Electric or gas to heat water for showers, which is cheaper?

Question

I currently heat my water tank for our power shower/bath with gas. i have three daughters and they all shower in the morning, the gas is on for three hours to ensure there is enough hot water for all of them. However, our tank has an electric switch connected to the immersion heater in the tank which gives us instant hot water (like using and electric shower). My question is, would it be cheaper to have the water heated by the electrics for 30 minutes while the girls have showers or to heat the whole tank for three hours with gas. I know gas is considered cheaper than electricity but even in this case? And what about the environmental issues?

Does anyone know what it would actually cost to heat with gas for three hours and with electricity for thrity minutes? Please give a reason for your answer!!! Thanks

I live in North London

Answer 1

Sorry to say you seem a bit misinformed?? If as you say , you have an immersion heater in your hot water cylinder, it cannot be 'instant' there is no such thing. It will heat the water in a similar way to the coil in the cylinder. The gas boiler that you use will probably not actually be heating the water for the full three hours , assuming that you have a cylinder stat and other controls, conversely, the immersion heat will never heat enough water for 3 showers in half an hour! I guess that your cylinder is 40gallons or so?? The immersion heater will cost about 36p per hour when heating. If you want quick recovery, I suggest you put both gas and electric on for the duration of the showering period, this will leave the hw cylinder pretty well full of hot water when you turn off.

Answer 2

If you can get a timer switch then can you get Economy 7 put on the meter, and use the electricity to heat the water between midnight and 7am? That would be cheapest.
You start the morning with a tank of hot water, you can then use either electricity or gas to top it up as you use it.
Also, get some old duvets and lag the tank with them. Even if its already insulated it helps keep the heat in.

Answer 3

Not too long ago electric was more expensive than gas but not necessarily anymore. It depends on where you live. Gas is a by product of oil and must be drilled and extracted from the earth as I'm sure you know. Natural gas has gone up as oil and gasoline has. A lot depends on how high you have your hot water heater set. You can save buco bucks by lowering the setting on the heater a few degrees whether it's a electric or gas.

Answer 4

you really need to get a combi boiler which heats water instantly as you want it, using gas,which is still cheaper than electricity and will save you money in the long run.

Answer 5

if you have a com bi boiler I'd deffo use that you can get great shower appliances for combi's thermostatic controlled too.electric means pulling floor boards up to get the heavy duty cable back to fuse board lot of mess.whereas your pipes are already in the bathroom to pick up from.

Answer 6

Electricity is the cheaper.

Answer 7

Definitely go for gas.

Answer 8

I'M AFRAID WITH OUT EXACT QUANTITIES & AMOUNTS OF BTU OUTPUT YOU CAN ONLY GUESS. IF, IN YOUR AREA THEY BURN NATURAL GAS TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY, MOST LIKELY GAS IS CHEAPER!

Answer 9

it depends on where you live compare tour utility bills that should help i live in Chicago so neither are less expensive here