Electric heaters
Electric heating has a number of benefits over other types of heating due to the fact it is relatively inexpensive and easy to install which means installation costs can be kept to a minimum. Electric heaters also don't require any pipe-work, only a connection to the electrical circuit(s), so it can frequently be installed in a matter of minutes.
For new build properties this means electric heaters can go in at the second fix wiring stage. For refurbishments and replacements, it means minimal disruption for the household. Also, because electric heaters can work as stand-alone units or as a system, it is easy and cheap to add heaters to a system at anytime as budgets permit. Click here for more advice on electric heaters.
Low Life Ownership Costs - There is often confusion about the running costs of electric heating in comparison to other fuels. Also, people often do not take into account the fact that the cost of energy for different heating systems is only part of the total running cost.
The true cost to consider is the lifetime costs of the system, which not only take into account the fuel used, but the hidden maintenance costs – both monetary and time - over its lifetime.
Electric heaters are 100% efficient at the point of use, meaning all the electricity used is converted directly into heat, unlike boiler-based systems where energy is wasted through the flue. In addition, over the last few years there have been many fluctuations in the price of both electricity and gas, with Energywatch – the independent gas and electricity consumer watchdog – reporting in July 2006 that some energy suppliers had increased the cost of gas to their customers by as much as 92% since 2003, while the price of electricity had increased by only 54%.
Because electric heating has virtually no moving parts, most systems can be expected to last for at least 15 years, whereas the gas boiler industry itself quotes a lifetime of only 10 years for a boiler. Because electric heating is cheaper to install, maintain and lasts an average of 50% longer than a gas system, the true ownership costs means that an electric heating system can be a more cost effective solution in many developments.
Electric heating doesn’t require a flue or pipe-work, so there are no restrictions on building layout or design and no regulatory or planning issues associated with positioning of flues to restrict you. Electric heaters can also be installed virtually anywhere in the room, again aiding freedom of design.
The versatility of electric heating can also be a major advantage for home extensions where the existing system may have insufficient capacity to heat extra radiators.
As a fuel source electricity is available right across the country and is also ideal in sensitive areas or in listed buildings where structural alterations are difficult. Only electric heating gives such freedom of design.
No maintenance and no annual inspection
Maintaining a heating system can, depending on the choice of fuel, add significantly to the overall cost of running the system, so it is very important to consider the likely impact of maintenance costs and any safety checks requirements. With virtually no moving parts to break down or wear out, electric heating is extremely reliable and there is practically nothing to go wrong. Gas boiler based system on the other hand should be regular serviced and, although not a legal requirement in private properties, should be given an annual safety check. However both private and social housing landlords are legally required to have annual safety checks on gas appliances.
Comfort and Control
There have been significant developments in electric heating in the last few years and modern electric heaters incorporate highly sensitive, integral thermostatic controls. The accuracy of electronic controls allows rapid response to sudden changes in room temperature, ensuring that heater outputs are quickly reduced or increased to maintain a consistent room temperature. And Dimplex also offers a variety of control options for our installed heating products.
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