Electric heating: how to get the most energy-efficient set up
Expert installation advice, along with appliance design ideas and what you can expect to pay
Whether contemplating an all-new electric heating system for your home or updating fittings you already have, you’ll get more for your investment by choosing the most energy efficient radiators, fires or infrared panels.
This type of project calls for professional installation, both for the safety of your household and to maximise the system’s performance.
Electric heating: get expert help
For anything more complex than simply plugging a radiator into an existing socket, you’ll need the skills of an electrician registered under the Competent Person Scheme, who will be able to self-certify the project’s compliance.
Find one in your area via the Local Authority Building Control.
A double layer of steel panels ensures this 1.2kW radiator heats quickly and efficiently. It’s also Wi-Fi-connected for app control. Terma Warp radiator, L1,305xH630mm, £1,199.95, Victorian Plumbing
An electrican can also perform a calculation to determine the ideal heat output of an appliance to warm the space. For a quick guide, use an online calculator, such as at The Radiator Centre.
Input details such as your room’s dimensions to get a wattage (W) that you can match to a product.
Electric heating installation
As Technical director at the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC), Paul Collins is well placed to offer guidance on setting up an electric heating:
- Before installation, ensure your electrical system can handle the load. A certified electrician can assess your supply and the circuitry needed to power new heaters. They can also perform calculations to determine the ideal size and capacity of the appliances.
- The possibility of adding heaters to an existing circuit depends on the available load and size of the heaters. Higher output units may require dedicated circuits.
- Considering whether to choose wired or plug-in heaters comes down to permanence. Wired systems are available with higher heat outputs and provide consistent heating. Lower wattage plug-in models can be moved around, but might be less efficient and unable to warm big spaces.
- The work may be disruptive – installing bigger heaters may involve lifting floorboards – but hiring a business certified by the NICEIC ensures all work is safe and Building Regulations compliant.
This suspended 15kW fire rotates through 340 degrees. Switch between 13 colours for the fuel bed and three flame colours. Orbit fire, H537x Dia900mm (plus flue), from £3,565, Onyx
Assess the affordability
Currently, electricity costs far more than the price of gas per kilowatt hour (kWh). So on the face of it electric heating is more expensive.
You’ll need to do your sums to assess whether electric heating is affordable.
It’s worth comparing every financial aspect of an electric system with a gas equivalent. For instance, the appliances, or heat emitters, are almost 100 per cent efficient so no energy goes to waste.
Plus the cost to buy, install and maintain them may work out lower than gas equivalents.
If you’re investing in renewable energy generation such as solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, this home-grown power reduces the running cost of electric heating.
A 4kW PV array equates to 4,000kWh of electricity per year and, under optimal conditions, could power four 1,000W radiators simultaneously.
But to run the electric heating when the sun goes down you’ll also need to invest in battery storage.
It’s worth noting that if you want to take power from the grid, but use only energy from renewable sources, take a look at what’s on offer from 100Green.
Guide to radiators
Widely available and suiting all budgets, electric radiators range from understated to standout designs.
Wall mounted or freestanding, they come in cast iron, mild steel, stainless steel or aluminium.
Most have an oil or glycol filling that warms slowly, provides an even heat distribution, and retains it well.
There are also dry thermal models that contain an internal ceramic block that’s quick to heat up, with an even distribution of warmth, and slow to cool down.
Some models include just a heating element for fast heating – these are good for responsive on-demand warmth, but less so for heat retention.
A 350W freestanding steel radiator takes inspiration from a coat rack. Tree radiator, H1,600xDia600mm at the widest point, from around £626, Scirocco
You can expect to pay from around £200 for a 500W wall-mounted design, which is the minimum wattage to comfortably heat a small room.
Look for radiators with Wi-Fi connectivity for greater control, including remote access, programmable on/off times and voice activation with Amazon Alexa/Google Home.
Stay cosy by the fire
There are three main aspects to consider when choosing a fire as part of your electric heating system – the heat output, from 750W up to 2kW, smart features, and how it looks.
Ideally, visit a showroom displaying a range of models from different manufacturers to check how realistic the flame effects are.
For instance, the Optimyst line from Dimplex features a fine mist of water, from a refillable tank or plumbed in, to replicate blurry flames.
Models from the Focus brand have a holographic screen and a crackling-log sound effect.
Possible smart features include adaptive start control, where the appliance learns the best time of the day to turn on.
There’s also open window detection, which is when sensors pick up changes in room temperature flagged by your smart device.
This letterbox-shaped design comes with two heat settings, 750W and 1,500W. It can be switched on and off via remote control. Evonic e1800 built-in fire,W1785xH587xD315mm, £2,499, Direct Fireplaces
If you have a fireplace to fill, there are both traditional and contemporary fire baskets that slot into the space, while other models are freestanding.
You can expect to pay upwards of £200 for an entry-level fire basket and up to around £6,000 for a large, smart-controlled, glass-encased cassette fire.
Electric heating: what about infrared?
Electric radiators heat the air, but infrared panels deliver warmth to objects, including people or furniture, wasting little energy. Prices start at around £300 for a single plug-in unit.
‘Infrared heat is instant – as soon as you turn the appliance on you feel it working,’ says Hetal Pala at Kiasa.
The company sells standard panels with a three-year warranty and premium panels with a 15-year warranty.
The panels are slim, at around 2.5cm deep, and the maximum heat range is about 3m.
They can’t keep you cosy if obstructed or tucked away in an alcove, so ceiling mounting is a good option.
Infrared heating fleeces are hidden behind plaster surfaces and managed through digital thermostats for precise temperature settings and zoning. A three-bedroom house with 15 mats, at a total 3.7kW, costs around £4,000, plus installation, ASTECtherm
An ASTECtherm system is based on mats that are plastered into walls or ceilings. ‘This is infrared nanotechnology,’ says Galvin Broughton at the company. ‘Under the microscope the core looks like wire wool. A plasterer can install the mats.’
Heat pumps and underfloor warming
An air-to-air heat pump transfers warmth from outdoor air and increases it for distribution inside.
The indoor appliances are wall mounted, floor standing or concealed behind a grille, and can cool as well.
According to manufacturer Daikin, it costs from £2,600 to install a single unit, with more complex set-ups from around £6,300.
Another option is a heat pump ventilation (HPV) system that warms, cools and mechanically ventilates the air while recovering heat that would otherwise be lost.
Total Home Environment, which designs and installs this type of electric heating system, estimates that a set-up for a four-bedroom, 180sqm house would cost around £32,880 all in.
Electric underfloor heating (UFH) is a good choice for retrofitting, since it’s not too disruptive to install the low-profile mats.
It does away with the need to have radiators taking up wall space and provides up to 200W per sqm – but it’s not very cost effective over big areas. Expect to pay from £30 per sqm for a standard mat kit.
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