With a record increase in energy costs in the UK, you may be left wondering how to heat your home without receiving a sizeable bill at the end of the month. Heating is also one of the biggest carbon footprint contributors, so you should make sure your heating is not only cost-effective, but energy efficient as well. Before you decide on gas or electricity, you should consider important factors such as heating ability and associated carbon footprint. Allow us to walk you through the pros and cons of each option to help you decide on the best way to heat your home.
What’s the difference between gas and electric heating?
Gas central heating systems operate by burning fuel to heat the water, which gas boilers use to transfer to radiators or underfloor heating through the pipes in your home. Electric heating systems usually rely on separate appliances in each room, such as electric heaters.
Advantages of gas heating
Modern gas boilers can be around 90% energy efficient, meaning a lot less energy will be used to provide heat and hot water your home and you will notice a big saving on your energy bills.
Because of how gas systems work, the way hot water is heated by a flame means that it can be quickly circulated around your home providing warmth to each room. This makes it a more cost-effective option than electric boilers and radiators, which will take longer to be as effective, costing you more in monthly bills.
Advantages of electric heating
There are a number of different options when it comes to electric heating, including electric radiators, heat pumps and towel rails.
Whilst gas systems are highly efficient, electric central heating systems can be nearly 100% efficient. They can convert nearly all energy into heat, so using electric radiators or storage heaters can be beneficial to heat one room at a time when you are not using others.
If you are using electric radiators, the maintenance costs are significantly lower than with a gas boiler, which should be serviced on a yearly basis. You will also not have to worry about suffering from a boiler breakdown, which can be a costly expense.
Gas vs electric: which is better for you?
Which central heating system is better suited to you will depend on the size of your home and your budget. If you are looking for something low cost, electric systems can be cheap to install and maintain. However, the running costs can be expensive depending on the cost of electricity and these systems can take longer to heat your home. Gas boilers can heat your home a lot more quickly and still operate efficiently. However, you should be wary of the fact that maintenance and repairs can be more costly.
If you have decided on the most effective way to heat your home according to your needs, allow our expert heating engineers at Gas Tech Heating to provide their assistance. We can carry out a heating installation for your home that operates with maximum efficiency and suits the needs of your family. To find out more, give us a call on 01442 832202 or email info@gastechheatingltd.co.uk and we would be happy to discuss our services with you.
Gas vs electric
On the face of it, gas is cheaper than electric if you’re simply comparing the unit cost (in this case, the cost per kWh). Gas costs 4.65p/kWh and electric costs 16p/kWh.
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However, while cost per unit is a really important element to consider, there are many other things to weigh up before deciding which type of heating is right for you. Please note that the UK wholesale energy market is currently in crisis with the current global surge in demand. The energy price cap has already risen by more than 50% and will potentially rise again later this year. As such, it is not possible to accurately estimate the cost of energy usage at this time (February 2022). However, we will keep this cost guide updated and estimate the costs again once the market has settled (prices last edited December 2021). Cost provided item Unit Range – low Range – high Average Gas heating Per kWh 4.65p Electric heating Per kWh 16p Installing a gas central heating system £4,500 £6,000 £5,250 Installing electric heating system £3,230 £4,350 £3,790 Our costs are ballpark averages – get a local tradesperson to quote now Cost comparison between gas and electric heating Our table of costs allows you to calculate the cost of gas heating and electric heating per kWh, plus the average installation cost for each type of system. The unit cost of gas heating is cheaper than electric, at 4.65p/kWh, vs 16p/kWh for electricity. However, the average cost to install a gas central heating system is around £5,250, compared with £3,790 to install an electric heating system. Gas vs electric heat cost When comparing electric heat vs gas heat cost, you should factor in all the costs associated with each option to make an informed decision. Unit cost The unit cost is the cost of the actual fuel itself, be it gas or electric. The unit cost of gas heating is 4.65p/kWh. The unit cost of electricity is 16p/kWh. Standing-charge The standing-charge is a fixed daily amount you have to pay for energy regardless of how much you use. It covers the costs your energy supplier takes on in order to supply you with gas or electricity. The cost of your standing charge will vary depending on your supplier and where you live. As a guide, you can expect to pay: Electricity standing-charge: 5p – 60p per day Gas standing-charge: 10p – 80p per day
