With UK energy prices continuing to rise and householders seeking means to reduce their bills, how your heating system actually functions is increasingly important. The majority of householders assume that gas boilers use only gas, questioning why do gas boilers need electricity. In reality the truth is otherwise. Do boilers use electricity? Yes, your gas boiler does use electricity, and an understanding of this link is key to good energy use, and supports sound judgment when it comes to thinking about upgrading your heating system. This blog covers everything you need to understand regarding the consumption of electricity by your gas boiler, hidden costs, and how government programs like the ECO4 scheme can help you switch to more efficient boilers.
Why Your Gas Boiler Still Needs Electricity to Function
In our question, do gas boilers use electricity, the answer, contrary to what their name may imply, is yes. While they burn natural gas or LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) to produce heat, there are some significant electrical systems making your heating system both efficient and safe.
Your gas boiler is dependent on a series of electrical systems acting harmoniously together. When does a boiler use gas or electricity? Let’s explore their systems to find out:Â
Control and Thermostats! The electronic brain of your heating system needs electricity to maintain and adjust temperature settings, manage communication between your thermostat and boiler, display status messages and information and run vital safety monitoring systems.
These control systems regularly communicate with other components, maintaining your home at your desired temperature and in safe operation.
Second system being electronic ignition systems! More recent gas boilers typically make use of electronic ignition rather than out-of-date pilot lights. The electronic ignition produces the spark used to ignite the gas burners which requires electricity on starting. Even older boilers with an old pilot light contain devices known as thermocouples which use electricity to produce the flame. Should electricity fail, the pilot light will switch off automatically as a safety measure.
Fourth: the circulation pumps! Once the water is hot it must be circulated around your radiators or underfloor heating in your home, which is the job of electric pumps. Without electricity, the pumps will not work. A no flow means no heat transmission, even if the boiler were to somehow ignite.
Fourth electrical system is the gas valve control. Your boiler gas valve controls the gas supply to the burners, which requires an electric signal to open or close. In the case of no electricity, the valve is closed for safety; this prevents gas flow under potentially unsafe conditions.
All these components constitute a related system relying on electricity for safety. That is why your heater never functions during a power outage, despite having a gas supply.
How Much Electricity Does a Gas Boiler Use?
Although it is obvious that gas boilers consume electricity, most are unaware of how much. The good news is that in comparison to most household appliances, gas boilers do not actually consume much electricity at all. Most new gas boilers use 100 to 200 watts of electrical power when they are running. In perspective, for a standard gas boiler, that’s approximately 200 to 400 kWh of electricity per year. This is the same as powering a few bulbs or a small appliance in your home. This electricity usage is much less compared to the gas energy consumed for heating.
Factors That Influence Electricity Consumption
There are many factors that affect your gas boiler electricity consumption. The amount of electricity your specific gas boiler will use will depend on a few factors, with boiler age and efficiency rating being one of the most influential. Newer, high-technology boilers will likely feature high-technology electronics, with condensing-type boilers normally having more sophisticated control systems. More conventional boilers will consume less electricity but larger quantities of gas. Overall, the better efficiency of new boilers will usually offset any small increase in electricity consumption.
The second influential factor would be boiler type and capacity. Boilers have different electrical demands by type, for example, when looking at how much electricity a combi boiler uses, we may find that they consume more electricity through added elements for hot water production while system boilers with hot water cylinders will allocate electrical consumption differently. Boilers with higher capacity will consume larger quantities of electrical energy on pumps and controls.
Are you a homeowner on benefits? Check your eligibility for a new A-rated boiler by filling in our 1-minute form. Thousands of homeowners have made use of the ECO4 scheme, helping create warmer and more comfortable living spaces for less.
The third influential aspect is the patterns of usage! Your pattern of use has a great impact on electrical consumption as on/off cycling many times uses additional electricity in startup cycles while a steadier running will use less electricity overall than cycling frequently. The use of programmable thermostats can reduce electrical use by efficient scheduling.
What You're Really Paying to Run Your Gas Boiler
When estimating the cost of operation of your gas boiler, most homeowners consider only gas usage and overlook the electricity aspect. Even though the electrical charges are negligible, they don’t go unnoticed when contributing towards your energy bill.
The cost of running your gas boiler is estimated using two distinct utility meters:
Gas Consumption Charges
The biggest bill is the natural gas or LPG consumption for heating:
- UK current gas prices vary by location but are around 6-7p per kWh
- An average UK dwelling might use 12,000 kWh of gas annually for heating
- This is equivalent to somewhere between £720-£840 as yearly heating in gas
Electricity Consumption Charges
The second charge comes from operating the electrical components of the boiler:
- The current UK electricity prices are around 25-28p per kWh
- At 200-400 kWh per year of boiler electricity consumption
- This adds around £50-£112 to your yearly heating bill
Standing Charges
Fixed daily standing charges for electricity and gas:
- Standing charges on gas amount to about 30p a day (£109.50 a year)
- Standing charges on electricity amount to about 46p a day (£167.90 a year)
- These in addition however much energy you consume
The ECO4 Scheme- Power Your Boiler For Less
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a UK government initiative that aims to reduce carbon emissions and fuel poverty by making energy efficiency upgrades in residential homes across the UK. The scheme provides free energy-saving features such as insulation, heating improvement, and renewable energy installations such as solar panels and heat pumps – enabling you to save carbon emissions, reduce your bills, and fight fuel poverty.Â
4 Key aspects of the ECO4 scheme are:
- The fourth phase runs till 2026.
- It’s supported by the biggest UK energy suppliers, like ECO Boiler Grants, as part of their initiative to improve energy efficiency. Fill in our 1-minute form and check your eligibility now!
- It focuses on targeting homes with low energy efficiency ratings (EPC ratings D, E, F, or G)
- It targets low-income households and fuel poverty households
Improvements Covered Under ECO4
The ECO4 initiative offers grants for a full package of energy efficiency improvements:
Heating System Improvements
- Gas heating system installation or replacement
- Replacing ineffective gas boilers with new, high-efficiency models
- Installing air source heat pumps
- Off-gas heating solutions for homes not part of the natural gas grid
Insulation Improvements
- Loft insulation
- Cavity wall insulation
- Â Internal wall insulation
- Room-in-roof insulation
- Other energy-efficient insulation solutions
Why use ECO Boiler Grants for your ECO4 upgrades
When it comes to upgrading under the ECO4 scheme, having the right partner matters. ECO Boiler Grants is the ideal choice for UK homeowners seeking to improve the efficiency of their heating. We apply unparalleled expertise and experience to all work at ECO Boiler Grants through our extensive knowledge of the ECO4 scheme procedures and conditions, our technical expertise in all heating and insulation technologies and having demonstrated long-term track record of successful UK installations. Contact us to learn more!
Summary
Although gas boilers consume relatively small amounts of electricity in comparison to gas usage, around 100-200 watts or 200-400 kWh per year, the dual energy requirement is important to understand in order to control costs and be ready for emergencies. So does gas central heating use electricity to largely affect your bills? No, but their efficiency matters which is why the ECO4 scheme is a vital component.Â
ECO4 is the perfect opportunity for UK homeowners to replace an inefficient heating system with a new, more efficient one, at no or minimal cost. With advantages ranging from reduced energy bills, greater comfort, and lower carbon emissions, it’s the perfect time to think about making the change to an efficient system.
We’re dedicated to making the experience of applying through the ECO4 as smooth as possible here at ECO Boiler Grants, offering expert guidance and high-quality installations with our accredited partners. With a service that puts the customer first, we guarantee you’ll be receiving the greatest advantage of available grants along with a hassle-free upgrade experience.Â
