As energy costs surge and the winter hits, it’s important to find an efficient heating solution that works for you and your home or business.
Some buildings may not have central heating or may be struggling to remain heated without additional heating sources. If electricity-ran heating is the most efficient option for you, there will be many questions you need to find answers to.
The running costs of electric heaters are one of the first concerns of many homeowners and business owners, by understanding the average costs it becomes easier to plan financially.
Here at HSS, we can help you find an electric heater for hire that suits your premise. Be it a commercial heating solution or compact portable heaters, our friendly team online and in-store can advise you on suitable options.
How to calculate the average running cost of an electric heater
As there are various sizes and types of electric heaters, it is difficult to pinpoint exact running costs. Not only this, but factors such as the following will adjust those costs:
- Length of time it is operated
- The cost of electricity at the time
- The room temperature
- Room size and insulation
- Building location (external conditions can affect how long a heater needs to be switched on).
Despite these factors, there are ways to calculate an average cost to help inform your decision.
Uswitch, a price comparison website, estimates that plug-in electric heaters use around three kilowatts per hour (kWh). We can use this to calculate the average running costs when used in conjunction with the current price cap.
If we take the average price cap (52p per kWh as of October 2022) as the maximum price you could be charged and multiply this by three, we can estimate that it would cost £1.56 to run an hour.
However, as most electric heaters have internal thermostats, they preserve energy by switching off after meeting the required room temperature.
How long does it take an electric heater to heat a room?
The amount of time an electric heater should be left on in order to effectively maintain a comfortable temperature will vary depending on the size of the room and the strength of the heater. For example, if you have a smaller room with a weaker electric heater, it may take longer for the room to get warm enough.
However, we’ll break down the different types of heaters a little further to understand the duration of time needed to sufficiently heat a room.
Electric fan heaters: If you want to warm up a particular part of your home quickly and efficiently, a fan heater might be just what you need. You can heat up a room in just a couple of minutes due to the high power of these portable heaters. Moreover, electric heaters have a reasonable power-to-price ratio since they are portable and relatively inexpensive. When used sparingly, electric fan heaters can reduce your household energy bills. However, if you use them too often, their electricity consumption will increase your household bills significantly.
Halogen heaters: Most commonly found outdoors (particularly in beer gardens, halogen heat rapidly warms the subjects around it. These will not necessarily warm an entire room but are highly effective for a quick boost of heat for people in the immediate vicinity. Halogen heating devices can warm people up almost instantly and the energy consumption is reduced as they do not heat an entire room. This type of heater is perfect for outdoor settings where draughts and cold air won’t affect its power.
The various types of heaters: Which is the cheapest electric heater to run?
1. Ceramic heaters – a good level of efficiency with a small up-front cost
2. Storage heaters – utilise off-peak electricity tariffs to minimise running costs
3. Oil-filled electric heaters – very energy efficient providing long-lasting heat