Heating your office efficiently

Being productive in your office means being comfortable. And to be a comfortable environment, your office must be warm and draft-free.

Electric heating is the most common heating solution for commercial office environments, with its easy installation, predictable costs, noise-free operation, and easy control. 

Electric radiators are also a quick, simple and low-cost way to turn any space in your house or garden into a comfortable, permanent working space. And with many of us adapting loft spaces, garages, sheds, spare rooms, and even creating garden offices during the coronavirus pandemic, electric heating is the perfect solution for this winter and 2021.

Homeworking has become a way of life for almost half of British workers, and it looks set to stay like this post-pandemic too.

But with so many varying factors, choosing a new electric heating system for any office is never a one-size-fits-all approach. You must consider the size, heat loss, and hours of use, among other factors.

So there are several fundamental things to consider when selecting the most appropriate office heaters. In this article, we’ll take a look at each of the factors you’ll need to consider when updating or investing in new electric heating for your office space.

Impact of heat and cold on office productivity

Inefficiently heated offices have been linked with reduced productivity. And the approaching colder weather often leaves employers and employees alike on the hunt for an easy but effective heating solution.

A room that’s too hot will also affect productivity. So it’s important to ensure that you can easily adjust the output of heaters both individually and as a system. Plus, offices that are using too much heat are also running up energy bills and costs for your business.

Sizing

In a smaller space, you can use a simple, modern electric heater like the Dimplex PLX panel heater. 

For an open-plan office, requiring a greater air circulation, you’ll need powerful electric wall heaters like the Haverland RCTT. This is a gel-filled radiator that gives you total control of heating requirements in commercial buildings. It gives you individual radiator control for each room or zone.

If wall space is at a premium, small but powerful panel radiators can be installed on pillars.

Positioning around the office

The next thing you’ll need to consider is where you would like the heater to be located; above a door, recessed in the ceiling, recessed in a wall or at floor level. Electric heating offers you many options.

For example, the Dimplex Saletto low profile panel heater is ideal for where wall space is at a premium or where heating needs to be out-of-sight. It also works well below large windows.

For a home office in a conservatory or loft conversion, consider the RCBL radiator which is designed for low–level walls and features a built-in energy monitor. It also includes four pre-programmed heating schedules as well as an option to create a bespoke schedule so you can set it once and focus on your work.

Heat output

The fantastic thing about electric heaters is that they provide on-demand heat. Arriving at the office or the home working space doesn’t mean keeping coats on until the room warms up. Electric radiators provide instant heat and warm up all but the largest rooms fast. They can then maintain the ideal temperature very efficiently.

Office hours of your business

Electric heating is the ideal solution for during working hours. They offer flexible 24/7 programming day-by-day or hour-by-hour to suit your work schedule down to the minute. This can be done manually or via an app.

A quality electric radiator will include an adaptive start function. This function ensures your office will be at the temperature you want it to be when you start work.  

A built-in energy monitor keeps track of your energy use (useful if you are recharging your working from home costs back to your employer) and a highly accurate thermostat for precise control, so you’ll never overpay.

Installation

Because there is no pipework or a centralised system to deal with, the initial installation of electric radiators is fast and inexpensive. And it doesn’t always require a specialist installer, saving your business even more money. You can install most wall-mounted electric heaters yourself; perfect for a cheap, temporary home office solution.

Purchase costs and features

Electric heaters provide excellent value for money, especially for smaller businesses or for individuals working from a temporary home office.

At the lower end of the range, budget electric panel heaters provide heat at a reasonable cost for small rooms without requiring much in terms of up-front cost. With a slimline, contemporary design, and plug-in-and-go installation, they provide a perfect budget solution.

For a high–tech smart home office, the Haverland ULTRAD will fit the bill. It can be voice-activated via Amazon Echo devices and remotely controlled via an app, using the Haverland Smartbox.

For large businesses, there are many fantastic electric heating options. We help businesses to select and install an electric heating system they can easily control and afford. Recently we have also helped individuals to heat their home office spaces. Naturally, purchase costs vary depending on the size of the space.

Maintenance

Electric radiators are extremely durable, lasting anywhere from 15 to 25 years, depending on the model and how it is used. Maintenance costs will be very low, especially in the first ten years or so of the life of the radiator. This is mainly because there are no moving parts.

Look for radiators with at least a three-year guarantee but some offer up to ten years.

Running costs

Good quality electric radiators also come with a host of added built-in energy management technology and features for maximum precision and optimal energy consumption. You will save money and be in total control of your heating. 

Choose an electric radiator that includes an open window detection feature. This clever feature senses when a window is open and shuts down temporarily, restarting again when the room temperature rises. If you need some fresh air to wake you up from that 4pm energy slump, you won’t be wasting money. 

The exact running costs for your office electric heating will depend on your electricity tariff, your office hours and what temperature the heaters need to maintain overnight and at the weekend when your office is empty.

Conclusion

We hope this guide helps you find efficient, modern electric radiators and storage heaters for your office space that will give you noticeable value-for-money this winter, and for many years into the future. 

Use the links below to explore our range of electric heating solutions for offices or use our heating design enquiry form to tell us what you need for your business or home office. And you can always call our friendly team for advice about any electric heating on 01382 566942 (Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm).