Choosing the most economic electric heater can be difficult. All our heaters, despite their different features, have one thing in common: they are more or less economic depending on how and where you use them. But how do you make sure the heater you’re after is the most economic choice for your house?
Why the size of your electric heater matters
First of all, you have to make sure that the electric heater you’re considering has the appropriate strength for the room you want to heat. Unless you’re planning to use your electric heater as a booster for your main radiators, or you want to move it around whenever and wherever it’s needed, then choosing a heater that isn’t too weak or too powerful for your room is important. An electric heater that is too strong for your room will simply cause you to spend more money. Why overspend if you’re not going to use your heater to its full potential? Whereas a needlessly powerful heater will result in a higher upfront cost, an electric heater that isn’t strong enough will still cause you some degree of trouble. This is why many of our electric heaters come with digital thermostats. Their job is to maintain your desired temperature by turning the heater on and off, saving you money. However, if the electric heater you chose is too weak for your room, it will have to work much harder to keep up the temperature in a room it wasn’t designed for, wasting money rather than saving it.
What features make electric heating efficient?
There's is no real way of finding out whether the heater you’re interested in is the most economic electric heater. It’s rather the features that our electric heaters have, not the design or brand, that makes them economical. Firstly, a timer is available in most of our electric heaters as well as a thermostat which watches the temperature and ensures the heater stays at your desired level. Those with WiFi control allow you to manage your heating from your smartphone or tablet no matter where you are in the world – as long as you have downloaded the compatible app and have access to the internet. This means that even when you’re out and about, you can check to see if you have left your heater on or just look up your energy usage statistics. WiFi also lets you control multiple heaters in your system and establish a weekly heating schedule that you can program to fit around your routine. Set your heater to switch on just before you get home from work or switch off before bed, so that the house is nice and toasty precisely when you need it. This way you don’t have to do anything manually as your heater will do all of the work – you’ll probably forget it’s even there. These features help to cut down on costs as well as increasing efficiency, ultimately making you significant savings that you’ll appreciate after checking your next bill!
Which electric heaters are more efficient?
No matter how economical our electric panel heaters are, it’s important to remember that they are not the most convenient way of heating your whole house. They heat solely through convection, meaning the heat they produce can be easily lost to open windows and doors and it can take more energy to continuously heat a space, which is why we do not recommend them as a primary heating source. Instead, panel heaters are much better acting as secondary heating in a spare bedroom or conservatory, however, we do have some alternatives when it comes to heating the rest of your home…
Electric radiators
These differ from electric heaters as they provide warmth through a combination of radiation and convection, heating you on a deeper level. Electric radiators are more economical because the radiant warmth they produce doesn’t get lost to draughts like the convected heat of electric panel heaters. At point of use, all of the power they draw gets converted into usable heat, so nothing is wasted, reducing energy loss and running costs. Radiators with ceramic elements such as the Ecostrad iQ Ceramic – a smart electric radiator with WiFi control – boast high heat retention which allow radiators to stay warmer for longer, continuing to emit heat even after the appliance has stopped drawing power from the wall. For the best efficiency in your home, you can always mix and match electric radiators with electric panel heaters to suit different rooms – using one as your primary heating source in the living room or kitchen and the other for temporary use in the spare bedroom or study.
Infrared panels
Infrared panels are another great example of more efficient electric heaters that are best for a primary heating source. The main reason they cost less to run is because they provide warmth solely through radiation. This radiant warmth is completely safe and mimics the heat we feel from the sun only without the damaging rays of ultraviolet. It travels in a wave to directly warm people and objects without getting lost to open windows or doors, so none of the heat produced is wasted. As with electric radiators, infrared panels convert all power into heat for 100% efficiency, so you won’t be wasting energy or money on overworking your heating in order to get the most out of it. Many infrared heating panels are also compatible with WiFi control to match their modern design, so controlling your heating is easier than ever with these appliances. They can be fitted throughout your home, providing you with economical heating in every room, all year round. With an ultra-slim design, these electric heaters blend in well with all interiors, so if it’s discreet, stylish and efficient heating you’re looking for, why not consider infrared panels instead?
An electric heater can be a great heating solution for the rooms you use infrequently, such as small house offices or guest bedrooms, as it provides on-demand heat that spreads quickly, whilst its intelligent features ensure you’re not overspending on your bills. If you think electric heating might be the solution for you, visit us at Electric Radiators Direct and find the most economic electric heater for your house today!
