February 21st, 2020 by Chris Chapman

All You Need to Know About the Cheapest Heaters to Run

Reducing the amount of energy we use is a year-round concern. As the effects of climate change continue to worsen and energy costs continue to rise, the price of heating our homes through the winter is a particular concern. It’s no surprise, then, that people are always on the lookout for efficient electric heaters. This has given rise to the myth of the 1p per hour electric heater – a heater that’s so efficient it can keep a room warm for just 1p an hour. But is there anything behind this myth or is it just wishful thinking?

Do 1p Per Hour Electric Heaters Really Exist?

Not really. Technically, they do exist, but they’ll be so low-power that they won’t be able to heat a room. These low-wattage heaters are commonly the tubular heaters you’d use in a greenhouse or shed to prevent frost. To generate more heat, you need to use more power.

What Does “100% Efficient at the Point of Use” Mean?

You may have read that all electric heaters are 100% efficient at the point of use. While this is technically true, many people misunderstand it and assume that all electric heaters are the same. All it means is that electric panel heaters convert 100% of the energy they use into heat. It doesn’t take into account features like open window detection, timers, and accurate thermostats which help to reduce the amount of energy wasted during regular day-to-day use. It also doesn’t count the quality of the heating element, which stores heat and works with the thermostat to ensure a heater keeps a room precisely at its target temperature without being overheated.

When we say a heater is more efficient, we mean it comes with features that help you use it more efficiently. In practice, this means they’ll cost much less to run. This is why the EcoDesign Directive and Lot 20 laws were put in place; to encourage manufacturers to include these energy-saving features for consumers.

Is There Any Difference Between the Types of Heaters?

There are many different kinds of heaters out there, from fan heaters to radiant panel heaters. They all work a little differently – we’ll outline the cost of each below.

Electric Panel Heaters

Panel heaters work using a heating element to generate heat. They’re best used to complement your existing central heating (although they can replace it entirely in some cases). As they work using convection, they’ll take a little while to heat a room up, and will cost roughly 7-12p per hour depending on the wattage of your heater.

MYLEK App Controlled Digital Electric Panel Heater with 24/7 Timer 1KW

Price: £100.00

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Oil Filled Radiators

An alternative to panel heaters, oil filled radiators use a thermally-conductive oil instead of a solid heating element. A good one will cost roughly the same, around 7-12p, although they often lack some key energy-saving features.

Fan Heaters

Fan heaters provide an instant blast of warm air that you can direct in any way you like. They tend to be very small and portable and are designed to heat small spaces rather than large rooms. As not all of the electricity they use goes towards generating heat – some of it is used to power the fan – they are less efficient than panel heaters. This is usually offset by the lower power of the unit, so you can run one for around 10-12p per hour.

Storage Heaters

Storage heaters are only worth looking at if you have an Economy 7 energy tariff. They store up heat when energy is cheapest (through the night) and gradually release it through the day. This means they don’t cost much to run for Economy 7 users – around 10p per hour on average – although if you’re on a different energy tariff they will cost much more.

Infrared Panel Heaters

Infrared panel heaters use radiant heat. This means they don’t heat the air, so their performance isn’t negatively affected in a very draughty room. You can run one for around 10-12p per hour depending on your energy tariff, but bear in mind they are incredibly expensive to buy.

Understanding kW

In theory, a 2kW heater will cost more to run than a 1kW model, but in practice, this isn’t always necessarily true. The kW (kilowatt) rating of a heater tells you how much energy it uses at its maximum setting. As Lot 20 heaters are fitted with thermostats, they’ll stop drawing power when they reach their target temperature. If a heater isn’t powerful enough to bring a room to its target temperature, it’ll work at its maximum setting constantly. Therefore, a 2kW heater used in a small room on a low setting will be more efficient than a 1kW heater in a very large room.

Generally, you’ll need around 100W per square metre in a room to efficiently heat it. This number is only an estimate and can vary depending on the insulation in the room, whether it’s south-facing, how it’s furnished, and so on. If you’re not sure what power heater you need, it’s always better to choose one that’s slightly more powerful for the reasons stated above.

What’s the Cheapest Electric Heater to Run?

A Lot 20-compliant heater with energy-saving features will cost you much less to run over the course of a year than a cheaply-made model. A model with a reliable heating element (ceramic is the best) and an accurate thermostat will be much cheaper to run than a basic electric heater. This is because they’ll be able to more accurately control your room temperature without overheating your room.

MYLEK Ceramic Electric Panel Heater 600w with 24/7 Timer

Price: £169.99

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