Heating installation timeframe
Are you thinking about electric heating for some day in the future?
Please use this timeline to get an idea of how long it may take to switch from a gas, oil or solid fuel heating system to electric.
Some past customers have unfortunately been unaware of the timeframes involved in making this infrastructural upgrade to their property, so we wanted to let you know well ahead of time.
Are you planning to switch to electric heating imminently?
Please feel free to check the timeline below.
However at the moment, please be aware actual timeframes from quote to install are taking around 30% longer than normal due to internal and third party resourcing difficulties. In worst cases, where your property requires a supply cable upgrade, the whole process may take around eighteen months.
We recommend that you get in touch with us well ahead of your proposed installation date so that we can get the necessary additional load application process underway.
Upgrading to an electric heating system is an investment in your property and can't be done overnight. Here we have provided some important guidance on the installation timeframe other customers have found helpful.
Don’t wait for your boiler to break midwinter to make the change.
Spring and Summer are the best time to make the switch. As with a house extension or roof replacement, it takes time but is worthwhile.
Frequently asked questions about electric heating
A new electric heating system is a big investment in your property and we hope to answer some of your questions here.
A supply line cable is the underground cable that specifically connects your property to the wider electricity network.
This is how you receive all the electricity you use to power everything electrical in your property - WiFi, washing machines, games consoles, ovens, TVs- and if your supply line cable is "old", it may need upgrading to power your future.
Some of the island's cables were installed many years ago when properties were far less reliant on electricity to power their lives. This means that some supply line cables do not have sufficient capacity (are not "big enough") to power homes that wish to add new electrical appliances to their properties that consume a lot of electricity.
For example, a washing machine may consume 1.3kW of power per hour. Comparatively, a fast electric car charging unit may consume 7kW, a hot tub 7.5kW, and a heating system 23kW*. These appliances demand far more from your supply line cable than it was originally designed for if it has not recently been upgraded.
How can I reduce my demand on the cable?
- Energy efficient appliances which need less electricity to do the same job
- Insulating your property will reduce the amount of heat your heating system needs to replace
- Consider an electric air source heat pump
*these power consumptions are estimates only may vary
The actual boiler itself is fairly simple to install and you can often keep the same pipes, radiators and controls as your current system.
However connecting your boiler up to the underground electricity network will take some time and you may need a new supply line cable installed to connect your property with the main cable supply in the road.
Important: Please discuss this important part of the installation process with your heating installer.
Electric boilers, radiators and underfloor heating - Superheat 24 hour tariff.
This tariff was designed exclusively for electric heating and runs at a low-rate 24 hours a day.
Electric heating appliances connected to Superheat must be wired on a separate circuit and connected to a separate distribution board.
Storage heaters - Super Economy 12 tariff.
This refers to 12 hours out of 24 when you can run your heating using low-rate electricity. This is made up of 2 hours during the day and 10 hours at night. Storage heaters work by storing heat generated using low-rate electricity overnight and releasing that heat during the day.
Water heating and towel rails - these are usually on a Super Economy 12 tariff.
It’s essential that you use a timer to ensure you’re only heating hot water during your low-rate Super Economy 12 times.
The best time to heat water is between 11pm and 5am as this takes advantage of both low-rate electricity and uses 100% renewable energy. At night we do not use as much electricity meaning the power station is not required to top up our imported electricity to meet customer demand.
Air source heat pumps - Heat pump tariff.
This is available for a permanently connected heat pump system and all elements of the system including pumps and controls will use this same tariff.
Air source heat pumps using the heat pump tariff must be wired on a separate circuit and connected to a separate distribution board/consumer unit.
No - unless you are replacing an existing electric heating system. However, your preferred installer will always do their best to provide a solution in an emergency.
Switching to an electric system is a positive development for your property and similar to other property improvements such as extensions and roof renovations, it will take time to complete.
Lead times will vary depending on workload and availability, and it is worth preparing for your switch to electric heating well in advance. Please be aware that your property may need a supply line cable upgrade which will add to the timeframe.
We also recommend switching during the spring and summer months when possible so the work can be carried out when you do not need to use the heating. Depending on the work required, it may take several weeks from start to finish.
We recommend checking current prices and tariffs online first.
Heating systems replace the volume of heat lost from your property, which means property insulation is the most effective way to reduce the running costs of any heating system.
Electric Boilers and Underfloor Heating
These run on the Superheat Tariff. An electric boiler will cost the average customer in Guernsey roughly 30% less to run than a gas boiler.
Oil is one of the cheapest commodities and although oil heating systems may initially have a lower running cost when new at around 91% efficiency, over time the cost to run your oil heating will increase as the efficiency decreases.
Some customers have replaced oil boilers working at less than 70% efficiency, meaning over 30% of their bill was used to pay for waste greenhouse gas emissions rather than valuable heat for their home.
Air Source Heat Pumps
This is the least expensive way to heat a property.
Unlike other heating systems, air source heat pumps provide three times as much energy as is put in. This means that for every £1 spent on electricity to run the heat pump, you could generate £3 worth of heat for your property.
Electric heat pumps are much cheaper to run than traditional electric, gas or oil heating systems and run on the Heat Pump Tariff.
Storage Heaters
These systems run overnight on a customer's off-peak Super Economy 12 Tariff and are the most cost-effective way to run a traditional electric heating system.