There are plenty of reasons you’d need to hire a boiler – pre-planned or otherwise.
Whether you’re an events company requiring extra capacity, a school that’s had a last-minute boiler breakdown, or a business owner waiting for a new boiler to be installed, boiler hire can save the day in a range of situations.
Even in pre-planned scenarios, such as your regular boiler undergoing routine maintenance and repairs, renting a boiler hire minimises the disruption caused by not having a boiler, especially in the winter months.
But if you plan on hiring a boiler, should you opt for gas boiler hire or electric boiler hire? There are pros and cons to both. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve put together a guide to gas boiler hire vs electric boiler hire. Let’s get into it.
Gas Boiler Hire: What You Need to Know
A gas boiler burns natural gas in order to create heat, and it’s one of the most common types of boilers worldwide. If you’re hiring an emergency boiler in the case of boiler breakdown, renting the type of boiler that you already had in place seems like the most obvious option.
But if you’re renting a boiler in a pre-planned scenario and there’s no boiler currently in place (for an event, for example), you might have the option for either gas or electric. Here are the key differences between the two choices.
Pros of Gas Boiler Hire
- Cheaper than electric boiler hire. While this isn’t the case for every provider or every type of gas boiler, gas boilers, on the whole, tend to be much more affordable than their electric counterparts. If budget is your key concern, gas boiler hire seems like the obvious solution for keeping costs to a minimum.
- Can meet higher demands. While, again, this isn’t always the case, gas can sometimes do a better job of meeting the needs of spaces with a high heating demand, such as schools, hospitals, or companies running large-scale events. If in doubt, seek advice from your boiler hire company of choice who’ll be able to advise you on the boiler capacity needed for your requirements.
- Wider range. In general, there tend to be more gas boilers on the market, which can give you more types and models to choose from in the case of boiler purchase or hire.
- Can be a simple, quick job. If a gas boiler has broken down, replacing it with a like-for-like option is a simple job when performed by an expert engineer. If you already have a gas boiler in place, it’s more straightforward to hire an emergency gas boiler than to switch to an electric hire boiler.
Cons of Gas Boiler Hire
- Environmental impact. It’s no secret that burning fossil fuels isn’t exactly eco-friendly. Gas is a fossil fuel, and burning it is less sustainable than using an electric alternative.
- Larger size. Gas boilers tend to be larger than the electric alternative, so if you’re hiring a boiler to fit into a tiny space, you might find it more difficult to opt for a gas model.
Electric Boiler Hire: What You Need to Know
Pros of Electric Boiler Hire
- Eco-friendly. Unlike gas boiler, electric boiler (as the name suggests) run off electricity, which doesn’t necessitate the burning of fossil fuels. This makes electric boilers the more eco-friendly choice, which is worth considering if sustainability is important to you.
- Flexible installation. If there’s no boiler already in place where the rented boiler will go, electric boilers can be a more flexible option since the installation option for this type of boiler doesn’t require a boiler flue pipe.
- More compact. If you’re working with a small space for your boiler hire, electric boilers can be smaller, and, therefore able to squeeze in compact homes.
- No carbon monoxide leak risk. Electric boilers don’t use carbon monoxide, so there’s no risk of a carbon monoxide leak which can be seriously detrimental to health.
Cons of Electric Boiler Hire
- Higher cost. Electric boilers are more expensive to buy and can be more expensive to rent. By working with a reputable boiler hire company, you’re less likely to be ripped off, and more likely to be charged a reasonable price.
- Environmental impact. While electric boilers don’t have the same obvious carbon footprint as their gas counterparts, plenty of electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels, which still has an environmental impact. Opting for renewable energy is, without a doubt, the most sustainable option.
At Rapid Boiler Hire, we offer access to both gas and electric boilers, so you can choose whichever one works for your home or business premises. While electric boilers offer eco-kudos, gas boilers can be more cost-effective. Balance the pros and cons of each until you find the one that’s right for you.
Duel fuel boilers can provide a happy medium, with the ability to be powered by both gas and electricity, so consider duel fuel if you like the option for both.
If in doubt, chat with our expert tea, who will be able to advise you on the best type for your needs.