What Are the Most Economical Electric Heaters?
When considering electric heaters for your home, it’s important to think about how economical they are. Unless you are one of those rare individuals that don’t feel the cold, heating your home can get expensive.
Many modern electric heaters have great energy-saving features that are effective in reducing your costs. So, when looking at new heaters, remember to weigh up how each type can save you money and energy, before you buy.
Let’s start with having a look at the two main types of electric heaters…
Portable or fixed?
First and foremost, it’s important to distinguish between the two main types of electric heaters available.
Portable electric heaters
These are a good option when you want to heat a specific, small room or outdoor area such as sheds and garages. However, they are not particularly economical as they can drive up energy bills if used alongside a central heating system. Alternatively, as a standalone heater, they won’t heat anything other than the room they’re in.
Fixed electric heaters (radiators)
The most economical electric heaters are those fixed in place. These radiators are similar to a conventional gas ones. But unlike gas central heating, fuel doesn’t need to combust for warmth with an electric heater, making it a much cleaner process. As such, they have a 100% efficiency rating – with all energy used turned into heat to keep running costs low.
Electric heaters save you on annual boiler servicing and need very little service or maintenance themselves. They can be heated independently, meaning if you only need one room heated, you aren’t wasting energy on the rest of the house.
Most fixed heaters have a timer and thermostat as features too, so you can control your heating better. Or for complete flexibility over your heating needs, use advanced smart controls to access your system at any time.
Most economical electric heater models
Most electric heaters are economical to run. But if you’re looking at long-term economy, you want something that’s made to last. In this case, Rointe is a safe choice. Their electric radiators also come with excellent features for ease of use and reducing costs.
Rointe radiators use Wi-Fi to connect you with your heating system, making it a smooth process to control room temperatures and ensure heat is not wasted. They have great features that can save energy and make programming your heating simple. These include:
- Smart heating controls – using the Basic remote control with 4 quick buttons, you can access pre-installed programming and manually control temperature and the different modes to suit your needs. Or if you’d like to create and program heating schedules yourself, the AIR remote control is the option for you. You can also take advantage of remote locking of the controls and zone control.
- Rointe Connect App – working on smartphones and tablets, with a web platform app for PCs, the Rointe Connect App helps you manage energy consumption and costs for complete control over all your heaters.
- Voice Assistant – using your voice, you are able to control your heating through Rointe Connect, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
Get the most economical electric heaters for your needs
If you want your electric heaters to be economical, it’s important to find the right products based on the space you’re heating. That’s where Grants Electrical can help. Operating throughout Taunton, Wellington and Tiverton, we can assess your home and recommend the right energy-efficient electric radiators for your needs.
Our Rointe-accredited team only work with the best models available to give you radiators you can enjoy for years to come. To arrange a home visit, give us a call on 07775447404 or contact us online.
EPC and Electric Heating Explained
To the untrained eye, Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) and electric heating do not traditionally go well together. Gas systems come out on top when it comes to EPC, as the ratings in electric heating systems have always been low. However, this is solely due to gas costing less per unit, compared to electricity.
If you want to improve an EPC rating, there is more to it than gas being the only effective choice. Let’s look a bit closer at EPC and its misunderstood relationship with electric heating.
What is an EPC?
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a report assessing a property’s energy efficiency. It considers the insulation, lighting, heating and hot water to give an energy efficiency rating as well as an environmental impact rating. The rating goes from A-G, with F and G being the least efficient ratings, declaring not fit for purpose.
An EPC lasts for 10 years. It can be attached to property listings for sale or searched for by address on an EPC register.
A benefit of the EPC is that it shows not just the current rating, but the potential rating by recommending ways to improve efficiency and save money. Most importantly, it can tell you how much your bills might cost.
How does electric heating affect EPC?
The EPC rating will be highly influenced by how you heat your home. Electric heating does not have a high EPC rating as it is seen as the least effective. But this can’t be taken at face value as there are many reasons why electric heating could be the efficient choice for your home…
- Cheap to install and have very little maintenance – With no need for a central boiler, electric heating systems require much less maintenance, as well as taking up a lot less room than gas heating systems.
- Improved control over your heating – With modern systems, a thermostat can give you complete control over timing and temperature for each room.
- Availability of your home for gas – If your home is not on the gas grid, electric radiators could be the ideal solution.
- Quick to reach optimum temp – Electric radiators can take only 10 minutes to heat a room, making them highly energy efficient. That’s because 100% of their energy goes to heating.
- Low-carbon form of heating and using renewable electricity – Wind and solar power are connected to the grid, meaning electric heating will continue to become more eco-friendly as time goes on. The increase in renewable electricity could also become a game-changer for EPC ratings, which are likely to improve for electric heating once more electricity is sourced from renewables.
A great choice for your electric heating needs in Somerset
While it’s easy to be misled by EPC, electric radiators are efficient, safe, stylish, and space-saving, making them the perfect solution to your heating needs. If you would like to discuss your requirements with an expert, Grants Electrical can help.
To find out more or request a quote, call or email Grants Electrical today.
How to Use Solar Power Immersion Diverters for Hot Water
With energy prices rising, it’s never been more important to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels. Solar power is a great way to do that, but it doesn’t solve the biggest problem of all this winter – hot water and heating.
Unless you have electric heating throughout your home, you’ll still need to pay to fire up the boiler whenever you need hot water. That’s a problem that solar power diverters can solve – here’s how…
Solar diverters – what & why?
Also known as a solar immersion diverter, a solar power diverter is a small piece of kit that’s fitted to your home’s electricity installation. As the name suggests, it diverts energy away from your home’s consumer unit after it has been sent there from your solar panels.
But why? In short, most homes don’t use all of the energy they generate from their own solar panels. That’s usually sent back into the national grid, for which you get a small payment as part of the Smart Export Guarantee.
Here’s the problem. The average cost of electricity per kWh is significantly more than what you’re paid for the energy you send back to the grid. From October 2022, electricity is capped at 34p per kWh, while the best Smart Export Guarantee is less than half of that at 15p per kWh.
So, it makes much more sense to keep the energy you’ve generated and use it in your home. That doesn’t mean switching on extra appliances to waste energy for the sake of it. Instead, using a solar immersion diverter, you can heat your hot water tank using any surplus energy from your solar panel system.
How it works
Solar power diverters work by monitoring the amount of electricity being generated by your solar panel system, compared to how much energy you’re using in your home. Normally, when your solar batteries are full, but your home isn’t using energy, you’d start exporting your energy to the grid.
With a solar diverter, that energy will be diverted to your hot water tank’s immersion heater. Essentially, it’s a way of using renewable energy for your heating and hot water – as well as your usual electricity usage.
If your home’s demand for energy increases, the diverter will automatically reduce its usage. That means there’s no impact on electricity for your home, as it’s still prioritised over solar diverter hot water.
Find out more about solar immersion diverters
Solar diverters are affordable, quick to install, and pay for themselves over time. They’re the perfect fit for any home with its own solar panels and a hot water tank (used for conventional and system boilers).
If you’d like to find out more about the options available or the installation process, Grants Electrical is on hand to help. Our experienced electricians in Taunton can answer any questions you may have and provide a free, no obligation quote for a solar power diverter at your home. Call us on 07775 447 404 or email [email protected].
Gas vs Electric Radiators – Which is Best for You?
When the cold winter months come along, there’s nothing like staying in your nice, warm home. But with heating bills at an all-time high, many families are wondering whether they should swap their current gas radiators for more efficient options.
Gas vs electric radiators is a hot topic (quite literally) for more and more people in the UK. Read on to find out which is best for your home…
Electric radiators vs gas
Gas radiators are currently the most popular heating option in the UK. This kind of radiator is usually connected to a central boiler, which heats the water and makes it flow through to the radiator.
On the other hand, there are electric radiators. To be clear, we mean fixed radiators powered by electricity – not portable electric radiators which are known to be less effective. The most fundamental difference between gas vs electric radiators is that the latter provide heat without interacting with a central boiler.
But that is far from being the only difference between gas and electric radiators. To help you decide between both options, we have compiled the top 4 differences between electric and gas radiators…
1. Installation
To set up a gas radiator system, a gas engineer will have to install a full-blown central heating system with pipes, vents and ducts. The biggest downside to gas radiator installation is that it can take up to two weeks to be completed safely.
As you can imagine, such a complex installation is everything but cheap. You’ll also have a boiler taking up space somewhere in your home. In contrast, installing an electric radiator system can be completed in a single day.
2. Safety
In order to generate heat, gas boilers need to burn fuel. This poses a series of dangerous risks – such as carbon monoxide intoxication, fires and explosions. Unlike their gas-powered counterpart, electric radiators don’t need to generate heat by burning fuel. This makes them a much safer option for all kinds of households. That being said, you should always ensure that your electric heaters have been installed correctly to avoid potential hazards.
3. Cost
While gas is cheaper than electricity on a per-unit basis, you also need to consider the cost of certain additional factors. To start with, the installation costs of an electric radiator is almost non-existent compared to gas radiators. On top of that, electric radiators last up to 50% longer than gas radiators. And because they don’t need to be serviced as often as gas radiators, the maintenance is a lot cheaper too.
4. Efficiency
Because some heat is always emitted into the air during the fuel combustion process, not even the best gas boiler on the market is 100% efficient. To make things worse, gas boilers get more inefficient with the years – to the point where a 10-year-old boiler will lose 20% of the heat it generates.
When it comes to efficiency, electric heaters also have the upper hand. Because they work via a straightforward heat transfer with no combustion, they will always turn 100% of the electricity they use into heat.
Electric vs gas radiators – the verdict
Because they’re safer, more efficient and even space-saving, electric radiators come out on top for most homes. If you want to unlock all of those benefits, Grants Electrical can help.
We install efficient electric radiators in Taunton and the surrounding areas. To find out more or get a quote, call us on 07775447404 or email [email protected].
Are There Any Disadvantages of Electric Heating?
More and more people are making the switch to electric heating. And it’s not hard to see why. With gas prices higher than ever, homeowners are on the lookout for new ways of trimming down their energy bills. And that’s where electric heating comes in.
However, not everyone is convinced of the benefits – instead looking for disadvantages of electric heating. There are still a few sceptics who claim that it’s more expensive and less efficient than gas heating. But are they right? Let’s find out…
Myth-busting the supposed disadvantages of electric heating
The electric heating industry is growing bigger by the day – and so are certain misconceptions associated with it. To dispel all these myths once and for all, let’s dig deeper into what are generally believed to be the main disadvantages of electric heating…
Electric heating is more expensive
This claim rests on a half-truth – that the average cost per unit of gas is lower than that of electricity. We don’t dispute that (although the gas crisis is pushing up the cost of gas to an all-time high).
But what this claim fails to mention is that electric heating systems barely involve any substantial installation costs. And, unlike gas boilers, electric heating doesn’t require yearly servicing and maintenance.
On top of all that, the average working life of a boiler is ten years – whereas a good electric radiator can last up to 20 years. So sure, electricity is slightly more expensive than gas per unit (for now). But in the long run, gas heating will put a bigger dent in your savings.
Electric heating is not very efficient
While it’s true that brand-new gas boilers are more efficient than they were a few decades ago, gas boilers are still miles away from reaching the degree of efficiency of electric heating. Sure, gas will heat your home quicker. But they will also lose a lot of energy in the meantime.
On average, a 10-year-old boiler will have lost up to 30% of its efficiency – compared to 0% with a 10-year-old electric radiator. This means that you’ll end up paying for gas that you’re not even using.
Electric heating is dangerous
We’ll keep it short and sweet – electric radiators are the safest heating option you can install inside your home. When people claim that electric heating is dangerous, they’re usually referring to portable electric heaters. And they’re right. In the UK alone, almost 1,000 fires have been caused by portable electric heaters in the past 5 years.
But electric radiators are a completely different kettle of fish. Because they don’t rely on fuel ignition, electric radiators completely eliminate the risk of fuel leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Embrace the future of heating
Sick and tired of constant boiler breakdowns and rising gas prices? It’s time for you to see past the mistaken disadvantages of electric heating and make the switch.
At Grants Electric, we can provide you with state-of-the-art smart electric radiators that will keep your family warm 365 days a year. Want to find out more? Just ring us on 07775 447 404 or email [email protected] for a no-obligation quote.
5 Electric Heating Advantages You Can’t Ignore
Gas boilers have been the go-to source of heating for several decades. But not anymore. In the past few years, electric heating has become an increasingly popular option for properties across the UK.
Why? It’s very simple – in a nutshell, electric heating provides all the benefits of gas boilers without some of the disadvantages. Let’s unpack that a little bit more…
What are the main advantages of electric heating?
Are you sick and tired of having to pay someone to repair your boiler every winter? Worried about the environmental effects of gas heating? Or simply looking to trim down your bills as energy prices skyrocket?
If the answer to any of the questions above is yes, then you should seriously consider making the switch to electric heating. To hammer the point home, let’s break down our five favourite electric heating advantages.
1. It’s cheaper than gas in the long run
To start with, gas heating systems have a much higher installation cost than electric heating. And unlike gas heaters, electric heating barely requires any maintenance. Waving goodbye to rip-off boiler service fees will lift a heavy weight off your wallet. Not to mention that electricity prices will only get cheaper as renewable energy becomes more prevalent.
2. It’s more efficient than gas
Electric heating is the most efficient heating system currently available on the market. An electric heater uses every single watt of power and converts it into heat. This means all the electricity you pay for is actually turned into heat. With a boiler, around 15% of the energy is wasted between fuel and pipework.
3. It’s completely safe
Safety is another of the top electric heating advantages. Because electric heaters don’t burn fuel to generate heat, all the safety risks commonly associated with heating systems are immediately brushed aside. With electric heating, you’ll never be in danger of fire, gas leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning.
4. It’s easy to install
As there’s no need for pipework to be carried out on the property, an entire electric heating system can be installed in a matter of hours. All that is needed is to connect the heaters to the electrical circuit – meaning that they can be installed during the electrical second fix phase for new properties.
5. It’s ecological
Gas is the UK’s biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions. With the UK targeting net zero emissions, chances are that additional taxes will be imposed on homeowners with gas boilers in an attempt to make them transition to a greener alternative. Unlike gas boilers, electric heating does not emit polluting gases. And as more wind and solar farms are built across the country, electric heaters will be increasingly drawing power from completely renewable energy sources.
The future of heating is only one click away
Want to enjoy the various electric heating advantages? Making the switch to affordable heating has never been easier. At Grants Electrical, we install reliable, energy efficient electric radiators in Taunton and the surrounding areas.
With our smart electric radiators, you’ll help both the environment and your wallet. Want to find out more? Call us on 07775447404 or email [email protected] for a no-obligation quote.
Which is Cheaper – Gas or Electric Heat?
With energy bills higher than ever, more and more people are trying to find new ways to cut down on their home heating expenses. With this in mind, many homeowners are thinking about changing their entire heating system. So, which is cheaper – gas or electric heat? Let’s break both of them down…
Gas vs electric heat – a quick overview
Before we go into further detail, it’s worth explaining the main differences between gas heat and electric heat.
With gas-based heat, a boiler burns fuel to heat water. This hot water is then spread throughout a home’s radiators or in pipes placed under the floorboards. As the pipes and/or radiators get hotter, they bring your house’s temperature up through radiation. This heating system goes all the way back to the mid-19th century.
On the other hand, electric heating works in a far simpler way. It relies on separate heating appliances in each room. Each device converts an electric current into heat, allowing greater control over the temperature of each room. Because they don’t rely on a central boiler, electric heat allows for better scheduling and customisation options.
When it comes to convenience, electricity has the upper hand. But is it cheaper to heat a house with gas or electricity?
Is gas heat cheaper than electric?
The sweet and short answer is no, it isn’t. While it’s true that gas is a cheaper per-unit energy source than electricity, electric heating is a lot more efficient – making it more cost-effective in the long run. Why? It’s simple. With electric heating, every single watt that your electric device converts into heat is used. With gas heating, an estimated 50% of energy is wasted.
Even better, the vast majority of modern electric appliances are fitted with individual thermostats. This means that you can manage your heaters on an individual basis. Maybe you don’t want the heating in your kitchen to be on? Or you want your living room to be nice and toasty for when you come home after work? With a smart electric heating system, all it takes is a few taps on your phone.
Installation and maintenance costs
Apart from being more efficient, electric heating is a lot cheaper and easier to install. While it can take several days to install a new boiler safely, you can get an entire electric heating system up and running in just one day.
Compared to a gas boiler, electric heating is basically maintenance-free, as there’s no fuel combustion involved in the process – also making it a lot safer. And that’s not even going into the costs of replacing a boiler. On average, a new boiler will cost you £1,500 – £3,000 – with installation costs close to an extra £1,000. That’s at least twice the average electric heater installation cost, which is around £500.
Trusted electricians at your service
Do you want to make the switch to affordable heating? Look no further than Grants Electrical. As expert electricians, we can install efficient electric radiators in your Somerset home quickly and safely. If you want to hear more, ring us today on 07775447404 or email via [email protected] for a no-obligation quote.
Replacing Storage Heaters with Electric Radiators
More and more people are replacing their old storage heaters with electric radiators. Why? The short explanation is that storage heaters have become outdated. Apart from being easier on the eye, modern electric radiators are a lot more energy-efficient than storage heaters.
To start with, most of them have built-in timers and thermostats. This means that you can control the temperature and even turn them off automatically at a certain time. On top of that, they barely waste any energy – saving you money in the long run.
Put simply, replacing storage heaters with electric radiators is a no-brainer. Here’s how to do it…
How to replace a storage heater with an electric radiator
We’ll start with the good news – installing an electric heater is a fairly easy task. The bad news is that removing a storage heater isn’t. Unfortunately, it’s not just a matter of disconnecting them from the wall and putting an electric radiator in their place. If you want to remove your old storage heater, you’ll need the help of a licensed electrician who knows what they’re doing.
Storage heaters come hardwired into walls via a special socket that tells your energy provider whether you’re using energy at peak or off-peak times. This makes them tricky to remove. On average, a professional electrician will spend around 1-2 hours to remove a single storage heater. This means that a full house upgrade can take a couple of days.
To make things worse, storage heaters are essentially metal boxes full of bricks – making them extremely heavy. A relatively light storage heater will weigh around 50kg – with sturdier models in the region of 300-400kg. All in all, it’s not a DIY job.
Fortunately, certified electricians know their way around storage heaters and can remove them safely…
Replacing storage heaters – a short guide
- Firstly, your electrician will have to remove and rewire off-peak circuits, as well as convert storage heater sockets to regular sockets. This will allow you to install your new electric radiators in the same place where your old storage heaters were. If you would like your radiators to be in a different place, make sure you let your electrician know as soon as possible.
- Once the traditional sockets are in place, your electrician will earth the electricity. In some cases, they will also have to install circuit breakers. This is a standard security measure that prevents overheating, protecting you from overloading and short-circuiting. After this step, your electrician will test and certificate the new socket.
- It’s time for your new electric radiator to be installed. First, your electrician will drill a few holes and secure mounting brackets in the wall. Then, they will hang the radiator on the wall and screw in the safety screws on the top of the mounting brackets for extra safety.
The future of electricity is just one click away
When it comes to replacing storage heaters, DIY just won’t cut it. But don’t worry – Grants Electrical is here to help throughout Somerset. Our expert electricians in Wellington can install modern electric radiators in your home quickly and safely. Want to hear more? Get in touch today on 07775447404 or email via [email protected] for a no-obligation quote.
4 Types of EV Chargers
Keeping your car on the go is vital, so it’s important to understand the different types of EV chargers and where you’ll be able to use them.
Charging an electric vehicle is very different to filling up a petrol car, and certain chargers will be more suitable than others. So, read on to learn more about the 4 types of EV chargers.
1. Slow chargers
As the name suggests, slow chargers or ‘granny chargers’ are the slowest type of EV charger – charging at a rate of 3kW to 6kW. Slow charging can take upwards of 12 hours to complete, so it’s a good option for overnight charging. Generally speaking, you’ll find slow chargers at home or sometimes at your workplace. Lamp post EV chargers are usually also slow charging.
Whilst plugging your charger into a domestic socket can work as a slow charger, charging in this way is considerably slower than other (already slow) methods and can pose a higher risk of fire or electric shock. Installing a dedicated EV charger is the best option. Slow chargers are usually untethered, so you’ll need your own charging cable to use them.
2. Fast chargers
Out of all the types of EV chargers, fast chargers are the most commonly used in the home. You’ll also find these chargers when you’re out in town – as many are located in shopping centre and supermarket car parks, for example. Fast charge points typically range between 7kW and 22kW, and can charge your car in around 8 hours.
Fast charging is ideal for when you’re at home or out-and-about. The majority of fast charging points are untethered, but some are tethered, so you’ll need to be sure of the connector’s compatibility with your EV.
3. Rapid chargers
Rapid chargers are where things get really speedy. Some rapid chargers can charge an EV to 80% within 30 minutes, taking between 40-50 minutes to fully charge. That makes them perfect for when you need a quick top-up on the road.
Rapid chargers use a lot of power, so they’re not suitable to be installed in homes. Instead, you’ll usually find them in service stations and certain car parks. All rapid chargers are tethered, so you’ll need to ensure the one you use is compatible with your EV.
4. Ultra rapid chargers
Offering the fastest charging capabilities, ultra rapid chargers are rated 50kW+, and in many cases reach over 100kW. These ultra-fast chargers are rarer to find, though they may be available at larger service stations. More and more ultra rapid chargers at higher charging capabilities are popping up across the country, with some as high as 350kW.
EV charger installation for your home
There are many types of EV chargers, but the most convenient type is the one you can make use of at any time. Home EV chargers are easy to use and perfect for overnight charging, allowing you to cut down on charging costs.
Interested in a no-obligation quote? Our professional, OLEV-authorised installers will advise you on the best EV charger for your home, then arrange a convienient time for a quick, no-hassle installation. Get in touch with our expert team on 07775447404 or email via [email protected].
6 Benefits of an EV Charger for Your Home
With the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars fast approaching, now is as good a time as any to install an EV charger for your home.
Not convinced? Read on as we look at seven clear benefits of a home EV charger.
1. Running costs
First and foremost, having an EV charger at home allows you to minimise the cost of charging your car. While fuel stations and service stations will charge a premium to use their chargers, you’ll only be paying for the cost of electricity you use at home. According to the RAC, you could save between £2 to £5 per charge. That adds up to £104 to £260 each year if you charge your car once a week.
2. Speed
Compared to charging your car from the mains, having a dedicated EV charger for your home is much quicker. Mains EV chargers are also known as ‘granny chargers’ because of their age and (lack of) speed. They take between 17 and 39 hours to get your battery full, depending on the model. That’s cut to between 6 and 13 hours for most vehicles with a standard home EV charger.
3. Convenience
Charging your car at home is undoubtedly more convenient than the alternatives. It’s much easier to plug in at home than travel to a fuel station. It’s also simpler to plug into a proper EV charger that’s located near your car, instead of rolling out extensions to plug your car into an outdoor socket.
4. Range
When you charge at home, you can leave it for a full charge. As demand continues to outpace infrastructure, service station chargers are increasingly met with queues waiting to use them. Many people will feel pressured to move on before their battery is full, resulting in a lower range for their car before the next charge is due.
5. Longevity
While superfast chargers might be convenient when you’re out and about, they don’t go hand in hand with a long battery life. Fast charging puts too much current into your electric vehicle’s battery, causing it to decline faster over time. Using an EV charger at home gets you that little bit more out of your battery’s lifespan.
6. Value
Having an EV charger for home use will also increase the value of your property. That’s already true now, with the majority of 16-49 year-olds planning to make the switch. But it will become more applicable as time goes on and electric vehicles become the norm. By that point, home EV chargers will be a must-have for all drivers (and the majority of homebuyers too).
Get an EV charger quote for your home
Whether it’s to cut down on costs, make your life easier, or maximise your car’s range, home EV chargers are a win-win (and a few more wins). Grants Electrical can help you reap all of those rewards with EV charger installation for homes across Somerset.
Based in Wellington, our OLEV-authorised installers can advise on the best charger for you with a free, no obligation quote. We’ll then provide a quick, top-rate installation at a time and date that suits you. Sound good? Give us a call on 07775447404 to get the ball rolling.