Virily Editor
When it comes to choosing which heating system is best for your house, you may think that it is simply a matter of comparing unit costs. A single kilowatt-hour for electricity can cost as much as four times the price of a kWh for gas (16p vs 4p for example – which of course will depend on your provider), so you may think gas systems are clear winners here.
If things were that simple, why is electric heating such a popular alternative for heating systems? Many tend to forget that there is a lot more than the price per unit coming into heating costs. If you’re interested in the benefits that installing electric heaters and systems could reap, we have gathered everything you should know in this short post.
Installation Costs
One of the major advantages of electric heating is that it is very easy to install. No pipework is required, and electric heaters can be installed independently without disruption. This makes it a great addition to an existing system or can make up the full system as needed.
No need to compromise on style either, many retailers such as Trade Radiators now offer a large choice of sizes, colours and designs so you can easily find what will suit your interior. If you really aren’t sure you can ask an expert to install them for you, but many find it easy enough to do it themselves.
Ownership Costs
When it comes to considering the costs of owning a heating system, there is more than what is written on your monthly bill. Electric heaters can be expected to last 15 years if not more, while boilers are typically expected to have a lifetime of 10 years. When looking at lifetime ownership costs, electric heating systems can actually be a cost-effective option.
Gas systems also have many additional costs such as yearly inspections/maintenance and safety checks. Electric heating systems require minimal maintenance (if at all) and heat is generated without waste, which can be the case for gas systems.
These ownership costs are particularly important to consider if you are a landlord, as maintenance & inspections will mean that you will need to arrange access to the property. Those who want to avoid the hassle and costs may want to consider electric heating systems.
No Bleeding and Leaking
If you’ve owned gas central heating, chances are you’ve had to google these issues before. As we’ve mentioned before, regular maintenance is required for these types of radiators. Even if you know enough about plumbing to do the work yourself, these kind of problems are unfortunately quite common and over your lifetime you will be confronted at least once with cold or leaking radiators.
With electric heaters, you avoid having to deal with these kinds of issues, which is a major advantage for some.
Silence
Costs aside, electric heaters are much quieter than their gas-heated counterparts. Similarly to how electric cars can drive silently, with electric heaters, you won’t have those clicking, thumping or clunking noises that can wake you up at night.
Environment-Friendly
A lot of us are becoming increasingly aware of what we can do to reduce our emissions and do our part to fight climate change. Electric systems are much more environmentally friendly than gas systems: there is no carbon monoxide (which also means that there’s no risk of CO poisoning) so zero emissions and these systems don’t use natural resources like wood or fossil fuels, making them a good choice if you’d like to make your home more eco-friendly.
These are the main benefits of electric heating, as you can see it’s not all about the final number on the bill. If you’ve enjoyed this post, don’t forget to also check out our articles about DIY and Home & Gardens.
