Cost Of A Shower? Gas Vs Electric.....

[thecatsays]

Long story short we're moving house again. The new place has a flashy mixer-tap shower thang going on. I'm used to using an electric shower and have no clue how much it would cost to use the boiler.  2 people, a shower each per day, maybe 10 minutes each person? I understand how to calculate it to be honest but the old ADHD is making concentrating on this hard work, so come on all you brainboxes, do I fit an electric one or stick with the mixer tap? Thanks, fellows.

[bookbinder]

https://www.idealhome.co.uk/house-manual/money-matters/how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-a-shower#:~:text=Following%20our%20calculations%20based%20on%20a%2010-minute%20shower%2C,irrespective%20of%20what%20kind%20of%20shower%20you%20use.

The figures really are there, in the article, but you have to read very carefully to get them.

[barry1010]

Is it a combi boiler?

[thecatsays]

Yes, it's a Vaillant combi. Doesn't look ancient, haven't had chance to find the model number but looks decent.

[barry1010]

As bookbinder has said, it will be a lot cheaper than an electric shower.   

[davebro3]

I (mistakenly) thought you couldn't run a shower with a combi boiler. From Barry's link it looks like a gas shower costs about 1/2 as much per shower as an electric one - so if the present set up works OK it wouldn't seem sensible to go to the expense of changing it.

[davebro3]

bookbinder's link

[barry1010]

You were partly right, davebro.  You can't have a power shower with a combi boiler.

[The Builder]

It's not quite that simple, Barry.

Most combis have a 'pre-heat' option for the 'hot water' side. If that's 'off', then when you open the shower valve, the boiler fires up. The boiler then has to heat the water in the exchanger up to temperature from stone cold.

This means you're burning gas all this time, plus you have a relatively long 'run-off' time until you get up to temp.

With the pre-heat on, it's almost immediate. But, the system will periodically fire up to maintain the temp. Also burning gas.

With electric, you only heat the water you use.

As for relative cost, it'll depend on how many showers you have.

Not much help I know, but there are many variables. 🤔

[thecatsays]

Thank you so much for the input chaps, the mixer-tap-type set-up can stay and a job less replacing something that doesn't need replacing. I rejoice, and I salute you all *salutes*