Radiators, Heaters, Fires or Towel Rails?

Electric fireplaces are usually bought as single features for a specific room, and whilst they make an eye-catching centrepiece for a living room or bedroom and are a useful source of on-demand heat, we don't recommend using them as the main heating system for your home. Although they are more efficient than conventional fuel-burning fires, they lack the extensive controllability and made-for-purpose heating technology of other electric heating products.

Electric panel heaters provide an effective heating solution in those rooms you use less often, but are less efficient than electric radiators. As they heat using 100% convection, they must rely solely on air movement to direct heat around a room. If that room is in any way poorly insulated or open plan, the warm air will get lost and the heater will have to work harder for little gain.

Electric towel rails are ideal for bathroom and even kitchen heating. Their 2-in-1 heating and drying functions are perfect for warming rooms and as a place for storing and drying towels. Their design, however, does not suit them to whole home heating

Electric radiators

Electric radiators work in a similar way to gas central heating radiators, providing the same type of warmth, only they work independently of one another for better efficiency. They’re incredibly varied when it comes to style, colour and programming capabilities, but what they all have in common is their energy-saving and cost-cutting features such as 24/7 programming and open window detection.

Infrared heaters

Infrared heaters are unmatched when it comes to efficiency because of their use of radiant warmth. Their slimline, lightweight builds allow them to blend in with any interior, and their sophisticated programming prioritises ease of use.

Storage heaters

Storage heaters were once the industry standard when it came to electric heating. Now mostly obsolete due to their limited efficiency and bulky models, there are still some cases where they might suit your home if your lifestyle meets certain criteria.

Efficient, reliable and highly controllable, electric radiators are the ultimate heating solution. They use a combination of convection and radiant warmth to supply responsive yet lasting warmth – similar to the way in which gas radiator work. Unlike gas central heating, however, electric radiators offer quick and easy DIY installation with zero maintenance. They can be placed throughout your home and managed on a room-by-room basis, for unique temperatures that match the needs of every space. Precision digital thermostats and touchscreen control panels make manual control effortless. Smart electric radiators go a step further with WiFi app and voice control, so you can adjust your settings from your phone – either sat on the sofa or while you’re on the go!

Infrared heaters, otherwise known as infrared panels, have the potential to be the most efficient heating system for your home. Instead of warming the air, radiant heat travels in a direct line, absorbed by everything in its path. This bypasses the limitations of convection heaters, which will struggle to provide heat in large, poorly insulated rooms.

Infrared heaters are the least obtrusive in terms of appearance. Their slimline panels, whether you opt for a classic aluminium casing or practical mirrored finish, can be installed DIY with both wall and ceiling positioning – cementing them as a truly versatile and discreet system. Providing a low-energy, gentle warmth, infrared heaters are best suited to be left running throughout the day.

There was a time when electric heating simply meant storage heaters – and their reputation for inefficient and difficult to control heating still puts a lot of people off electric heating today! We've developed our collection of top-of-the-range energy-efficient electric radiators and infrared heaters in part to provide money-saving alternatives to customers looking to replace their storage heaters. In some instances, however, there may be cases where storage heaters are still a sensible choice.

If you spend most of your days indoors and need a constant low level of heat, storage heaters may be best suited to your lifestyle. Because the heaters charge up overnight, they will release heat uncontrollably from the small hours of the morning to the early evening. If this suits your routine, it may be that storage heaters really are the right choice for you. For all other applications, the superior controllability and cutting-edge energy-efficiency of electric central heating make our radiators and infrared heaters the more economical choice despite using standard electricity tariffs.