Most heaters in the United Kingdom are powered by a boiler. This is arguably the most standard heating configuration that people have and most people understand how it works. You simply turn on the boiler, you turn on the radiators and then they heat up.
Nowadays, there are many different types of heaters that can make things easier for you and even offer you some surprising financial savings. In fact, we’re almost spoiled for choice given that heaters now are so compact, efficient and can be installed in virtually any part of the home. In this article, we’re going to explain the many different types of electric heaters available and also show you how they work so that you can make an informed decision if you ever plan to install or purchase an electric heater.
How do we get heat from electricity?
Much in the same way that an electric stove, kettle or even a lamp gets hot, electricity can be converted into heat. In most cases, a current will pass through a resistor that converts electricity into heat. The heat is then used in different ways depending on how the heater functions, but the basic principle is the same. While electricity ultimately costs more than gas or oil, the savings come in the way it’s used. There are far fewer inefficiencies, such as timing when to use your electric heater and being able to use it only when you need the heat.
For instance, an electric heater can be incorporated easily into a smart home system or it can be directly controlled with your phone or an electric panel that automates things. For instance, you may be able to set a timer for when it should turn on or off, and you can also regulate the temperature by simply putting in a couple of settings or numbers.
Electric storage heaters
The most common type of electric heater looks very similar to a radiator but is fundamentally different. These electric storage heaters are essentially active all the time, using electricity to heat up an element inside of the electric storage heater (such as ceramic bricks) when your electricity tariff is low or at an off-peak time, then it releases that stored heat energy when you need it. This offers some fantastic savings and is well worth the initial investment. Many higher-end models have digital displays and can be connected to your phone or remote control, meaning you get a lot of access to when it turns on, you know how long it’s used for and you can also regulate the temperature with ease.
Electric space heater
The other common electric heater is a space heater. These are devices that plug into an outlet and when switched on, they will heat up an element inside and either use a fan to circulate hot air around the room or a similar method. These are much cheaper, they’re portable and offer heating wherever you need it, but they are much smaller and typically don’t heat up an entire room very well unless positioned correctly.
