James Elston avatar

Written by

Last updated:

What is an Immersion Heater?

A graphic with a green gradient background. Text on the left reads "What is an Immersion Heater?" On the right, a photo of a coiled immersion heater is partially visible through a grid of square cutouts, akin to how Baxi Boiler Warranty details might be presented.

An immersion heater can be your primary water heater, for example, if your home has electric heating. Many homes have them as a backup water heaters for a central heating system. This means that if your boiler fails, you still have a way to heat your water.

If you are considering buying an immersion heater, then read on to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages and costs of this type of heater.

Hot Deals Icon

What is an immersion heater?

When it comes to producing hot water for their homes, homeowners nowadays have a variety of alternatives. Some individuals choose a good combi boiler which heats water instantly, while others prefer renewable energy sources, and just a small percentage pick immersion heaters.

An immersion heater is a type of electric water heater that is used to heat water in a container. It consists of a heating element that is immersed in the water and a thermostat to control the temperature to the desired temperature using the thermostatic controls. It can be used to heat water for domestic or industrial use.

A hot water cylinder will often contain an immersion heater. It heats the water surrounding it using an electric resistance heater, which resembles a large metal loop or coil, just like a kettle. Because immersion heaters are controlled by a wire that connects to the electrical mains, you may choose when to turn them on and off, which eliminates the need for a direct hot water tank to hold continually hot water.

The most common type of immersion heater is the storage water heater, which is used to heat water in a storage tank. It consists of a heating element that is placed in the bottom of the tank and a thermostat to control the temperature. The water is heated to the desired temperature and then stored in the tank until it is needed.

Other types of immersion heaters include boilers, heat exchangers, and solar water heaters.

How do immersion heaters work?

Immersion heaters work similarly to a kettle by heating the encasing water using an electric resistance heater, often a coil or metal loop to make hot water. They are often installed in hot water tanks, or if you invest in an unvented cylinder such as a Baxi Megaflo system, they can have them built in.

Do immersion heaters use a lot of electricity?

While immersion heaters can be very efficient, they can also use a lot of electricity. This is because they must heat the entire volume of liquid that they are in contact with. For this reason, it is important to carefully consider the electricity usage of an immersion heater before using one.

Should I leave my immersion heater on all the time?

The majority of consumers think that leaving their immersion heaters on always is more economical. This isn’t always the case, though. Your immersion heater may cost extra to run continuously depending on the kind you have. If you have an electric immersion heater, turning it on and off as needed can save you money over leaving it on all the time.

Many people leave their immersion heaters on all the time, but there are some things to consider before doing this. For one, it will increase your energy bill. Additionally, if you’re not home to monitor the heater, there is a risk of it causing a fire. As such, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether or not to leave your immersion heater on every time.

The bottom line is that you should do what is best for your individual situation. If you are constantly using hot water, it may be more cost-effective to leave your immersion heater on all the time. However, if you only use hot water occasionally, it is better to turn your immersion heater on when you need it.

Is it cheaper to heat water with an immersion heater?

An immersion heater costs vary depending on the heating of water which may be a large amount to your energy bills. As such, many people are keen to know whether there are ways to reduce the cost of this household expense.

One method of heating water is with an immersion heater. These devices are placed directly into the water, and they work by heating the water around them. But is this method of creating hot water cheaper than other methods?

Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to this question. The cost of heating water with an immersion heater will vary depending on a number of factors, such as the price of electricity, the size of the heater, and the amount of water that needs to be heated. However, in general, immersion heaters are more efficient than other methods of water heating, such as boilers, and they can thus help to reduce energy bills.

Hot Deals Icon

Do immersion heaters use a lot of electricity?

Immersion heaters are a type of heating element that is used in many industrial and commercial applications. They are often used to heat liquids, but can also be used to heat air or other materials. One of the benefits of using an immersion heater is that they can be very efficient, using less electricity than other types of heaters.

However, because they use less electricity, they may not be as effective in heating a large space. For this reason, they are often used in smaller areas, or in areas where the air needs to be heated very quickly. If you are considering using an immersion heater in your business, it is important to weigh the pros and cons to decide if it is the right choice for you.

Is it cheaper to use a boiler or an immersion heater?

There is no simple answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, such as the type and size of your property, the amount of hot water you use, and the cost of energy in your area. However, in general, boilers tend to be more expensive to operate than immersion heaters.

If you’re trying to decide which type of heater to use in your home, it’s important to compare the upfront costs, running costs, and any potential savings you could make. For example, boilers often come with special features that can help you save money on your energy bills, such as more efficient heat exchangers and controls that help regulate the temperature of your home.

Hot Deals Icon

How long would the water stay hot in the immersion heater?

Since water heaters are immersion, it means that the heating element is placed directly into the water. This allows the water to heat up quickly. However, once the heating element is removed, the water will start to cool down. The amount of time the water will stay hot will depend on a few factors, such as the size of the tank, the insulation, and the ambient temperature. In general, the water will stay hot for a few hours.

An immersion heater is used by who?

Most people use boilers to heat their hot water. This might be a traditional boiler that has a hot water tank or a combi boiler that heats both your water supply and home. Particularly if their boiler is more than ten years old and isn’t as dependable, some individuals might decide to add immersion heaters as a backup water heater.

The primary source of hot water might also be immersion heaters. This only often occurs in homes that aren’t linked to the primary gas supply, though.

Why replace an immersion heater with a boiler?

Nowadays, combi boilers and gas boilers, which are far more practical and efficient, have virtually replaced immersion heaters. These are comparable in that they give hot water to buildings and heat homes by delivering hot water to radiators.

Without thermostatic control, they might be costly. Unfortunately, many owners of immersion heaters try to avoid this issue by constantly leaving it on for several hours so they always have hot water available. This results in a significant loss of power, which is also one of the most costly methods of heating water.

Putting up a boiler to provide hot water

Your central heating boiler and the immersion water heater are different devices. Running a boiler is more cost-effective than using an immersion heater every day if you have access to a gas pipe. Your property, the number of installed radiators, and the amount of hot water you need will determine the type of boiler you need.

Even if you have an older boiler with a less efficient separate hot water cylinder, switching to a more efficient combi boiler is still preferable to utilising an electric immersion heater. A combi boiler will heat your home and deliver hot water, saving you money over time. Furthermore, it will occupy less space than a conventional boiler, and you may always add an immersion heater as a backup.

At Green Central, we offer a variety of new boilers from Worcester Bosch and Viessmann, two industry leaders. With options for homes of various sizes, these two companies provide some of the greatest boilers on the market.

Hot Deals Icon
James Elston avatar

Written by

Read some of our superb solar panel installation reviews from Trustpilot

Recently had solar panels fitted by Green Central and I can’t speak highly enough of the team. The whole experience has been trouble free and I would recommend them to anyone thinking about having solar panels installed – 10/10!

Rob Schofield

trustpilot-stars

Our installation is now complete! 8 solar panels fitted and the journey from initial consultation through to the end product has been seamless.
Hats off Green central, Credit where it’s due.
Will definitely spread the word!

Sam

trustpilot-stars

Recently had six solar panels fitted on my house by Green Central and I couldn’t have asked for a better service. In particular, I have to highlight the exceptional communications through out, the over all smooth running process and completely stress free experience, all down to Green Central. I now have grid independence which is valuable beyond estimation.

Ash

trustpilot-stars
Name *
Email *
Phone No. *
Post Code *