Is the EHC Slim Jim 12KW a standard, combi or system boiler?

If you are searching for a electric Flow boiler for your house or flat, the EHC Slim Jim 12KW is certainly one to consider.

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.

Would the EHC Slim Jim 12KW electric Flow boiler be suitable for my house or flat?

Selecting the right boiler for your property means selecting a boiler that is the right "size". And, by size, we don't mean how big it is, we mean how powerful it is - its "output".

The output rate tells you how much energy your boiler has to use to provide you and your family with hot water and central heating. A higher output rate means that it can heat greater volumes of water.

Please be aware, though - if you choose a boiler whose output is too low, the water in your radiators and coming from your taps may not be warm enough. Conversely, if you choose a boiler with too high an output, you'll pay more for electric than is necessary.

The EHC Slim Jim 12KW electric Flow boiler has an output level of 12 kW, so which types of property would it be appropriate for?

A Gas Safe boiler installer would recommend that this EHC Slim Jim 12KW Electric Flow boiler would provide adequate heating and hot water for smaller homes and apartments with up to up to 10 radiators and one bathroom.

Where will the EHC Slim Jim 12KW fit in my house?

The EHC Slim Jim 12KW boiler is 912 mm high, 203 mm wide, and 172 mm deep.

Is the EHC Slim Jim 12KW condensing or non-condensing?

In every gas and oil boiler, there is a flue that carries the exhaust gases created from the burning of the fuel required to power the boiler. As there is no fuel to be burned in an electric boiler, an electric boiler like the EHC Slim Jim 12KW does not need to be adapted to be "condensing" as there are no gases to recycle. Electric boilers are naturally efficient and economic.

How energy efficient is the EHC Slim Jim 12KW electric Flow boiler?

The effects of climate change on the environment are leading many homeowners to question the damage they might be doing by the way they heat their homes.

The power we need for our central heating systems accounts for around 14% of the UK’s greenhouse gas production. There are often dangerous levels of ambient nitrogen dioxide gases in the atmospheres of British cities because of our use of gas boilers.

Will choosing a EHC Slim Jim 12KW electric Flow boiler for your home be positive for the environment? Let's examine the figures.

All boilers manufactured and supplied in the UK after April 2018 must achieve an "A" grade on the SEDBUK rating system as well as score a minimum of 92% on a separate energy efficiency test. Prior to that, the minimum was 88% - boilers rated at 88% and 89% were given a “B” rating (90% and higher were given an "A").

An energy efficiency rating describes how much energy the boiler uses and how much it wastes when in use.

The EHC Slim Jim 12KW was awarded an efficiency rating of 100% with a SEDBUK grading of "D".

The boiler is however penalised in its ERP ratings for using electricity for power.

The ERP (Energy Related Products Directive) is European legislation that aims to reduce the use of energy at all points during a product's life, from the point of manufacture to when it's in active use right through to final disposal.

The aim of the regulation is to encourage manufacturers to create products that are more environmentally friendly and which reduce the gas emissions associated with those products.

The ERP grading for the EHC Slim Jim 12KW is "D".

This is very low, especially given the advances made in electric boiler technology over the last 5 years. However, the comparison is, in our opinion, unfair because the actual operational energy efficiency of most electric boilers is either 98% or 99% - a level no oil or gas boiler has yet reached. The reason for some boilers' poor ERP scores is that the electricity they need to operate is generated by the burning of fossil fuels, which the assessors consider to be carbon-intensive.

How long is the warranty offered by the manufacturer for the EHC Slim Jim 12KW boiler?

The EHC Slim Jim 12KW boiler comes with a 2 year warranty for parts and labour.