Worth switching to Electric Appliances?

RolandFlagg

Probably a silly question, but with Gas prices going parabolic is it worth switching to electricity when possible?

For example use electric fan heaters or halogen heaters instead of radiators and gas fires?

Thanks.

MattMattMattUK

RolandFlagg said:

Probably a silly question, but with Gas prices going parabolic is it worth switching to electricity when possible?

For example use electric fan heaters or halogen heaters instead of radiators and gas fires?

Thanks.

Heating using electricity is around four times more expensive than gas. 

Bexie1989

Electric prices are also astronomical and it will still cost far more to use electric heating over gas.

I'm sadly electric only and have no choice, and according to my smart meter my electric radiator costs 40p+ per hour to run at 22p a unit.

daveyjp

It makes no financial sense whatsoever to turn to electric heaters from gas.

RolandFlagg

OK cheers.

Looks like more thick jumpers is the way to go

Aylesbury_Duck

There is some nuance to the question here, though.  It may be cheaper to heat one small room you are using with electricity, if the alternative is heating a whole house by gas.  With working from home being more common, I have occasionally found myself home alone in the small spare bedroom I use as an office.  It's almost certainly cheaper for me to run a small electric fan heater for 10 minutes every hour than it is to have the heating on all day for the whole house.

But generally, previous posters are correct, electricity is typically 5x more expensive per kWh than gas.

markin

It's even better if you heat that one room up with an aircon unit that has heat, it will get around 3kw of heat for every 1kw it uses, until it drops to minus 6c outside.

And even better if you can get solar to help run it.

Gerry1

markin said:

It's even better if you heat that one room up with an aircon unit that has heat, it will get around 3kw of heat for every 1kw it uses, until it drops to minus 6c outside.

And even better if you can get solar to help run it.

You need heating when it's cold, and that's when the sun isn't shining much !

jimjames

RolandFlagg said:

Probably a silly question, but with Gas prices going parabolic is it worth switching to electricity when possible?

Only if you have solar panels and can use the electricity you generate. Unfortunately that's not so much in winter when you need heating

wrf12345

Heated electric vests may be the best answer. Proper metal halogen heater placed where you are sitting is also an option, with single 600w single element turned on. Don't forget that a gas boiler probably only lasts ten years plus servicing so you would save £150 a year on that plus s/c saves circa £240 divided by three winter months gives you £60 a month to spend on electric heating, or roughly 10KWh per day of heating at the new rates.