PHAM NEWS | OCTOBER 2026 34 ElectricHeating When size matters


An electric boiler can provide an ideal heating solution for smaller homes on tight budgets. Robert Dreghorn from The Electric Heating Company highlights some of the key benefi ts for people living in fl ats and terraces.


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maller homes are a natural match for electric boilers. Space is limited, storage is tight and noise travels


fast. An electric boiler does not need a fl ue through the wall or roof, it does not need a fuel tank outside and it runs quietly, which is handy in shared buildings with thin walls or ceilings. Many UK homes already


have a wet radiator system or a hot water cylinder in place. In these cases, a residential electric boiler can often connect to what is already there, rather than ripping everything out and starting again. That makes upgrades simpler, cleaner and less disruptive for the household. When a home is well


insulated and not too large, it can really make the most of an electric boiler’s high effi ciency. Rooms heat up quicker, and less heat escapes through walls, windows and roofs. If you pair that with smart controls and a suitable electricity tariff , you have more control over when and how you heat each space, which can help keep bills under control. For many households, the


biggest worry is not comfort, it is cost. People skip using heating because they fear the


Robert Dreghorn Marketing consultant for The Electric Heating Company


bill at the end of the month. Careful system design can make a real diff erence here. It is not just about the boiler, it is about how and when it runs. Thoughtful controls can help


cut waste, with heating zones that only warm the rooms in use and programmable thermostats that follow the user’s daily routine. An app- based control system can also enable the heating to be turned down remotely. Small changes, like lowering


the set temperature by a small amount or trimming pre- heating times, can add up when used across a whole winter. Electric systems usually


have fewer moving parts than gas boilers and do not need gas safety checks or fl ue inspections. There is no risk from gas leaks, and there is no combustion taking place inside the home. Over time, this can reduce the amount of maintenance needed, which helps cut lifetime costs and surprise repair visits.


Smarter heating Electric boilers work at close to 100% effi ciency at the point of use, which means nearly all the electricity they take in turns into heat for your home. When we match that with a UK grid that is adding more renewable energy over time, electric heating becomes an important part of national plans to cut carbon emissions. Smart heating technology


is moving quickly, and it fi ts naturally with electric systems. Modern controls can do far more than simple on and off . They can respond to your lifestyle and even to the weather outside. Some common smart features


include: • Wi-Fi controls to manage


heat from your phone or tablet • Load management, to help


balance demand across your home’s electrical circuits


• Weather compensation, A boost to hot water delivery


Richard Prince, business development director at Advance Appliances, highlights the benefi ts of a new hot water solution for off -grid homes.


As the UK pushes forward with the phase-out of traditional gas heating, domestic heating and plumbing engineers face a growing dilemma in fl at and apartment refurbishments. How do you deliver reliable space heating and high-volume domestic hot water (DHW) in off -gas properties without oversubscribing the local electricity supply?


This is precisely where our


new ECO Electric Combination Boiler (ECB 210) steps in, off ering a clever, thermal- storage approach to electric heating. Manufactured in Walsall, the ECO ECB 210 solves the electrical demand issue by using internal thermal storage. By storing energy using a dedicated 6kW lower immersion heater (pre- wired to take full advantage of off -peak electricity tariff s) and a secondary 3kW immersion heater, the unit delivers hot water fl ow rates that can reach double those of standard gas combi boilers. It comfortably supplies enough hot water for a standard bath and a shower simultaneously, while


where the system adjusts output based on outdoor temperature


• Integration with solar PV


or battery storage, to make use of low-cost or self-generated power When an electric boiler


is combined with effi cient radiators, well-insulated cylinders and responsive controls, the whole home works as one energy-saving system. That means less wasted heat, lower emissions and a smoother path toward net-zero goals, without giving up comfort.


Which boiler? Picking the right size and type of residential electric boiler matters just as much as choosing the brand. If a unit is too small, it will struggle on cold days. If it is too big, it may cost more to buy and run than you actually need.


Key things to think about for


smaller UK homes include the type of property, insulation levels, the size and condition of the existing radiator system and whether there is a need for a hot water cylinder. Balancing upfront spend


with long-term savings means looking at quality, not just the lowest initial price. Effi cient cylinders keep hot water warm for longer, so the boiler runs less. The goal is to avoid overspecifi cation, where people pay for power they never use, while still making sure the system keeps everyone comfortable when the weather turns cold. With the right boiler choice,


smart controls and a bit of planning, smaller UK homes can step away from fuel poverty and towards warmer, greener and more aff ordable living. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1026/68


eff ortlessly running a four-to- fi ve radiator circuit. Recognising that time is money for the installer, the unit arrives as a pre-plumbed and pre-wired ‘plug and play’ system, complete with an integrated, pre-wired A-rated circulation pump and built-in controls (a programmer for space heating and a timer for off -peak power). For projects requiring a sealed


system, engineers can easily convert it to a sealed central heating circuit using a heat exchanger on the fl ow and return, an additional heating pump, and a standard sealed system kit. The ECO ECB 210 also helps to satisfy regulatory compliance without any extra headaches, complying with Building Regulations Part L (Conservation


of fuel and power), Part G (Sanitation, hot water safety and water effi ciency), and the HWA (Hot Water Association) Specifi cation. In the modern specifi cation landscape – particularly for multi-occupancy buildings, city-centre apartment blocks, and off -gas retrofi ts – installers need solutions that protect the homeowner’s electricity bill while delivering uncompromised hot water performance. By capturing off -peak energy, utilising smart internal thermal storage, and eliminating complex, high-draw electrical installs, the Advance Appliances ECO ECB 210 gives engineers a practical, reliable, and compliant product to quote with total confi dence. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1026/69


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