What are the disadvantages of electric heating?
The disadvantages of electric heating encompass slower heating times and higher energy bills over time.
For instance, an electric furnace can take a significant amount of time to power the included heating element and adequately warm the air within a home. So you could be waiting a while for the heat to kick in and enable you to enjoy comfortably warm temperatures.
On the latter point, electrical running costs are generally more expensive than gas. So, even if the initial outlay for electric radiators or alternate heating options is cheaper, they can eventually set you back more in the long run.
To gain a more detailed insight, explore our blog, What Are The Running Costs Of Electric Radiators?
Our last article talked in detail about how electric heating is the future of heating. Following on from that, here is our quick guide to the pros and cons of electric heating. It aims to help you decide between heating your home using electricity, gas, oil, or other methods.
Electric heating advantages
Complete efficiency
The efficiency of all modern electric heating is excellent, with almost 100 per cent of electrical energy converted to heat. If your home has good insulation installed, then electric heating using modern electric heaters can be one of the most efficient ways to heat your property.
Environmentally friendly
Electric heating has zero carbon dioxide emissions, unlike other methods. And modern electric radiators come with a range of energy-saving features that help to curb your energy usage and cut down your heating bills, keeping you warm while preventing wasted energy.
Ease of use
Modern electric heating solutions feature smart heating controls so they can be controlled remotely using smartphones and tablets. This allows you to manage your heating output more efficiently and trim your energy bills as a result. You can control the heat for individual rooms, while you are asleep and even while you are on holiday.
Automation
Modern electronic controls on electric radiators allow you to set a thermostat so that the heater switches off when it has reached a set temperature. These smart electric heaters will automatically calculate how much heat it stores overnight, based on room temperature, previous usage and changes in daily weather patterns.
Related articles:Home Appliances
And some electric heaters can even detect if there is a window open in the room and adjust the temperature output accordingly.
No maintenance
With very few moving parts and no connected boiler, electric radiators need very little maintenance and don’t need to be serviced annually, saving you money and hassle.
Simple, low-cost installation
Electric heating offers fantastic flexibility. Electric radiators and storage heaters can be installed in small or challenging locations. They are also ideal for extensions, loft conversions, and conservatories when you need to heat a single room and reduce costs by avoiding unnecessary expensive pipework and wiring.
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 decor.
UK government grants
People who receive a government benefit like Universal Credit, Disability Living Allowance, or Child Tax Credits are eligible for a UK Government grant towards their electric heating. Storage heater grants are available to pay for the replacement of inefficient or faulty storage heaters. Brand new units are fitted that can be up to 30% more efficient, delivering big savings on your electricity bills.
Electric heating disadvantages
Evolving technology
Electric heating technology advances quickly, which means some systems can become outdated quickly. For example, storage heaters manufactured before 2017 are less efficient as ultra-modern solutions, thanks to relatively recent advances in technology.
Purchase costs
The cost of purchasing an electric heating system can be more expensive than other methods like a gas boiler. However, storage heaters, electric radiators, and towel rails have fewer moving parts than gas and oil boilers and so are cheaper to maintain and are more likely to last longer.
Installation of electric-powered air source heat pumps
Air source heat pumps fall under the category of electric heating, and they are typically more expensive to install than gas and oil heat sources. However, as this technology evolves and becomes more commonplace, the cost of installing air source heat pumps, solar panels and heat storage systems is expected to fall over time.
Older storage heaters
Older storage heaters can be very inefficient, sometimes providing more heat than is required for the room. This excess energy is effectively wasted. However, storage heaters have been transformed from what they used to be into something much more efficient and cost-effective for any home.
Comments