Gas heating and hot water systems have long been the standard for homes across the UK. However, there has been little innovation in this area with thousands of homes stuck with the same old system they’ve had for decades.
And yes, while it may have been the best solution 50 years ago, they certainly aren’t the cheapest, cleanest or most efficient way to heat your home or hot water anymore!
Unlike gas heating, the electric heating industry has witnessed dramatic improvements over the past decade or so; with new power solutions, heating methods and technological advancements flooding the market, it could be time to reconsider the best heating method for your home.
To help you make your decisions, we’ll take a closer look at Electric Vs Gas Heating. Covering the advantages and disadvantages of each, focusing on price, lifespan, energy efficiency, and environmental impact.
What’s the difference between electric and gas heating?
Before we get into comparing the two, it’s important that we understand the difference between them. With gas heating, we’re predominantly referring to combi boilers as this is the most common heat source that uses gas as an energy source.
To summarise, gas heating works by heating up a boiler full of water using gas as a fuel – like a kettle! This hot water is then used throughout your home to heat up various heat sources, such as radiators and underfloor heating pipes. In contrast, electric heating relies solely on electricity to heat your home.
Electric Vs Gas Heating – Which is Best?
Cost
At face value, you may first assume that gas heating is a cheaper alternative to electric heating due to the current cost of living crisis and the rising cost of electricity. And, you wouldn’t be far wrong when you take a look at base unit prices for the two.
When you compare the average price for a single kWh (kilowatt-hour) unit the costs come in at roughly 4 pence for gas and around 20 pence for electricity!
However, this doesn’t technically mean that electric heating is 4 times more expensive than gas as there are a number of factors that must be taken into account. Using agile tariffs is a great way to dramatically reduce the amount you’re paying for your electricity. Plus, electric radiators are much more efficient than gas heating meaning you’re getting more warmth for your money.
Additionally, running costs aren’t the only number to look at. The installation costs involved must also be considered. Electric heating is considerably cheaper to install than gas heating, plus it has no maintenance costs unlike gas heating systems that require yearly services.
Also, electric heating systems last up to 50% longer on average than gas heating does, so the costs spread over time mean that electric heating systems are much more economical than their gas alternatives.
Energy Efficiency
With living costs on the rise, it’s not surprising that homeowners are beginning to care more and more about the energy efficiency of their heating solutions. So which is more energy efficient, electric or gas heating?
There’s a clear winner when it comes to energy efficiency, and that’s electric heating. Electric radiators are essentially 100% efficient, converting almost all the electricity into heat.
However, the same cannot be said for gas heating systems. Fuel (gas) is burned to heat the water in the boiler, but during this process around 10% of the energy is wasted. Plus, as the hot water moves through the pipework in your home, further heat losses occur.
Lifespan
Something important to consider when deciding between gas or electric heating for your home is the lifespan of your chosen system. On average, a gas-powered central heating system should last you somewhere between 10-15 years; however, this is dependent on whether or not you have yearly services. Without regular services, gas boilers can create significant health risks to you and your family – and dramatically reduce the lifespan of your heating system.
In comparison, electric heating systems are highly durable and will last, on average, between 20 to 30 years. This means that you’ll save money in the long run by opting for electric over gas as installation costs are high.
Plus with little to no maintenance required for electric radiators, you’ll also save the money that you would have had to spend on yearly services too!
Environmental Impact
Caring for the environment is more important than ever, and deciding how to heat your home can dramatically increase or reduce your carbon footprint – depending on what you choose to do.
Overall, gas heating systems are far more harmful to the environment than electric systems due to the carbon emissions they produce as fossil fuels are burned to warm the water in the boiler. In contrast, electric heating solutions are far cleaner – plus, if your electricity is sourced from renewable energy sources then the environmental impact is even further reduced!
Electric heating systems can be paired with solar panels, thereby reducing both the daily running costs and your environmental impact – win-win! Plus, by pairing your electric heating with your solar panels, you’re also vastly increasing the ROI of your solar panel installation.
It’s also worth considering the UK’s Net Zero plan, with targets to significantly reduce carbon emissions by the year 2050. As part of this plan, from 2025 onwards, new properties cannot be fitted with gas boilers and must use electric heating or other sustainable solutions instead.
Gas as a heating system solution is looking to become completely obsolete within the next decade or so. Because of this, we would highly recommend avoiding installing any new gas heating solutions over the next couple of years.
Instead, it’s time to take the plunge and make the switch to electric heating. Not only will your home be warmer, but your energy bills will be lower, and your carbon footprint significantly reduced!
Switching to Electric Heating
It’s clear to see that in the debate between electric and gas heating, there’s only one clear winner – electric!
If you’re interested in making the switch from gas to electric for your home heating then there’s only one name you need: North East Heating Solutions. We’re the experts when it comes to updating heating solutions to energy-saving, money-saving and environment-saving electric radiators and hot water systems.
Serious about making the switch? Book your free home survey today and a member of our team will be out to you in no time to assess exactly what your home requires. Or, if you’ve still got some questions, get in touch today on 0800 026 749 or via email at info@northeastheatingsolutions.co.uk.
