Electric heating: Why is it so popular?

In this article, we’ll cover why electric heating could be the right choice for your home. For many homeowners, electric heating is the easiest way to heat spaces where a central heating system might not reach. After all, electricity is readily available.

A small electric panel heater on a wall below the window in a well decorated living space

Electric heating installation

Electric heating is easier and significantly cheaper to install than other heating methods like gas, oil, or biomass. There are no pipes to install, and no flooring to lift. In fact, many electric heaters can simply be plugged in – no wiring necessary. Most can be screwed onto the wall using simple brackets too, making installation a DIY job that most people will be able to do.

We provide an electric heating installation service for local customers in Dundee and the surrounding areas.

Running costs of electric heating

Electric heating has a negative reputation when it comes to running costs. If a home has good insulation installed and modern, efficient electric heaters, then electric heating can still be perfectly efficient for some homes.

Most electrically heated homes use storage heaters. Storage heaters use cheaper off-peak electricity to heat up during the night, releasing the heat into your home during the day when it’s needed.

Modern high heat retention storage heaters are better insulated, so are more able to store heat – that can be used when you need it, rather than leaking heat constantly throughout the day. Their heat output is more controllable, and fan assisted, so you can heat a room up faster or keep it cool if you’re not using it.

The efficiency of all modern electric heating is excellent, with almost 100 per cent of electrical energy converted to heat.

In a well-insulated home, the cost of heating your home with electric storage heaters on the lower Economy 7 tariff (12-7am), would cost about £600-£900 per year. Of course, this depends on a lot of different factors, including the type of home, its size, placement of the heaters and how they are used.

Choosing the right electricity tariff is just as important as choosing the right radiators for your home. Learn more about electricity tariffs in our article on running costs.

Electric heating maintenance

With very few moving parts, storage heaters need very little maintenance and don’t need to be serviced annually, saving you money and hassle. If you think your storage heaters aren’t performing to their usual standard, contact us for advice.

Intelligent thermostats

Modern electronic controls on electric heaters allow you to set a thermostat so that the heater switches off when it has reached a certain temperature. A heater with these charge controls will automatically calculate how much heat it stores overnight, based on room temperature, previous usage and changes in daily weather patterns.

Some electric heaters can even detect if there is a window open in the room.

Flexibility

You’ll find an electric heater to fit any room in your house, on nearly any surface. Electric radiators, for example, come in many shapes and sizes:

  • Horizontal: The most common shape
  • Vertical: Perfect for kitchens
  • Compact sizes: Ideal for conservatories
  • Towel rails: Typically used in bathrooms

Style

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