It’s Getting Hot in Here

Now that winter is well and truly upon us, it’s important to keep our homes cosy and warm. But how? Do you install electric heating or, if you have a gas supply, do you plump for a gas-fired system? 

Ian Buswell, Operations Director of B&P Buswell Heating Engineers in Compton, Paignton, acknowledges that there are pros and cons for each system. With gas, the initial installation costs are higher, especially if you have to install a supply, whereas electric boilers are easier to install in geographical areas where there is no mains gas, or in properties where there are planning restrictions on installing a gas/oil-fired system. 

Many heating systems can still be run on gas, even if there is no direct supply to the property, as they can be converted to running on LPG, which involves a storage tank; its functionality will then be the same as running on mains gas. Bottled gas is another alternative, yet this has a further cost implication. 

Once the scheme is in place, the running costs of gas make this fuel come into its own, being more cost-effective in the long term. “Electric boilers cannot produce the same amount of heat as gas/oil boilers, and are limited to around 15kW for installation in a normal home,” explains Ian. “A large four-bedroom could require anything up to a 30kW boiler system. Electric boilers are also limited in the amount of hot water they can supply.” 

Efficiency-wise, the two methods are similar. “Modern condensing boilers have an efficiency up to 98% in certain circumstances, and electric boilers have an efficiency of up to 99%, as no energy is lost through a chimney or flue,” Ian continues. 

Furthermore, electric boilers are generally smaller than gas/oil-fuelled boilers and are very quiet when running, which will be advantageous to some households. 

The good news is that radiators work in the same way with either gas or electric, says Ian: “Once the heat is into the system (from whichever boiler), then the radiators work exactly the same.” However, if instant heat is required, then a gas system is more reactive, according to Ian. “Electric boilers, due to their lower output, would take longer to heat up than a gas/oil-fired boiler system.” 

Once installed, both systems need maintenance, and gas requires an annual safety check to ensure that the boiler is burning safely and not producing carbon monoxide. “As an electric boiler is effectively like a large kettle, no fuel is burnt and so carbon monoxide cannot be produced. There are safety devices on an electric boiler that need to be checked, but this should be done in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations,” advises Ian. 

For those concerned about environmental issues, neither system is seen as more ‘green’, unless the electricity is supplied by an alternative source – such as solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps or biomass boilers – which involves installation of further expensive kit, yet will be financially viable if run and maintained for many years. 

With today’s technology, all heating systems are becoming high-tech, with apps available to control home heating remotely. 

Overall, gas does remain the most popular boiler choice, due to its cheaper running costs and higher boiler output. “Each type of boiler has its own disadvantages and advantages, but electric boilers would only really be installed if there was a specific reason not to install a gas or oil boiler,” Ian concludes. 

If it’s just one room to heat, other options include a simple fire, either wall-mounted or floor-standing, including those made to look like woodburners or open fires, but without the mess and fuel! 

The electric appliances, complete with faux fire and flames, don’t need a chimney, and the open fire choice comes with a mantelpiece surround, which helps to give a focal point in the room. The easy installation – simply plug in at the wall and turn on – is a practical choice. The heating is maintained with an internal fan heater and, with a choice of settings, is a practical way of installing heating that is both attractive and easy to maintain. Certain models are capable of featuring ‘flames’ (from LED bulbs) but no actual heat, so there is an ambient feel of a fire without actually providing any heating. 

With mains gas, a gas fire can provide heating in one room without the need for a chimney or constant maintenance. Like electric fires, they have flame effects and easy controls and, combined with efficiency and low running costs, prove a popular choice for those wanting a focal point in the lounge, while providing contained heat.

“With today’s technology, all heating systems are becoming high-tech, with apps available to control home heating remotely”