Electric Heating Explained

Electricity is increasingly being produced from renewable sources (solar, hydro, wind) reducing it’s level of carbon intensity. This means that generating electricity is moving to greener and more sustainable solutions. Not only is the generation of electricity becoming less carbon intensive electric panel heaters do not produce the same waste gases that other convention heating systems (such as gas boilers) produce.

Providing a solution that is 100% efficient at the point of use where every kWh paid for is converted into heat, can be controlled with a higher degree of accuracy than other systems offering room by room control which can react quickly to supplementary heat gains and coupled with a unit that requires almost no annual maintenance whilst offering greater reliability and a lower capital installation cost, it’s easy to understand why more and more people are choosing electric solutions.

What types of heating are there?

At Atlantic we use 3 simple categories, Radiant Heaters, Convector heaters and Thermo-fluid heaters;

1. Radiant Heaters
   
   Radiant heat is the most common form of heat on the planet, it is how the Sun and an open fire release energy as heat. It relies on electromagnetic infrared waves that transfer energy and release it as heat once it strikes an object. Radiant heat is the warm feeling you get sat in-front of a fire on a winter’s night.
   
2. Convector Heaters
   
   Convected heat is carried around a room in the form of heated air. Air is drawn across a heating element inside the electrical heater and circulated into the room, this allows for a rapid response to any heating requirements. Heated air is lighter and diffuses the colder air which is denser and raises the ambient temperature. The hotter the electric heater’s heating element, the further the convected heat will flow before diffusing into the air.
   
3. Thermofluid Heaters
   
   These work in the same way as convector heaters, but the electric radiator is filled with a heat transmitting fluid. In the same way a standard central heating radiator is filled with water. This gives a softer heat through the room.

There are 4 other benefits to electric heating which include;

1. Cost
   
   Electric heating and hot water solutions can be a preferred choice amongst housing professionals in certain installations such as flats and apartments due to lower capital costs, faster installation times and system layout flexibilities when compared to conventional heating systems. It is entirely suited to second stage fixing in new builds or for renovations with minimal disruption relying only on a simple connection to the electrical circuits. An electric heater can be installed in matter of minutes and can be operated independently or as part of a heating system.
   
   
2. Efficiency
   
   Electric heaters are 100% efficient at the point of use, meaning all electricity used is converted in to heat. Compare this to gas central heating systems where energy is vented and lost through the boiler’s flue. And because electric heaters have virtually no moving parts, most systems can provide greater longevity and reliability.
   
3. Future Proof
   
   Electric heaters can provide a major advantage in home extensions when existing gas central heating systems lack sufficient capacity to heat additional radiators. Because electric heaters do not require flues or pipework, there are no regulatory or planning issues specifically relating to gas that are associated with the siting of flues allowing a greater freedom of design.
   
4. Safety
   
   Because electric heaters do not burn fuel internally to generate heat, there are none of the associated risks such as carbon monoxide poisoning. This gives electric heaters a greater margin of safety over conventional central heating systems and there is no requirement for an annual safety certificate.