The water pump in a gas boiler uses minimal power, so not worth mentioning.

More info here

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/energy-saving-myths/

If you have a very small house and only need to heat one room, electric is fine.


Why can't you use a heatpump? Insulation issues?

 

[Tigris]

6150 x 3.44 = 21156, so essentially no change.

The water pump in a gas boiler uses minimal power, so not worth mentioning.

More info here

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/energy-saving-myths/

If you have a very small house and only need to heat one room, electric is fine.


Why can't you use a heatpump? Insulation issues?

Ideally there's supposed to be a flow of air apparently but due to the layout of the house there isn't.

The houses are joined together by a garage in between then the gardens are quite boxed in.