Electric and traditional radiators used to be big, inefficient, and expensive. In recent years, those features have flipped completely as electric heating has become easily accessible and preferable to conscious shoppers. Everyone is trying their best to lower the reliance on traditional heating sources, and switching to electric isn’t as difficult as you might expect.
Thanks to some of the advice from Trade Radiators, who just so happen to be one of the biggest electric radiators stockists in the UK, here are some of the reasons why it might be time for you to start thinking about having electric radiators. Like most things in this world, it all starts with money.
You want to save money
Cost is always the most important factor, regardless of what anyone says. Weighing up your costs is, in my opinion, the first thing you should think about. Compare what the price of running a standard radiator (using oil or gas) is per hour against what it would be when using electric.
You may find that traditional heating is cheaper on one radiator, but multiply that cost against heating your entire home for a year. Then compare it with how much it would be when using electric on a select basis (i.e. in the rooms you use only when you need it). More often than not, you’ll find electric to be cheaper.
You want greater control
Wasted heat is wasted money, and looking after every single radiator around the home throughout the year can get annoying. Making sure individual rooms have valves closed or are set to specific levels can feel like a waste of time. So wouldn’t having a radiator you turn off and on at the wall be better?
Electric radiators do just that, either via a plug socket or by being wired into the wall. All it takes is a flip of the switch, and you’re ready to go. I’d also recommend looking into smart thermostats in homes where you might have one or two electric radiators, but everything else is traditional. Hooking the system up means you can control everything centrally without having to keep tabs on different radiator types.
You want to have options
If you don’t want to commit to an electric radiator fully, it doesn’t mean you have to. There are plenty of dual-fuel radiators out there. If you don’t know what these are, a dual-fuel radiator is one which is connected to your pipes normally, and can also be used electrically by being plugged in. Now you can’t use both sources at the same time, but when you already use home heating regularly and want some versatility throughout the year, dual-fuel might be the way to go, e.g. in the summer months when you’d only want the heating on in one or two places.
You’re reliant on electric heaters
Notice I am saying heaters here, and not radiators. Most people will tend to have at least one or two electric heaters in their homes and will use them when there’s a chill in the air they want rid of.
If you find yourself reliant on an electric heater in a room, it’s best to switch over and get an electric radiator instead. Heaters will always use much more electricity than radiators as they don’t retain heat, they can’t be used to dry things (never ever place a towel or socks on an electric heater) and they’re more prone to causing fuses to trip. An electric radiator is a much safer option, and it stays out of sight.
You’re already using greener energy sources
Homes which are using solar panels often find themselves generating more than they can use. If that’s the case in your home, and you’re still somehow reliant on oil or gas for home heating, you need to optimise your home heating and switch things over. It may be an inconvenience for a few weeks adjusting, but you’re looking at years of savings in the long-term.
You want heat quicker & longer
This last point is one I feel is overlooked when considering electric radiators. You need to drill in your head the fact that electric radiators can be standalone. Why is that important? By default, your electric radiator will always be quicker to heat (and more efficient) than a standard radiator.
Apart from needing to open the return valve ever so slightly to avoid pressure building up, the water heated in an electric radiator won’t go anywhere. This means it will take less effort for the radiator to heat up, and it can hold onto that heat longer after being turned off.
Want to know more about radiators?
Here’s hoping some of what’s been mentioned in this article makes you think more about making the switch to electric. If you’re interested in reading more about radiators, check out this article on home heating tips.