Being able to choose between a variety of heating systems for your home is an essential part of trying to cut down on costs but by also being energy efficient.
What Is An Electric Heating System?
While traditional heating systems use gas and oil as a power source to generate heat and hot water, electricity is used in modern heating systems. Electric heating systems are becoming popular currently. We can look at German electric heating manufacturers to see how you can upgrade whilst requiring quality for your home.
Why Invest In An Electric Heating System?
With natural resources such as gas and oil expected to run out in the next four decades, electricity is becoming popular as an alternative source of power for heating systems. Installing an electric heating system in your home comes with many advantages such as:
- Zero emissions
- Efficient and effective heating for your home or office
- No carbon monoxide leaks
- Fast response compared to traditional gas and oil heating systems – which takes time to heat your home
Types of Electric Heating Systems
With different types of electric heating systems on the market, you should be cautious when choosing the best heating system to suit your needs. Here are some of the most popular electric heating systems on the market today:
- Infrared panels
- Electric boilers
- Air source heat pumps
- Ground source heat pumps
- Electric storage heaters
Electric Boilers
Central heating boilers operate similar to any other type of boiler without having to go through the process of burning gas or oil as fuel. These systems are great for properties off the gas network or small homes, bungalows, and flats with low demand for heating.
Infrared Panels
Infrared panels will directly heat the objects and people in a room instead of heating the air in the room. They heat up quickly as soon as the unit is turned on. It doesn’t circulate dust around the room similar to conventional radiators.
Infrared heat is a form of light. The sun emits the same heat – minus the harmful ultraviolet light. Although there are certain concerns about the safety of the source, these heating panels can benefit your health.
Electric Storage Heaters
These heaters are also known as night storage heaters. They use electricity to store heat during the night. It is then slowly released during the following day. You can take advantage of cheaper night tariffs like Economy 7 with this system. The downside is the stored heat can all be released before the evening when you need it the most.
Air Source Heat Pumps
These are renewable and efficient heating systems best for large properties. But you need some indoor space to install the system.
This system has a fan that rotates and brings in the air – which will pass over an exchanger coil that contains a refrigerant fluid. The fluid will boil, evaporate, and transform into vapour. The vapour is then compressed at a higher temperature to produce heat for central heating.
This system will operate all year round. Some models of air pumps extract heat from the outside air – even when the temperature is as low as -25-degrees Celsius.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Similar to air source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps are also highly efficient systems. The only difference is ground source air pumps extract underground heat using a series of pipes. Underground temperatures are set around 10-15C all year round. GSHPs will extract this heat for central heating.
A refrigerant fluid is used to absorb the underground heat via a set of pipes. The fluid will arrive back into the heat pump and pass over a heat exchanger. This heat is used to heat your property.
What Is The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)?
The government gives incentives to homeowners who invest in air source or ground source heat pumps to heat their properties. This incentive scheme, known as the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
RHI has been rewarding households with a renewable heating system since 2014. You will get a quarterly payment over seven years under this scheme. It encourages more people to invest in renewable heating sources to heat their homes.
How Much Does An Electric Heating System Cost?
The most affordable renewable heating systems are electric storage heaters and infrared panels. These systems begin at £100-£150 each. If you want to use these systems for the entire property, you may require one unit for each room.
Air and ground source heating systems are the most expensive on the market. They also have a higher installation cost compared to the other systems.
While the running costs of electric heating are higher compared to other fuels available, it comes with significant benefits to the homeowners.
- Electricity doesn’t need to be stored similar to LPG and oil
- Electric heating systems powered by solar energy by investing in solar panel
- It is ideal for homes that are not connected to the gas network
- Electric systems have a lesser chance of faults developing – which will save your money
- Electric heating systems are quick to switch on
- Annual maintenance isn’t essential
- All electric energy is converted into heat whereas gas and oil systems waste some energy
