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Where to get an electric boiler for just 3 taps and a shower?

  • 04-11-2025 10:51AM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7


    Hey everyone, so I'm building a cabin atm, and we don't want to have oil or gas. We'd love a simple electric boiler for just a shower and 3 taps. We have no rads or heating at all. Our aim is to have solar asap as well and basically just have to deal with one bill rather than having Oil or gas as well.

    Could anyone recommend a boiler to get (model, KW size, etc.)? And where to get one? We've tried Cork Builder Providers and they sold us an Amptec but it isn't suitable as it doesn't use potable water. Sorry if I'm not providing enough information, I'm totally new to this!

    For extra context, there's only 2 of us in the house, and as I said with no rads.

    Any advice on electric boilers would be massively appreciated!



Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 16 redmug


    Not sure you need a boiler at all, could you just get a hot water tank and immersion heater? I lived in a 2 bed granny flat with this setup and it worked fine. And for heating it had electric radiators.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7 CabinBuilder


    Thanks for the advice! I'll ask my plumber about that! Might be a thick question, but do immersion heaters run the same as they did back in the day? Where we'll have to turn it on in advance of wanting to use the hot water? We'd prefer instant water.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,329 ✭✭✭Buffman


    If I was doing something small like that I'd probably look at local instant hot water options like an electric shower and instant electric taps that heat their own water.

    A small bit more electrical work but saves on all the hot water plumbing and you only pay to heat the water you use instead of a full tank/boiler.

    Some of the kitchen taps that can boil water can be pricey enough but offset that against the cost of a boiler.

    https://www.screwfix.ie/p/swirl-3-in-1-instant-boiling-water-tap-chrome/315ft

    I've a few cheaper ones like below in some sheds and outbuildings that don't boil water but work fine for washing hands etc.

    The below is a general 'signature' and not part of any post:

    FYI, if you move to a 'smart' meter electricity plan, you CAN'T move back to a non-smart plan.

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,778 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    but it isn't suitable as it doesn't use potable water

    One thing to know is that you don't install boilers, showers or taps (other than the main kitchen one) onto the incoming mains water feed, they should be fed off a cold water tank within the attic. I'd be surprised if your plumber didn't mention this. Is he local or would he normally work in other countries as that rule does differ elsewhere.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7 CabinBuilder


    We have been thinking of doing that alright! The only thing I'm worried about is the electrician destroying our walls (which are wood) to do the wiring. But it's probably worth having that chat with our spark!



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7 CabinBuilder


    Sorry, I might have said something wrong in what you're quoting there! AFAIK the set up is that we have a well, and in our shed we have an Aquabox tank storing water, and that has a pump to pump water into the house (I think). The plumber is local (from Cork) and was recommended to us by the company that built our cabin.

    So not sure if that clears anything up? Sorry, I'm totally clueless when it comes to this stuff!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,691 ✭✭✭✭Idbatterim


    I like the idea of this... Instant water tap in kitchen, saves space and don't need a kettle...

    https://sellme.ee/en/dafi-poz03132-water-heater-2290703

    You can get them up to 11 kwh



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,239 ✭✭✭Lenar3556


    How is the space heating being done, is that electric radiators too?

    There are options for electric water heating, including some with storage, but the running cost is high and unless you have considerable water storage (a large cylinder) you will have to compromise on things like flow rates.

    Gas is an often a much better option. If you look at Rinnai water heaters. This could be run from a gas cylinder and even mounted outside.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7 CabinBuilder


    We won't be having any rads at all. Maybe a couple of plugin heaters, but we'll have a wood burning stove to heat the place if needs be.

    We don't really want Gas or Oil because we don't want to have to rely on getting supplies like that in since we're very remote.

    So its literally just to heat the water for the 3 taps and the shower.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,239 ✭✭✭Lenar3556


    In that case, if you look at Atlantic water heaters. A 30 litre unit should comfortably do the three taps.

    Then a standalone electric shower like a Triton T80



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7 CabinBuilder


    Thanks for the suggestion! I'll look into it! Out of curiosity, why would we need an electric shower if we got that unit? Not enough litres in the unit or is it more technical than that?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,239 ✭✭✭Lenar3556


    Yes, a 30 litre isn’t going to run a shower. But you have options;

    If you had space to install a larger one of those Atlantic units, like a 200Litre, you could feed your taps and also run a high performance shower for up to 20 minutes, before the water heater would need to reheat, which would take about 4 hours.

    An electric shower doesn’t need storage, it heats on demand. But the water flow will be much less (approx 1/3 of the flow) than can be achieved with the above.

    I am assuming this cabin will have its own dedicated ESB supply?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7 CabinBuilder


    Thanks so much for the info! Yeah we'll have ESB. The Atlantic seems like a really solid choice! Looking at the dimensions we should be able to fit a 200 or 300 litre one relatively comfortably! I'll bring that up with the plumber, and our electrician gave us the same advice as you.

    And the electrician said he could do an electric shower, but he'd have to make **** of the walls which is the last thing we want before we're even able to move into the place we've spent our life savings on!

    Thanks again to everyone who's responded, I was seriously stressing out about this and its amazing to have all yere knowledge as a resource!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,329 ✭✭✭Buffman


    but he'd have to make **** of the walls which is the last thing we want before we're even able to move into the place we've spent our life savings on!

    So the cabin is built? The time for deciding all the utilities etc was at the design stage, all the necessary plumbing and wiring could have been done during construction and you wouldn't need to rip up anything.

    Anyway, no point in crying over spilt milk now, your options are limited now it's built and you don't want to rip it to bits again.

    What stage is it at now? Is all plumbing and wiring done already?

    The below is a general 'signature' and not part of any post:

    FYI, if you move to a 'smart' meter electricity plan, you CAN'T move back to a non-smart plan.

    You don't have to take a 'smart' meter if you don't want one, opt-out is available.

    Buy drinks in 3L or bigger plastic bottles or glass bottles or cartons to avoid the DRS fee.

    Public transport user? If you're sick of phantom ghost services on the 'official' RTI sources, check bustimes.org for actual 'real' RTI, if it's on their map it actually exists.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,239 ✭✭✭Lenar3556


    If you have the space, it should be a good solution.

    On the space requirements, there will also be an expansion vessel and some valves etc. so leave space for them.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,199 ✭✭✭Joe1919


    I have a 10 litre ariston undersink water heater feeding the kitchen and two bathroom taps also working off it. Its left on all the time. I have a directly heated shower.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,691 ✭✭✭✭Idbatterim


    People talk about flow rates . Within reason, the only thing that matters to, is a shower...



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