Electric Heating Systems

Options for heating your home

03.20

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With high gas and electricity prices looking like they’re here to stay, it’s more important than ever that we heat our homes in the most efficient way. Using less energy is the best way to cut your bills (see our guide to using less electricity for tips),but this doesn't mean having to live in a cold, dark home.

Cutting energy bills
Insulating your roof and walls should save you between £150 and £450 a year. Adding a modern boiler and heating controls will save a further £200 a year – see our boiler reviews for current Best Buys.

For insulation, you can get help with the costs from grant schemes run by the government, local authorities and energy suppliers. This could even mean free insulation for people of a certain age, with disabilities or on certain benefits. See our insulation and Energy grants section for details.

Renewable energy
If you use less energy, you’ll also reduce the carbon emissions produced by your home. There are also a number of ways you can generate your own energy at home from low or zero carbon ‘microgeneration’ technology, such as solar heating systems, heat pumps and woodburning stove.

Making your own energy instead of using mains gas and electricity reduces your carbon footprint. It also means you’re less dependent on sources of energy that are increasingly subject to global demand and are likely to have high and volatile prices in future.

Cost of renewable energy systems
If you're considering installing any microgeneration technologies in your home, it’s important to take a long-term view. Renewable choices may look more expensive, but as the cost of gas and electricity continues to rise, the time taken to get your money back on an investment in microgeneration will come down.

In addition, the government will soon announce details of a generous financial incentive, the Renewable Heat Incentive, which will pay you to generate renewable heat, meaning these technologies will become more cost-effective. It's important, however, to ensure your property is suitable for the technology you choose, as not all properties have a south-facing roof or a garden.

Our table shows how much you can expect to save each year when installing different renewable technologies in your home, including microgeneration technologies that produce electricity.

For solar photovoltaics (PV) you can now get cashback thanks to the generous Feed-in Tariff. The Energy Saving Trust says a typical domestic solar electricity system, with an installation size of 2.2 kWp could earn around £800 a year. Cashback applies to other electricity-generating technologies such as wind and hydropower but not to technologies generating heat. However, these will soon qualify for the Renewable Heat Incentive .

Cost of alternative energy
Alternative energy	Installation cost	Annual energy bill savings for gas-heated homes	Annual energy bill savings for electric-heated homes
Solar PV	£8,000 - £14,000	£110 + FIT	£110 + FIT
Solar thermal	£3,000 - £5,000	£60	£90
Ground source heat pump	£9,000 - £17,000	£-40 - £70	£420 - £530
Air source heat pump	£6,000 - £10,000	£-130 - £70	£330 - £530
Wood-fuelled heating	£2,500 - £11,500	£-190	£390

Using the table
Savings are based on a three-bed semi detached house and are based on data from the Energy Saving Trust. Installation costs: Indicative cost of equipment and installation. Annual savings: Estimated for homes currently heated by gas or electricity. Savings for heat pumps Based on EST's field trials and are given as a range depending on the performance of the heat pump.

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How electric central heating works

03.12

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The most cost-effective form of electric central heating uses storage heaters. These heaters use electricity supplied at a cheaper ‘night-time’ rate to heat up special heat-retaining bricks.

Storage heaters give out heat slowly and are designed to keep warm for the whole of the following day. Cheap-rate electricity can also be used to provide hot water via an immersion heater in your hot water tank.
Cheap-rate electricity tariffs

Electricity tariffs that provide cheap-rate electricity are usually known as Economy 7, as they give you seven hours of cheaper electricity overnight. Economy 10 works in a similar way and gives you an extra three hours of cheap electricity – usually in the middle of the afternoon.

You can also get electric radiators that run off a standard single-rate electricity tariff. However, due to the relatively high price of electricity during the day, these can be expensive to run and should only be considered if you have a very well-insulated property and won’t have to use them regularly.

Annual fuel cost for heating and hot water (not including installation costs)
Fuel cost for heating and hot water: £1400 (less if on an Economy 7/10 tariff)

Carbon emissions per year
Carbon emissions: 6 tonnes

These yearly costs are estimated costs based on heating and hot water demands of a three-bedroomed, semi-detached, well-insulated house (insulated cavity walls, 270mm loft insulation and insulated primary pipe work), the efficiencies of typical heating systems and the current average price per fuel per kWh (as at March 2011). They are not derived from actual fuel bills.
Pros of electric central heating

Electric storage heater systems are much cheaper to install than gas central heating systems as they require no pipe-work or flue.

With very few moving parts, storage heaters require very little maintenance and don’t need to be serviced annually.

Unlike gas, mains electricity is available almost everywhere in the UK.

Cons of electric central heating

Electricity prices are about three times higher than gas prices per unit of energy. And like gas, electricity prices are also rising and are likely to stay high. As most electricity in the UK is generated in gas-fired power stations, any increase in the price of gas will also be reflected in the cost of electricity.

The daytime rate on Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariffs is higher than on standard single-rate electricity tariffs, so while you’ll get a cheaper rate for your heating, running appliances during the day – particularly if you need to use an electric heater to provide extra heat – could be expensive.

You don’t have instant control over storage heaters: older models will give out heat as long as the bricks remain warm – day and night.

If your storage heaters don’t have an automatic charge control (which measures the temperature in the room and adjusts the amount of heat stored overnight), you’ll have to set this yourself – so keep an eye on the weather forecast for the following day.

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Choosing the right electric heater for your home

09.43

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   * Benefits of electric heating
    * Energy efficiency
    * Calculate the heat
    * What suits your lifestyle?
    * Comparing different heating options
    * Radiant or convection?
    * Purchase, installation and running costs

Benefits of electric heating
    * Clean. No ash, splinters, soot or smoke stains to clean up.
    * Healthy. Clean, renewable electricity is better for the environment, for you and your family. Electric heat pumps filter and clean the air. Electric heating is recommended by the Asthma Foundation of Tasmania.
    * Economical and efficient. Electric heating is efficient; switches, timers and thermostats avoid waste.
    * Versatile. Whatever the space, whatever the use, there's an electric heater to suit.

Energy efficiency
This is the ratio between the amount of energy put into an appliance and the amount of energy that leaves the appliance as heat.

Electric heating is the most efficient form of heating. It is at least 100% efficient – for every 100 units of energy used 100 units will be turned into heat.

The heat pump has a remarkable 300% efficiency rating.

Open fires have a very low efficiency factor and most woodheaters are only 50–60% efficient. Woodheaters and open fires also pollute the environment and can be a health risk. Find out more information about woodsmoke.

Calculate the heat
The first step is to calculate the output you need to heat the area adequately. If you have an underpowered heater you will never be quite warm enough on colder winter days. If you choose a heater that's too powerful, you'll pay extra money but never use the extra capacity.

An Aurora Preferred Supplier can come to your home and do a heat-loss calculation. They will calculate the ideal output of your new heater and give you accurate running costs. This is a free service with no obligation. You can also use the energy calculator to estimate your heating costs.

What suits your lifestyle?
If you and your family average only a few hours a day indoors, then running costs may not be a major consideration. However, if you spend a lot of time inside, running costs are critical.

If life is unpredictable you'll probably need a form of instant or on-demand heating, rather than one that takes time to warm up. However, if your family follows a routine then you can consider just about any system.

There is also a question of taste – some like an ambient glow to add cosiness to their room and may opt for a radiant/fan heater. Others prefer their heating to be neither seen nor heard and could choose either ceiling, floor or ducted heating.

Comparing different heating options
On-demand heaters are heaters that are switched on and off as desired. They are easily compared with one another based on temperature, and the area to be heated.

It is more difficult to compare an electric or gas heater with a woodheater.

On a per hour basis, a woodheater's running costs are between that of a heat pump and a fixed fan heater. However a woodheater is not on-demand heating; fuel is burned even when heating is not required.

Radiant or convection?
The two main methods of heating your home are convection and radiant heating. Convection is heating the air temperature; usually fan assisted to speed up the process. Radiant heating directly heats up surfaces.

Some people love the toasty quality of radiant heat, while for others it is too intense. Some like the evenness of convection heating, while others claim that the fan in a fan-forced convection heater makes a room feel draughty. (This can be caused by the heater being positioned badly, the size of the heater, or the design of the house. Aurora Preferred Suppliers have been trained to position the heater for maximum comfort and efficiency.)

Purchase, installation and running costs
When you know the amount of output required from your heating system and have considered your needs and preferences, you need to consider purchase, installation and running costs. For example, a heat pump costs more up front but is extremely efficient, while a fixed fan heater costs less but is more expensive to run.

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BENEFITS OF ELECTRIC HEATING

09.28

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Electric heating has a number of generic benefits over other fuels and detailed information on these benefits can be found in the left hand menus for each of the 7 product categories shown in the navigation bar above.

Low capital & installation costs
Electric heating is very easy to install, ensuring installation costs are kept to a minimum. It doesn’t require any pipe-work, simply a connection to the electrical circuit[s], so it can frequently be installed in a matter of minutes. For new build properties this means it can go in at the second fix wiring stage. And for refurbishments and replacements, it means minimal disruption for the household. What’s more, because the heaters can work as stand-alone units or as a system, it is easy and cheap to add heaters to a system at anytime as budgets permit.

Low Life Ownership Costs
There is often confusion about the running costs of electric heating compared to other fuels; however the cost of energy for different heating systems is only part of the true running cost equation. The true cost to consider is the lifetime costs of the system, which not only take into account the fuel used, but the hidden maintenance costs – both monetary and time - over its lifetime.

Electric heaters are 100% efficient at the point of use, meaning all the electricity used is converted directly into heat, unlike boiler-based systems where energy is wasted through the flue. In addition, over the last few years there have been many fluctuations in the price of both electricity and gas, with Energywatch – the independent gas and electricity consumer watchdog – reporting in July 2006 that some energy suppliers had increased the cost of gas to their customers by as much as 92% since 2003, while the price of electricity had increased by only 54%.

Because electric heating has virtually no moving parts, most systems can be expected to last for at least 15 years, whereas the gas boiler industry itself quotes a lifetime of only 10 years for a boiler. Because electric heating is cheaper to install, maintain and lasts an average of 50% longer than a gas system, the true ownership costs means that an electric heating system can be a more cost effective solution in many developments.

Flexible & Versatile
Electric heating doesn’t require a flue or pipe-work, so there are no restrictions on building layout or design and no regulatory or planning issues associated with positioning of flues to restrict you. Electric heaters can also be installed virtually anywhere in the room, again aiding freedom of design.

The versatility of electric heating can also be a major advantage for home extensions where the existing system may have insufficient capacity to heat extra radiators.

As a fuel source electricity is available right across the country and is also ideal in sensitive areas or in listed buildings where structural alterations are difficult. Only electric heating gives such freedom of design.

Safe, Reliable Systems
Whatever type of heating you specify; safety is always an important consideration. Because electric heaters do not burn fuel internally to generate heat, there are none of the associated safety risks, such as carbon monoxide poisoning or explosions. And as there are no radiators to leak or burst, there is less risk of damage to completed properties, which can be a major concern if properties are empty for a period of time, especially over the winter months. Also with virtually no moving parts to break down or wear out, electric heating is extremely reliable and will normally run satisfactorily for much longer than a conventional gas boiler.

• Environmental Health Benefits
Storage based electric heating systems provide continuous heat throughout the day, maintaining a consistent temperature in the
building fabric. This helps eliminate any long term building maintenance problems associated with condensation, benefiting occupants
with a healthier, more comfortable living environment.

No maintenance and no annual inspection
Maintaining a heating system can, depending on the choice of fuel, add significantly to the overall cost of running the system, so it is very important to consider the likely impact of maintenance costs and any safety checks requirements. With virtually no moving parts to break down or wear out, electric heating is extremely reliable and there is practically nothing to go wrong. Gas boiler based system on the other hand should be regular serviced and, although not a legal requirement in private properties, should be given an annual safety check. However both private and social housing landlords are legally required to have annual safety checks on gas appliances.

Comfort and Control
There have been significant developments in electric heating in the last few years and modern electric heaters incorporate highly sensitive, integral thermostatic controls. The accuracy of electronic controls allows rapid response to sudden changes in room temperature, ensuring that heater outputs are quickly reduced or increased to maintain a consistent room temperature. And Dimplex also offers a variety of control options for our installed heating products.

Benefits of Electric Water Heating
Electric water heating is an efficient method of heating water directly with electric immersion that are in direct contact with the water, reducing energy losses than can be experienced from pipework, and circulating pumps. If you have an off-peak electricity supply it allows the water to be heated during the evening or early morning providing a full tank of hot water ready for each day. The use of a booster immersion allows additional water to be heated during periods where water demands exceed the normal daily usage so that extra baths or showers can be catered for.

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ThermoSoft Electric Radiant In-Floor Heating System-TT10-120

09.19

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Today, more than 1,000,000 households in the U.S. and Canada enjoy warming products made with patented ThermoSoft's FiberThermics® technology inside! Buy from the manufacturer-ThermoSoft- and get Lifetime Warranty and Live Support for your floor heating system. ThermoTile is a truly versatile in-floor heating system that can be used under most floor coverings Tiles, Floating floors (Pergo, engineering wood, etc.) even thin rugs because it's only 1/8-inch thick, unlike other, thicker radiant floor heating systems. All you need to do is to cover it with thinset mortar or regular cement. ThermoTile is UL Listed and carrying an industry leading Lifetime Warranty (!). ThermoTile is a solid-state system with no moving parts to break or wear out. There are no ducts to clean, no allergens to worry about, burners to service, or fuel tanks that have to be replaced regularly. Once ThermoTile is installed, you can forget about maintenance.

Technical Details
    * Voltage: 120V, Power: 180 Wt, Amperage: 1.5 Amp. , Heating area coverage (any shape): 15 sq. ft.
    * Zero Electromagnetic Field (!). No interference with electronic devices in the house.
    * Four insulation layers including an outer alkaline, acid and mechanical resistant Nylon layer.
    * Installation-friendly 10' armored lead wires are pre-attached to only one end (!) of mat.
    * Made in the USA with Lifetime Warranty (!), UL listed and we ship same or next business day.

Product Details
    * Product Dimensions: 120 x 15 x 0.1 inches ; 2 pounds
    * Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
    * ASIN: B000G7MQKE
    * Item model number: TT10-120

Price : $158.96

BUY IT RIGHT NOW !

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Aube by Honeywell TH110-SP-P/U Electric Heating 7-Day Programmable Thermostat

08.58

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This powerful Aube by Honeywell 7-Day programmable Thermostat boasts one of the market's largest, most legible LCDs. Advanced temperature control ensures total comfort by minimizing temperature swings. 7-day Programming provides separate Programming options for each day of the week (4-periods per day); pre-programmed or personalized schedule. On and standby switch enables thermostat shutdown at end of heating season for added security. Temporary bypass enables temperature override without changing Programming.

Product Description
The Aube TH110-SP-P boasts one of the market's largest, most legible LCDs. Advanced temperature control ensures total comfort by minimizing temperature swings. 7-day Programming provides separate programming options for each day of the week (4-periods per day); pre-programmed or personalized schedule. On and standby switch enables thermostat shutdown at end of heating season for added security. Temporary bypass enables temperature override without changing programming.

Product Details
    * Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
    * Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
    * ASIN: B001QFZ3V4
    * Item model number: TH110-SP-P/U

Reviews
Pros:
It has a low profile; once mounted, it sits approximately 2cm/0.8inches off the wall.

It's the least conspicuous unit of all the electric baseboard thermostat.

It's simple to override the program settings. Press the up/down buttons to incrementally change the temperature or jump right to the cooler/warmer temperature by pressing the moon/sun button.

There are stickers with programming instructions that can be attached on the back of the front panel, so that you don't have to dig out the user manual.

Cons:
The LCD panel does not have a back light.

The time format, temperature format and Early Start mode have to be set before mounting the thermostat on the wall.

When a heating cycle starts, there is click sound. The click is much louder than even my manual thermostat relay. This thermostat may not be good choice for a bedroom thermostat as it will wake a light sleeper. For your bedroom, look for a thermostat with a solid state switch rather than relay switch that clicks.

The heat cycle works in 15 minutes increments only. I prefer the 15 second cycle available with other models as the temperature stays at a more consistent temperature and the heater heats at a low level once the room is up to the set temperature.

Price: $46.18

BUY THIS

Posted in Products

Heating the Garage

17.07

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If you are thinking about heating your garage and can't determine what the best method to accomplish this is, maybe a propane garage heater would be a good choice. Let's investigate the reasons this might be the case.

Propane garage heaters are usually the simplest solution for heating a garage. Since many people use their garages year-round, heating them is usually a necessity. Garages are like homes to heat; you could use an indoor propane heater or an outdoor propane heater to heat them. Whatever type of heater you decide to use, proper insulation and ventilation is a must.

Since garages are usually not as well insulated as homes are, using an electric heater is probably going to be a waste of money. This is especially true in colder climates. If you use a wood stove, that wouldn't be very efficient plus you would have to consider the carcinogens that this would cause.

There are many brands of heaters. Some of the more common brands are Mr. Heater, ProCom and Empire. Some have their own built-in thermostats.

Since propane gas is flammable, any contact of this gas with combustible items may lead to harm to you or others. Propane heaters should be kept safely to forestall leakages and possible contact with other combustible items.

Propane garage heaters are specifically built to actually mount on a wall similarly to the way an air conditioner is. You can get bigger heaters that are suitable for heating a two or three car garage. These heaters could cost in the range of $500 or more. Although they may be higher in price, they are well worth the cost.

Generally, garage heaters are easy to operate and able to heat larger areas where other heating solutions may be impractical. Before you consider what heater to purchase, you may want to consider the following: how many BTU's of heat you will need, clearance from walls, ceiling and combustible materials and whether the circuit feeding the heater is sufficient to carry the amperage (electricity flow) the heater requires.

Along with the wall heaters, there are portable propane garage heaters. Most of these heaters have a propane tank that is attached to the heater and just like the wall heaters, require proper ventilation. The portable heaters are usually cheaper than the wall heaters.

Propane garage heaters are an excellent way to heat a cold garage in the winter months. With the proper ventilation and insulation, you should be able to use your garage in the same manner you would in the spring and summer months.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lindsay_Bourda
Brought to you by D&D Plumbing Heating and Cooling, Vacaville

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