Electric Boiler Installation in Edinburgh

Electric boilers can be a practical heating option for properties without a mains gas supply, smaller homes and flats, or situations where a conventional gas boiler is not suitable.

ReliaHeat installs and replaces electric boilers across Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian.

Before recommending a boiler, we look at the property, existing heating system, hot-water requirements and electrical supply so that you know whether an electric boiler is genuinely suitable for your home.

Call 07502183583 Arrange a Survey

Electric Boiler Installation in Edinburgh

Electric boilers can be a practical heating option for properties without a mains gas supply, smaller homes and flats, or situations where a conventional gas boiler is not suitable.

ReliaHeat installs and replaces electric boilers across Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian.

Arrange a Survey Call 07502183583

How Does an Electric Boiler Work?

An electric boiler uses electricity to heat water for a wet central-heating system.

That heated water can then circulate through conventional radiators or wet underfloor heating in much the same way as water heated by a gas boiler.

Depending on the system, domestic hot water may be provided through a hot-water cylinder rather than directly from the boiler.

Electric boilers do not burn gas, so there is no combustion process or conventional boiler flue. However, they can place a significant demand on the electrical supply, which is why the electrical installation needs to be assessed before a boiler is selected.

When Can an Electric Boiler Make Sense?

An electric boiler may be worth considering when:

The property does not have a mains gas connection
Installing a gas supply would be difficult or impractical
You have an existing wet radiator system you would like to retain
The property is relatively small
Flue positioning would make a conventional boiler difficult
You are replacing an existing electric boiler
You want a compact central-heating solution
Other heating options have been considered and an electric boiler suits the property

An electric boiler is not automatically the right choice simply because a property has no gas. We will look at the alternatives as well as the likely running requirements before recommending a system.

Advantages of an Electric Boiler

No Gas Supply Required

An electric boiler can provide wet central heating without a mains gas connection.

No Conventional Flue

Because there is no gas combustion, an electric boiler does not need the type of flue required by a gas boiler. This can make installation possible in properties where flue positioning is difficult.

Works With Wet Heating Systems

Depending on the system design, electric boilers can supply conventional radiators or wet underfloor heating.

Compact Equipment

Many electric boilers are relatively compact, although the overall installation may also require a hot-water cylinder, controls and additional equipment.

Things to Consider Before Installing One

Running Costs

Electricity usually costs considerably more per unit than mains gas, so an electric boiler can be expensive to run, particularly in a larger or poorly insulated property. Energy Saving Trust currently notes that electricity remains substantially more expensive per unit than gas.

Electrical Supply

The property must have an electrical supply capable of safely supporting the boiler and other household loads.

Scottish building standards require electrical installations to be able to accommodate the likely maximum demand safely.

Hot-Water Demand

A property with several bathrooms or high simultaneous hot-water demand may require a different arrangement from a small flat.

Property Heat Loss

The size, insulation and heat loss of the property all affect the boiler output required and likely electricity consumption.

Is an Electric Boiler Right for My Home?

Sometimes yes — but not always.

The right answer depends on the property.

For a small flat without gas, an electric boiler may be a simple way to retain radiators and wet central heating.

For a larger home with high heating demand, the running cost may make another system more attractive.

Before recommending an electric boiler, we consider:

Property size and insulation
Number and size of radiators
Existing heating system
Hot-water requirements
Number of bathrooms
Electrical supply capacity
Available boiler and cylinder space
Your current electricity meter and tariff
Other suitable heating options

Our aim is to recommend a heating system that suits the property rather than simply replacing one boiler with another.

How Do Electric Boilers Compare?

Electric Boiler vs Gas Boiler

A gas boiler usually has lower fuel costs where mains gas is available, although the right choice depends on the property and installation.

An electric boiler avoids the need for a gas supply and conventional flue but uses electricity directly for heating.

If you are considering changing from gas to electric, we can assess the existing system and explain the practical differences.

Electric Boiler vs Heat Pump

A heat pump also runs on electricity, but it works very differently.

Instead of creating heat directly from electricity, a heat pump moves heat from outside the property into the heating system. This means heat pumps can deliver considerably more heat energy than the electrical energy they consume.

Electric Boiler vs Storage Heaters

Storage heaters warm individual rooms by storing heat during cheaper electricity periods and releasing it later.

An electric boiler instead supplies a wet central-heating system, allowing you to use radiators or wet underfloor heating.

What Happens During an Electric Boiler Installation?

1. Initial Survey

We look at your existing heating system, property and hot-water requirements.

2. Electrical Assessment

The electrical supply and anticipated demand need to be checked before the boiler size is confirmed.

3. Boiler Recommendation

We recommend an appropriate boiler and explain whether additional equipment such as a cylinder or controls is required.

4. Clear Quotation

You receive a quotation explaining the proposed equipment and installation work.

5. Installation

The new boiler and associated heating equipment are installed, connected and tested.

6. Controls and Handover

We explain the controls and how to operate the new heating system before completing the job.

What About My Existing Radiators?

Often, an electric boiler can work with an existing wet central-heating system.

That does not mean every existing system should simply be connected without checking it first.

We may need to assess:

Radiator sizing
Pipework condition
System cleanliness
Pumping and circulation
Existing controls
Hot-water cylinder
Expansion arrangements

If the heating system needs remedial work, this can be explained during the survey.

Engineer carrying out electrical checks on a wall-mounted electric boiler

Why Choose ReliaHeat

Local Heating Engineers

Based in Bonnyrigg, ReliaHeat provides heating services across Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian.

Property-Specific Advice

We assess the property and existing heating system before recommending an electric boiler.

Clear Quotations

You receive a quotation explaining the proposed boiler and the installation work included.

Heating & Electrical Requirements Considered

An electric boiler places a significant load on the electrical installation, so supply requirements form part of the assessment before installation.

What Will an Electric Boiler Cost to Run?

There is no single running-cost figure that applies to every electric boiler.

Your costs will depend on:

Boiler output
How long the heating runs
Property insulation
Desired room temperature
Hot-water use
Electricity tariff
Heating controls
Outside temperature

Standard-rate electricity generally costs more per unit than mains gas, which means whole-home electric resistance heating can have higher running costs. A small, well-insulated flat may have very different requirements from a larger detached property.

Before choosing an electric boiler, it is worth considering both the installation cost and likely ongoing energy use.

Electricity Tariffs and Electric Boilers

Some electric-heating systems can benefit from tariffs that offer cheaper electricity during certain periods of the day.

The tariff available to you will depend on your energy supplier, electricity meter and heating system.

We therefore recommend checking your current meter and tariff directly with your energy supplier before making assumptions about running costs.

Energy Saving Trust also advises customers considering electric heating to understand their meter and tariff, particularly where off-peak electricity is involved.

Areas We Cover

Electric Boiler Installation Across Edinburgh and the Lothians

ReliaHeat provides electric boiler installation and heating services across:

Edinburgh
Bonnyrigg
Dalkeith
Musselburgh
Penicuik
Loanhead
Gorebridge
Newtongrange
Midlothian
East Lothian

Electric Boiler Installation FAQs

Are electric boilers suitable for flats?

They can be. Electric boilers can be particularly practical in smaller properties without a mains gas connection, although the electrical supply, heat demand and hot-water requirements still need to be assessed.

Does an electric boiler need a flue?

An electric boiler does not burn gas, so it does not require the conventional combustion flue used by a gas boiler.

Can an electric boiler use my existing radiators?

Often, yes. If you already have a wet central-heating system, it may be possible to retain the radiators and pipework. We would check their condition and suitability as part of the survey.

Can you replace my existing electric boiler?

Yes. We can assess your existing electric boiler and heating system and provide a quotation for a suitable replacement.

Can I replace my gas boiler with an electric boiler?

Potentially, but it isn’t simply a case of swapping one boiler for another. We would first look at the property’s heat demand, electrical supply and existing heating system to establish whether an electric boiler is a sensible option.

How do I know what size electric boiler I need?

Boiler size depends on the heat required by the property rather than simply the number of bedrooms. We consider the property’s size, insulation, radiators, hot-water requirements and electrical supply before recommending an appropriate boiler.

Considering an Electric Boiler?

Arrange a survey with ReliaHeat and we will assess your property, heating requirements and existing system before recommending the appropriate next step.

Arrange a Survey Call 07502183583