Gas central heating is one of the most popular heating systems in the country, used in most homes across the UK. However, in the last few decades electric heating technology has developed at such a rate that energy efficient electric radiators now offer an economical alternative. Here are a few advantages electric radiators offer over gas central heating:
• Don’t need to switch on the whole system to heat a single room
• 100% efficient – all electricity used is turned into heat
• Highly accurate individual thermostats
• No unrepresentative central thermostat
• Control each room separately
• In-depth digital programming for each radiator
• No maintenance or plumbing work required
• Safer – no fuel burnt in your home
• No heat loss through boiler and pipesThe ability to accurately control temperatures room-by-room is one of the key advantages electric heating systems have over gas systems. Rather than heating your whole home to the same temperature, regardless of which rooms are being used, electric lets you pick and choose which rooms get heated and to what extent. Why heat your bedroom, hallway and kitchen to the same level when you just want to keep your lounge nice and toasty? Using electric heaters, you can program a specific heating schedule for every area of your home, fine-tuning your heating on a level that most central heating systems can’t provide. This trims down running costs, more accurately reflects how you use each space and makes sure that your rooms are perfectly heated when you come to use them – all while using the minimum amount of energy. Advancements in technology now allow some heaters to bridge the control gap between electric and central heating. WiFi compatible models let you make changes to individual heaters via your smartphone, as well as group them together so they can run to the same schedule.
Another core benefit to electric radiators is that their thermostats are built into the unit so you’re not relying on one central temperature measurement that’s unrepresentative of your entire property. In central heating systems, thermostats are typically located in the coldest area of the home (e.g. the hallway) to make sure that your heating doesn’t switch off too soon and leave your other rooms chilly. This isn’t exactly a sophisticated means of temperature management. Smaller rooms can become overheated and we’re all familiar with having to traipse around the house, turning radiators down in order to find the right balance of warmth. This is where the modularity of electric systems really shines. The digital thermostats in our radiators are accurate to within a fraction of a degree so that they monitor room temperatures with near perfect precision. Your rooms are never too hot or too cold – they’re always the exact temperature you’ve programmed into their schedule. All they do is occasionally switch on to top-up heat levels, then switch off again the moment they reach their target.
Electric heating systems in general are becoming more and more popular with property developers and landlords because of the ease of installation and low maintenance requirements. There are no hidden maintenance costs with electric heating: no gas checks, no monthly protection plans and no risk of carbon monoxide. Once installed, all they need is the occasional dust down to keep them running smoothly. There’s also none of the headache of extending pipework, which can be a huge expense in multi-storey rental properties.
