What’s the point of an electric designer radiator?
Is gas heating more expensive than electric?
Why can I not make a decision!!!??!?!!
These are just a few of the questions I get asked on a regular basis – and so I thought I would shed some light on the answers, help you to be better informed and give you the goods to make the right choice (for you).
Gas or Electric?
There’s quite a straightforward answer to the “is gas cheaper than electric?” question…
Yes, it is!
Because electricity (per kWh) is around 3-4 times more expensive than gas.
To buy a single unit of gas – measured in kWh – you’ll pay around 4p with most providers. For the mains electric equivalent – also measured in kWh – the cost will rise to around 15p / kWh (according to the greengage).
But don’t let that fact confuse you into thinking that it’s all cut and dried.
There are a few other considerations that make the comparison much less black and white, and a little more, murky grey.
How Efficient Are Gas & Electric?
Though considerably cheaper than the electric alternative, gas boilers (shock horror) are not actually 100% efficient.
Even a brand spanking new and improved central heating boiler will only be around 90% efficient.
Compare that to an electric designer radiator – that turns 1 kWh of electricity into 1 BTU (the standard measurement of heat) – and it’s clear that direct comparisons between gas and electric can become quite complex.
So a lot may depend upon the age of your central heating system – the older it is, the less efficient it’s likely to be (not too dissimilar to what my lady wife says about me).
That said, what about if you can’t even access the mains gas grid?
What if you can’t get mains gas?
Following the 2011 census, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) reported that 4 million UK households did not have access to a mains gas supply.
That basically means that there are 4 million homes that HAVE to use an alternative heat source such as LPG, biomass or electric heating, or run the risk of freezing solid.
Luckily, although the fuel costs of electric heating may be more expensive than gas, an electric designer radiator doesn’t require pipework to fill it with water.
And – as I mentioned above – an electric radiator will convert all of the electricity it uses into heat, making it super-efficient and meaning that even if you aren’t on the gas grid you can benefit from the warmth and style that an electric designer radiator will bring.
An electric designer radiator could crank up the cosy in your Wendy house.
This makes them perfect for adding to a space that your central heating doesn’t quite reach – like a conservatory, Wendy house or some other kind of extension. And it could save you a small fortune by allowing you to heat your home without having to pay to get on the gas grid.
The cost of getting on the grid can vary greatly depending upon where you live and the type of property you have.
From rural dwellings to high-rise flats, the costs can range from a few hundred pounds to well into the thousands – and gas pressure (or the lack of it) can be a big issue for high-rise homes too.
That’s where electric designer radiators can help.
So Should I Get Gas Or Go Electric?
The average UK home – heated by gas – will take around an hour to get up to temperature, but using electric heating would mean that your home would be warm in much less time, but the benefits don’t stop there.
Of course gas is cheaper on paper, but with an electric radiator you can heat individual rooms without having to turn your central heating on.
This could save you quite a bit in fuel costs as it allows you to isolate exactly where you want the heat to be – is there really any need for you to heat your entire home if you just intend to snuggle in front of the telly-box all evening?
Electric Designer Radiators can be much easier to install than central heating radiators
It’s also a lot easier for you to add new electric radiators to your home.
Gas central heating requires pipework and a plumber to install it, all of which will add to the cost of your purchase and be quite disruptive to your everyday life.
With an electric radiator there are no pipes to install, meaning you won’t have to rip up any floorboards or drain down your central heating system during installation, and despite needing an electrician to do the job, a good ‘sparky’ will have it finished in a couple of hours or even less – leaving you more time to get on with living and enjoying your new electric designer radiator!
So Why Buy An Electric Designer Radiator?
As we have said many times before, radiators have become much more than just the metal box under the window – they can make a design statement, be a conversation starter and become an additional piece of decoration that can transform the look and feel of a space.
And not only that, but when you factor in the time it might take to install all of the required pipework to get you on the gas grid, or to add an extra radiator to your gas heating system, it is pretty much a no brainer – electric is the way forward.
With over 50 different types of electric designer radiator to choose from, our collection boasts an impressive array of electric heating solutions – meaning that whatever space you are looking to add heat and style to, you are sure to find exactly what you are looking for (and probably a little more).
To discover more about the range of electric designer radiators in our store and find loads of hints and tips on designer home heating, come and check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Houzz and YouTube.
And don’t forget, you can win back the cost of your radiator in our competition – just send us some pictures of before and after and we could give you your money back!
Stay safe and happy heating!
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