Inside: Is It Time To Trade Gas For Electricity? Collaborative post.
Gas is still heavily used in many UK homes. It’s used for heating, for cooking and in some cases even appliances like tumble dryers.
However, electric homes are becoming more popular – while electricity is already used for lighting and most appliances, a growing number of modern homes are being built solely with electric heating.
Electric ovens are also on the rise. Is moving from gas to electricity a good idea? This post takes a look at some of the pros and cons.
The phasing out of gas
Perhaps the biggest incentive to switch to electricity is the fact that the UK government is already in the process of phasing out gas. No new gas boilers will be installed in homes after 2025. Plans are already in place to phase out gas ovens beyond this. In other words, the homes of the future will all be electric by law – whether you want to move to electricity or not.
This is largely because gas is less environmental than electric. Whereas electricity can be harvested through sustainable means like wind power and solar power, gas cannot.
Existing gas appliances will not be affected and you can still buy new gas boilers or gas ovens in 2024. In other words, you could install a new gas boiler now if you wanted to and it would probably last until 2040. However, if you leave it until next year to replace your boiler, you may have no choice but to go electric.
Cheaper installation and maintenance
Electric boilers and ovens are cheaper to install than their gas counterparts. They’re also generally cheaper to maintain – an electric hot water cylinder doesn’t need to be serviced every year like a gas boiler.
This could be something to consider when looking into a new boiler or oven on a budget. Of course, there are many different models and pricing can vary depending on performance.
A safer option
Gas is generally more dangerous than electricity. Gas leaks can potentially lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Because gas uses open flames, there is also a greater fire risk with gas appliances.
By moving to electric heating and cooking, you could make your home safer. There are still dangers with electric heating and cooking of course, but the risk is much lower.
The cons of electricity
Electric heating and electric ovens can be twice expensive to run. This means that while you could save money on installation and maintenance, you could have to deal with higher energy bills. Fortunately, technology is making these appliances much more energy-efficient. However, they still have a way to go.
Electric heatings and electric ovens also take longer to heat up. Gas provides much more immediate heat, which can make it more attractive for some people.
Many of us will eventually have no choice but to switch gas for electricity. Right now, electric heating and cooking is more expensive to run and slower to heat up. But it is cheaper to install and maintain, and a much safer option, as well as being better for the planet.