Electric heating for outbuildings

As more and more people expand their living space beyond their main home, outbuildings like garden rooms, sheds, garages, and workshops are becoming increasingly popular. However, keeping these spaces warm during the colder months can be a challenge.

If your outbuilding, whether it’s a simple shed or a luxurious garden room with a bar and pool table, has electricity then it can have heating. Electric heating is the ideal choice for garden rooms, studios, offices, workshops, garages, lean-tos, and any kind of outbuilding where other means of heat like gas are not possible or affordable.

Electric heating is an effective and efficient way to keep outbuildings warm during the colder months. In this article on electric heating for outbuildings, we’ll discuss the challenges of heating outbuildings and the benefits of using electric heating, including the ability to control the temperature, low installation costs, and reduced maintenance.

Challenges of heating outbuildings

Heating an outbuilding is problematic as they usually have:

• No insulation
• Thin walls
• No double glazing
• Locations that are more exposed and not protected by other larger buildings
• A single story that lets heat escape
  • No connection to mains gas or water

Outbuildings are quite often in use all year round, which makes heating essential. The solution is often a portable electric or oil heater, which can be expensive and sometimes even a fire hazard. It’s also easy to spend too much money if doors or windows are left open while those kinds of heaters are switched on.

Benefits of electric heating for your outbuilding

Simple and cheap installation

An electric radiator can be installed nearly anywhere, including small or challenging locations, offering fantastic flexibility. They are easy to install into outbuildings that have existing wiring, with simple wiring and no pipes. Contact an electrician if you don’t already have electricity in your outbuilding.

Excellent safety standards

All modern electric radiators come fitted with the following safety features as standard:

• Temperature limiter: To switch the radiator off if the temperature exceeds a set limit to prevent overheating
• Enclosed heating elements: Ensuring safe and clean heating that won’t damage walls or cause fires
• Accreditation badges: Demonstrating that the radiator meets standard safety criteria by law
• IP rating: Measuring the radiator’s protection against liquids like water
• Warranty: Look for at least ten years

Flexible, space-saving dimensions

Electric radiators come in all shapes and sizes, including slimline horizontal sizes and long narrow vertical designs to suit your space. You’ll find an electric heater to fit any room in your house on nearly any surface.

Range of power outputs

You’ll find most modern electric radiators come in a range of power outputs, so you can select the ideal wattage to suit your outbuilding. Smaller spaces like sheds will require a low wattage like 750W, and larger outbuildings like garden rooms or garages would benefit from more wattage like 1500W – 1800W. Extra large outbuildings may need two electric radiators, especially if they have been split into multiple rooms.

Use our wattage calculator, and we’ll work out the wattage you need.

Cost-effective

Not only can electric radiators be installed at low cost (or even free if you can do it yourself), but they also are not too expensive to purchase. Especially when compared to other sources of heating. And thanks to the range of different power outputs available, as we mentioned above, you can choose the wattage that suits your outbuilding and reduce your energy costs by never using more than you need.

A good electric radiator will start from as little as £175.

Energy efficient

The cost of running electric heating in your outbuilding will vary depending on how you use it and the wattage. Modern electric radiators come with a range of energy-saving features that help to curb your energy usage and cut down your heating bills. Some include an energy monitor so you can understand and keep track of your energy usage in real-time, identifying areas where you could make a saving.

Your electric radiator will cost less if you can insulate your outbuilding, keep windows and doors closed with a tight seal, and only switch it on when you need it. However, the efficiency of all modern electric heating is excellent, with almost 100 per cent of electrical energy converted to heat.

Attractive designs

Electric heating design has evolved in recent years to bring you, as a consumer, a great choice of stylish electric radiators and controllers. From traditional to contemporary styles, there’s something for every taste and every outbuilding.

Silent running

You’ll find that electric radiators are virtually silent, making very little noise, even when running at full output. Perfect if you need your outbuilding to be a quiet and peaceful place for you and others to relax in.

Smart controls

Most modern electric radiators can be controlled remotely or controlled using a timer on the heater itself. You will have complete control of when the electric heater in your outbuilding switches on and off and what temperature it’s set to.

Some electric heaters have built-in intelligence that automatically calculates how much heat it stores overnight based on room temperature, previous usage and changes in daily weather patterns. And some electric radiators can even detect if there is a window open in the room.

No maintenance

An electric radiator has no moving parts and does not require yearly servicing, saving you money and hassle while enjoying a consistent and reliable heat source for many years.

Keeping heating costs low in your outbuilding

Here are our top tips on keeping heating costs low in your outbuilding:

• Install some sort of insulation in your outbuilding
• Choose a modern electric heater and avoid budget models that don’t have smart controls built in
• Select the correct wattage (use our wattage calculator, and we’ll work out what you need)
• Install your electric radiator in the correct position, ideally below a window and away from the door, to avoid heat loss and increase the flow of hot air around your outbuilding
• Keep doors and windows closed in colder weather

Choose the perfect electric heater for your outbuilding

Whether you’re looking to create a comfortable workspace, a cosy retreat, or simply a place to store your tools and equipment without fear of freezing, electric heating could be the solution you’re looking for.

Here is just a selection of what we think are the perfect electric radiators for outbuildings. The exact shape, dimensions, and wattage will depend on your particular requirements and type of outbuilding. If you are in any doubt about what might be right for you, contact our friendly team for a no-obligation chat today.