Energy Efficient Electric Heater?

Jakkwin

Hi, can someone advise me what is the best low cost energy effelectric electric heater please?

Netexporter

There isn't one. All resistive electric heaters are 100% efficient but the fuel is expensive at on-peak rates. Infra-red heaters are best for poorly insulated spaces as they warm you, rather than the air.

Have you got a smart meter? That would make available some time-of-use tariffs that  may make electrical heating more cost effective.

There is an edition of Sliced Bread, on BBC Sounds, that gives chapter and verse on portable electric heaters.

Ayr_Rage

"How are electric heaters efficient?

Electric heaters are 100% efficient at point of use as they convert every watt of electricity taken from the wall into usable heat, meaning there's zero waste.

In this sense, all electric heaters do in fact have the same efficiency."

The only difference between heaters is the output, the cost to run being directly proportional to that output.

Mutton_Geoff

Although not cheap to install, heat pumps (split "air conditioning" systems) offer a COP of 4-5 meaning you're getting 4 to 5KW of heat for every KW of electricity you consumer. There is the additional benefit of air conditioning in the summer. Expect to pay around £1500 per room if you were to consider this (long term) option.

Alternatively store energy purchased at cheap rates via a storage heater (c £500 each), again a longer term solution.

QrizB

Netexporter said:

There is an edition of Sliced Bread, on BBC Sounds, that gives chapter and verse on portable electric heaters.

Link here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001dxtx

matelodave

The only really energy efficient electrical heater is a heatpump which can be anywhere between 200 and 400% efficient - ie you get out 2-4 times more heat than the energy that you put in.

Whereas anything else, fan heater, infra red, convector ,oil filled, magic dust, golden oil, ceramic etc or anything else you can think of will never be more than 100%, ie you get out what you put in.

However, how that heat feels is different for different types of heater but in all cases will produce the same amount of heat for the same energy consumption and will take just as long to heat the same space to the same temperature.

Infra Red is a bit like the sun, you feel radiated warmth but it doesn't really heat the surrounding air.

A fan heater (ceramic heaters are fan heaters with a ceramic element) will blow hot air at you and you'll feel warm, but immediately cold when its turned off unless you have it on for long enough to warm all the air in the room.

An oil filled radiator is will heat the air slowly and give good background warmth (magic dust etc all work like this)

A convector heater is a bit faster acting insofar as you feel heat pretty quickly but will still take time to warm the room  

markin

QrizB said:

Netexporter said:

There is an edition of Sliced Bread, on BBC Sounds, that gives chapter and verse on portable electric heaters.

Link here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001dxtx

A very long winded way to say they all are 100% efficient and a room always needs the same energy input.

Heat the person is different, heated covers, seats and IR panels pointing at the person heating the person first.

Gerry1

Daytime electricity costs about four times as much as gas, so using it for room heating should be avoided whenever possible.  If you own an all-electric property and a heat pump isn't realistic then High Heat Retention Night Storage Heaters (e.g. Dimplex Quantum) are the least worst option.  Not cheap to install, but running costs are more affordable and they'll improve the property's value and make it easier and quicker to sell.

Personal heating (throws etc) can be useful but only to a limited extent: you still need to heat the property, albeit to a lower temperature, to prevent damp and mould.

Unfortunately if you're a tenant having to use daytime electric heating, the only realistic option is to move.

Avoid anywhere with a building or district heating system.  There's very little regulation so it's like the wild west and will probably be cripplingly expensive.

Reed_Richards

In terms of "low cost", a fan heater is probably the type of electric heater that costs the least.  But the running cost for all electric heaters is the same - unless you have storage heaters and cheaper night rate electricity, or you have some kind of heat pump.

born_again

Jakkwin said:

Hi, can someone advise me what is the best low cost energy effelectric electric heater please?

Taking this in it's most literal sense.

Cheapest night storage heater. Just it may not be the cheapest to run, compared to the ones @Gerry1 mentions.