Heating is an essential part of life in Britain. Our winter months are far too cold to get through without flicking a switch daily, waiting for a radiator to heat up and enjoying the warmth it generates. But this always comes at a cost. Price and environmental impact are something to consider when you’re turning on your heating. Many UK households still use gas central heating, which is often not a very eco-friendly option. By switching to electric heating, you can rest easy with your heating on, knowing you’re not harming the environment in a significant way.
If you’re worried about the cost of installing electric heating or just overwhelmed by the daunting concept, get in touch with UK Energy Management (NE) Ltd today to ask for our expert advice. If you apply for a grant, the cost of your heating replacement or installation will allow you to rest easy knowing your heating isn’t breaking the bank.
Read on to find out how electric heating can benefit you and how a grant can help get you on your way to an eco-friendly home.
What is Electric Heating?
Electric heating is a way to power your house without having to rely on a boiler. It has come a long way from its origins, where you would expect tacky, standalone plug-in units that snake a wire across a whole room. They now come in stylish modern designs with discrete wiring, able to be mounted on your wall with minimal installation time.
Central heating relies on a boiler to burn fuel and heat water, then circulates the heat around in pipes and radiators. Electric heating relies on separate individual heating appliances in each room but can be connected to operate in tandem. There is a lot of variety in electric heating, so you can find the perfect storage solution for whatever your requirements are.
What is an Eco Government Grant?
The Energy Company Obligation Scheme was set up to help low-income households have access to funding for an upgraded heating system, such as installing electric heating and help to reduce carbon emissions. ECO3 grants can provide you with a range of heating upgrades, no longer marred by income thresholds. If you qualify for any of the approved benefits, you will automatically be entitled to a grant. Click here for a list of qualifying benefits.
Energy companies are committed to helping vulnerable and low-income houses stay warm by funding the installation of energy-efficient heating systems. This year alone UK Energy Management (NE) Ltd have saved people £72 million in savings. We can help you qualify and guide you through the whole process, making the process as easy as possible for you. We’ll find the funding available for your individual needs and help you create an energy-efficient home.
ECO3 grants are available until 2022, so you should check your eligibility now before you miss out! Even if you’re not eligible, UK Energy Management (NE) Ltd can contact your local authority who may be able to offer our services through flexible eligibility.
Benefits of Electric Heating
If you’re wondering what the benefits of choosing electric heating are, worry no longer! Here’s a breakdown of some of the best benefits of using electric heating and how it helps you be more eco-friendly.
Environmentally friendly
Electric heating is the ideal way to switch your household to be more environmentally friendly. It has zero greenhouse gas emissions compared to a boiler and no carbon dioxide output. This means you know the air you breathe is safe and the environment isn’t being harmed whenever you want a little extra heat.
Adaptable and Easy
There is a large variety of options available in terms of electric heating, from air-source heat pumps to storage heaters. That means you can heat a variety of spaces in different ways depending on each individual space’s requirements. A small bathroom requires a lot less heat than a loft conversion, so using different products for their different needs makes your home more eco-friendly by not wasting heat in rooms that do not need it.
Electric heating is also very easy to use. Many are fitted with programmable timers as standard so you can adjust the heat whenever you want. This way you can warm the house up from the comfort of your bed or as you’re walking home from work. You can set schedules for the day and the week if you know you’re going to be out of the house a lot. This way your heating is only on exactly when you want it to be, meaning no costs from the heat you’re not using.
Efficiency
Electric storage heaters work by producing heat overnight while costs are low, then storing the fuel for use the next day. This method is very cost-efficient and can help reduce your annual heating bill by up to 30%! Boilers are not as efficient, losing heat while travelling through the pipes in your house and gas escaping from leaks. Electric heating doesn’t use pipes, supplying the heat in the room right there and then, without risk of loss.
No maintenance and servicing
Electric heating does not require servicing and has very little maintenance, meaning you’ll be saving on the cost of insuring it or having a plumber come round on an expensive callout cost. This is due to their smaller and more efficient parts, which stop working a lot less frequently than boiler components. You also never have to worry about leaks or bleeding radiators ever again which also need a plumber who may come at an inconvenient time, disrupting your time.
Disadvantages of Gas Heating
Here are a few reasons why you should do away with your gas heating and upgrade to electric heating as soon as possible.
Harsh impact on the environment
An average heat or gas boiler produces 2.75 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every single year. So using one impacts heavily towards global warming and climate change.
Installation costs
Installing a boiler system in a home can be a long and messy job. They require a lot of pipework to be installed throughout the home, often resulting in floors and walls being pulled apart to create space to install. This could also be quite pricey depending on the size of the property. With an ECO3 grant, you won’t even have to worry about the installation costs. Electric heating is quick and easy to install, with minimal damage to your home or disruption of your day.
Maintenance and servicing
A boiler must be serviced around once a year to make sure it is running as efficiently as possible. Not getting it checked can allow bigger and more expensive problems to develop. Getting a plumber out isn’t free, and will cost you around £80 for a service. You might have insurance on your boiler, but again this is a large cost. Replacing a boiler could cost you up to £1500, so getting a grant to pay for electric heating instead is a great, cheap alternative solution. On average, about a fifth of UK homes have a boiler breakdown every year, leaving you without warmth.
A malfunctioning boiler can also be very harmful if it is leaking. A carbon monoxide leak can have extremely detrimental effects on your health, such as brain damage, heart disease and death. If you have any symptoms such as dizziness, tiredness, sickness or a tension-type headache, this might be caused by a carbon monoxide leak somewhere in your home.
Noise Levels
Gas heating can be quite loud and annoying to constantly listen to, especially early in the morning. You’ll commonly hear a continuous hum or the sound of air swishing in your vents. If your boiler is quite old, these sounds will only intensify and even get worse. You might begin to hear tapping, banging or squeaking noises that will be very annoying to listen to all day. Electric heating is basically noise-free, so you never have to worry about irritating sounds waking you up.
Check Your Eligibility For A Eco Heating Grants
Visit our website now to fill out a simple form and check your eligibility for an eco heating grant. At UK Energy Management (NE) Ltd, we can help you every step of the way, from giving your home a free no-obligation survey to helping install your free electric storage heaters.
We’re on hand to help make your home more eco-friendly, so give us a call on 0191 466 1185 to speak to one of our expert team, or contact us via our website.
