Electric heating refers to any home heating system that utilises electricity as its primary energy source. It encompasses numerous forms of heating, but for most people, it refers to storage heaters, electric boilers, or underfloor heating.
It would not typically be used to characterise heat pumps, which do not directly use electricity for heating.
Due to energy sources like wind and solar power being connected to the electricity grid, electricity becomes more carbon-efficient heating.
In the future, we anticipate that carbon emissions from electricity will continue to decline and that electricity will become a source of energy and heat with extremely low carbon emissions. Even though electricity emits less carbon, it remains more expensive than petrol and other fossil fuels.
Recent housing condition surveys estimate that approximately 7% of English households, 5% of Welsh households, and 11% of Scottish households heat their homes with electricity. An estimated 8 per cent of residences in Northern Ireland use electric heating.
Electric heating is more prevalent in apartments, rented homes, and homes without a gas main connection.
What advantages does electric heating have?
- Low installation costs and minimal maintenance requirements.
- Electric heating does not require a ‘wet’ central heating system to deliver heat except for electric furnaces.
- It can be utilised flexibly to heat one room at a time, if necessary, or to supplement other heating systems.
Install expenses for electric heating
- Storage heaters cost between £750 and £1000 per room
- Electric panel heaters cost £300 to £500 per space
The maintenance of electric heating systems typically requires little upkeep. Panel and storage heaters can be periodically inspected for safety; every five years is a decent rule of thumb.
Various forms of electric heating
There are a variety of electric heating systems and appliances available. Using them effectively could save you money on your heating bill.
The most common variety of electric heating is electric storage heaters. They are intended to be coupled with electricity tariffs that provide electricity at discounted rates during certain hours of the day. This typically occurs overnight, which is why they are known as “night storage heaters.”
However, electric storage heaters can heat your residence at any time. Other types of electric heating include:
- Electric storage heaters
- Electric storage heaters are the most prevalent form of electric heating
- Electric direct radiators
- Electric flooring heating
How does an storage electric heater work?
Electric storage warmers generate heat using electricity. This heat is retained within the heater’s core, typically composed of dense clay blocks.
In older storage heaters, this is controlled by input and output dials. The input controls the electricity; the higher it is set, the more electricity it will consume, and the more the heater will warm the room at night. The output dial regulates the rate at which the heater emits heat; the higher it is turned, the faster it emits heat. The heater could run out of heat before the end of the day if the output is too high.
Some storage heaters also include convection heaters. These typically appear as a grill on the unit’s top. These are intended to provide a ‘boost’ to your heating system if you run out of conserved heat. Try to rely on them sparingly, as for most people, it is cheaper to use overnight-purchased, stored energy.
A boiler which uses electricity to heat water and circulates it through radiators or underfloor heating ducts is electric. Typically, these systems include a large hot water cylinder to store heat and are coupled with special electric metres that offer cheaper electricity units at specific times of the day.
Other forms of electric heating (excluding heat exchangers) are typically called ‘direct’ acting electric heating. This pertains to:
- Heated panels
- Infrared heat lamps
- Electric wall-mounted radiators
Secondary Heating for electric heaters
‘Secondary heating’ refers to the intermittent use of electric radiators to supplement the primary heating system. Secondary heating encompasses portable electric heaters, oil-filled heaters, electric towel rails, and non-electric heaters, such as fixed gas fireplaces.
Secondary heating is typically more expensive than the primary heating system, but it can be beneficial if you only need to heat one room briefly.
Underfloor heating: Underfloor heating (UFH) can be ‘moist’ or electric. Wet underfloor heating circulates heated water through pipelines installed beneath the floor. This heated water is produced by either a boiler or a heat pump.
Electric underfloor heating: Electric underfloor heating involves installing a series of electric conductors beneath or within the flooring. It is typically used in restrooms and shower rooms for occasional use, but it can be used anywhere in a home.
Get in touch today to see if you’re eligible for electric heating.
To conclude
In recent years, electric heating has experienced a resurgence in the United Kingdom as an efficient and environmentally friendly method of domestic heating. With rising energy costs and societal pressure to reduce carbon emissions, electric options such as heat pumps are becoming increasingly attractive. Despite the steep initial installation costs, heat pumps can provide long-term savings compared to gas boilers.
Government incentives have also reduced the cost of heat pumps. Electric heating systems such as heat pumps will likely play a crucial role in decarbonizing the nation’s building stock as the United Kingdom strives to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
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