Which category of boiler does the EHC Slim Jim 10KW fit into?

EHC’s Slim Jim 10KW is one you might consider if you’re looking for a electric Flow boiler for your house or flat.

Combi boilers have much to recommend them - not least the fact that they save a lot of space. Combination (or combi) boilers were introduced by manufacturers in the 1970s to provide practical central heating and hot water distribution to smaller properties - remember that UK houses and flats tend to be among the smallest in the developed world.

Traditional boilers require one or more storage tanks to keep hot water warm and to store water for heating later. In contrast, combi boilers draw water directly from the mains supply and heat it instantly, removing the need for a storage tank. The heated water is then distributed to your taps and radiators on demand.

While combi boilers are suitable choices for many properties, especially those without a loft, there is also a disadvantage in using them. Water is heated instantly and the volume of water that can be heated at any one time is limited. This can result in less water being sent to taps and showers if more than one is being used simultaneously. In these instances, the water pressure to both points will drop.

Is the EHC Slim Jim 10KW electric Flow boiler from the Slim Jim range a suitable choice for my house or flat?

To determine that, we need to consider the size of the boiler. Size doesn't mean how big it is - it means how big its "output" is.

Boiler output is measured in kilowatts and tells you how much power a boiler can use to heat the water your taps, showers and radiators need. The higher the output, the more power it has.

When choosing a boiler, you should choose one that can cope with the peak demand for hot water in your home and not just your typical usage.

If its output is too low, sometimes your hot water will not be hot enough, but if your boiler's output is too high for your needs, your electric bills will go up and not down.

The output of the EHC Slim Jim 10KW electric Flow is 10 kW, so which types of property would this EHC Slim Jim 10KW Electric Flow boiler be an appropriate choice for?

Most Gas Safe boiler installers would recommend that this EHC Slim Jim 10KW Electric Flow boiler would be suitable for smaller homes and apartments with up to 10 radiators and one bathroom.

Making space for the EHC Slim Jim 10KW

The EHC Slim Jim 10KW has the following dimensions - 912 mm high, 203 mm wide, and 172 mm deep.

EHC Slim Jim 10KW – non-condensing or condensing?

When a boiler is a "condensing" boiler, it uses the warmth present in the exhaust gases created by the burning of gas or oil to reheat cold water coming back from the radiators via a secondary heat exchange. Because electric boilers like the EHC Slim Jim 10KW don't actually burn fuel in the home, they don't require a flue or a secondary heat exchanger - they're naturally more efficient by design.

How does the EHC Slim Jim 10KW electric Flow rate environmentally?

With so many of us worried about the environmental impact of our personal choices, the relationship between how we heat our homes and climate change has become an important issue for many homeowners.

About 14% of the greenhouse gases we produce in the UK come from the power needed for central heating. In bigger British cities, gas boilers are a significant source of nitrogen dioxide emissions.

Will choosing a EHC Slim Jim 10KW electric Flow boiler for your home be positive for the environment? Let's examine the figures.

By law, all boilers manufactured and supplied in the UK achieve a SEDBUK rating of "A" and work at a minimum of 92% energy efficiency. Before April 2018, a minimum of 88% energy efficiency needed to be achieved (88/89% = SEDBUK "B" and 90% = SEDBUK "A").

Following official testing, the EHC Slim Jim 10KW was given an efficiency rating of 100% with a SEDBUK rating of "D".

Energy efficiency is a measure of how much energy is used and how much is wasted when a boiler is operating.

The boiler's poor ERP rating however reflects the fact that it runs on electricity.

In 2015, the EU introduced the Energy Related Products Directive (ERP), the aim of which was to ensure that all manufacturers, including boiler manufacturers, developed more efficient products and processes.

The legislation aims to conserve energy at all life cycle stages, from initial production to the product's actual use by the customer, through to the point of disposal.

This EHC Slim Jim 10KW Electric Flow boiler's ERP rating is "D".

How is this so given that electric boilers are nearly always more efficient than their gas and oil counterparts, with an actual operational efficiency rating around the 98% to 99% mark, in most cases? Some electric boilers receive very low ERP scores because the electricity they draw for power is often generated by burning fossil fuels. In our opinion, this is unfair on electric boilers.

What is the warranty period on a EHC Slim Jim 10KW electric Flow boiler?

The EHC Slim Jim 10KW boiler comes with a parts and labour warranty of 2 years.