Reliability and running costs of the ElectraMate 2000?

I am considering buying a modern 2 bedroom flat which has an ElectraMate 2000 installed at build, approx 9 years ago. At face value the flat appears to be well insulated.

However, when I Googled this electric boiler I came up with some pretty negative results regarding reliability and running costs.

We currently live in a 15 year old relatively modern well insulated flat, and our combined gas heating and electricity bill is about £1000 p.a. The new flat as the present, would be occupied 24/7, and we prefer an ambient temperature of 23 degs C. We generally shower rather than bath. Cooking is electric. We live in an extremely soft water area.

Is the ElectraMate 2000 as unreliable and expensive to run as it appears?

Could I expect significantly higher bills than I have at the moment?

What is the general life of these systems? At what age on average would the boiler require to be replaced?

Are they expensive to repair and maintain?

If the ElectraMate 2000 is problematic can the unit be replaced with a similar sized more economical and reliable unit, using the existing pipework and radiators? If so, at what approximate cost?

Thanks

It will cost you more to run.
All electric, gas is cheaper.
Any gas in the building?
Mike

No gas and a gas flu would not be possible.

Would it be considerably more expensive?

If you have time could you answer my questions in more detail?

I am poised to buy this flat but the heating system is making me apprehensive?

Thanks

I am sorry but I have not the time or enough information.
Go back and speak to a few neighbors.
Get their opinions.
They will soon tell you.
Mike

alba01 wrote:No gas and a gas flu would not be possible.

Would it be considerably more expensive?

If you have time could you answer my questions in more detail?

I am poised to buy this flat but the heating system is making me apprehensive?

Thanks

As you have no Gas at this property, the Electramate is (for my opinion) a very economic way for heating and hot water on electric supply. You need of course economic 10 for that boiler, as they are build for economic 10 uses. Yes your bill will be higher as with Gas (I guess about 25%) as the cost of energy (electric energy per unit is of course about 8 times dearer as gas). Also check, if you compare those property’s, are the windows bigger, double glassed?, are the rooms higher (3.5m or the standard 2.5m?), are the rooms bigger?, wall insulation? All those facts have, of course, a major influence of the cost of heating.
I hope this helps Mario at Mario’s Boiler Service Hapshire

My best advice is ask the sellers of the flat for sight of their last few electricity bills.

Yes the Electramate is prone to a number of faults, all expensive to fix...

All electric heating is always bad news. Buy somewhere else gas fired, or tolerate high running and maintenance costs.

Mario is a brave man guessing your bills will be only 25% higher than you pay now!


Mike

Thanks to all for taking the time, and your helpful comments.

I am beginning to form an impression that this electric boiler system is a significant deterrent to buying this property, unless of course there is an electric boiler that could be changed over which is more reliable and efficient than the Electramate, and of course not too expensive to change.

alba01 wrote:Thanks to all for taking the time, and your helpful comments.

I am beginning to form an impression that this electric boiler system is a significant deterrent to buying this property, unless of course there is an electric boiler that could be changed over which is more reliable and efficient than the Electramate, and of course not too expensive to change.

I'm inclined to agree. There isn't a good, reliable, economical electric heating system on the market that I've ever seen. They are either over-complicated and unreliable, or simple and expensive to run!

If anyone here knows otherwise, please tell us...

Mike