Category: Electric Heating

We practise what we preach when it comes to electric heating. When we moved into our current office premises a few years ago, the first thing that we wanted to upgrade was the old storage heaters.

Of course, carpets had to be replaced, painting was done, new desks and office furniture were brought in and phones were installed, but the one thing that’s crucial to any business is the comfort and wellbeing of the staff. It’s important to any successful business that the work environment is comfortable. Equally important to the business, is that the heating is cost-effective and energy-efficient.

Like many businesses in the UK, we lease our premises, and part of the lease agreement prevents us from altering the building, and the fixtures and fittings within it. Our offices were heated by electric night storage heaters, and this lease agreement meant that they had to stay. They did stay, but we’ve never used them.

As we’ve discussed many times before, storage heaters are extremely inefficient and expensive to use. Using them means that you’re tied into the Economy 7 electricity tariff. When you factor-in the added costs of running several computers all day at the “premium” rate that’s associated with the Economy 7 tariff, making the change really is a no-brainer.

"We’ve cut the electricity bill by about thirty percent since using our electric radiators"

Though the old electric night storage heaters remain, they are hidden behind desks now. In between some desks, we now have our own Economiser electric radiators. We opted for the ones that have integrated temperature sensors that can simply plug-in to a socket.  Once on castors, they fit in perfectly, can be moved when necessary, and have no installation requirement whatsoever. They’re kept to a constant 19 degrees in the daytime, and set-back to a low setting temperature in the night.

According to the usage of the previous business that occupied our offices, we’ve cut the electricity bill by about thirty percent since using our Economiser electric radiators. That’s a heating problem solved very quickly and simply. We have an effective and efficient electric heating system in place, and the cost to the business is reduced considerably.

We’ve supplied electric heating to many different businesses over the years.  Hotels, shops, gyms and offices most frequently come to us. This month a commercial letting agency that manages office buildings in and around Manchester placed their seventh order with us. A doctor’s surgery in the Scottish Highlands ordered 14 radiators for their upcoming refurbishment, and a hotel began a trial of our electric heating in some guest rooms.

 

If your business could benefit from a heating upgrade, why not contact us for a quote? We can work from your floor plans or room dimensions, and your new electric heating system can be delivered in 48 hours.

The AEM processor is key to the high performance and reduced energy use of Vantage Electric Radiators.

There's a  proportional integral control system and temperature sensor inside that minimises fluctuations in room temperature, while also lowering the amount of wattage drawn in precise increments. The result is a great comfort level and reduced energy consumption. An added benefit is that the radiator does not make any "clicking" noises.

Other electric radiators use a basic thermostat that draws the full wattage capacity of the radiator intermittently. This results in spikes in energy use an also fluctuations in the room temperature.

The adaptive start function of the AEM chip takes the guess-work out of programming your electric radiator.

When an "on" time of 8 am is programmed, and a room temperature of 21 degrees is required, the Vantage Radiator will begin the heating cycle prior to 8am, so that the room is at  The extra duration of heating is calculated dependent on the "cold" room temperature.

 

Whether you're a professional installer working to a schedule, or a homeowner who's never fitted electric radiators before, our new fixing system is a breeze.

If you need to install a Vantage electric radiator, have a power socket nearby, and you can use a screwdriver, you are just minutes away from a comfortable and efficiently-heated environment.

Electric radiators have long been considered as a great upgrade from storage heaters and with no pipework, cylinder, flue or gas connection, installation is much easier than that of a boiler-fired heating system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The radiators click-in to the brackets, and that's it - Job done!"

We've now made the Vantage electric radiator even easier to install, so there's little to no disruption to the property concerned, costs can be kept to a minimum, and the time without a working heating system is virtually nil.

Vantage Radiators are now supplied with an easy-to-use paper template. Simply stick the template to your wall, mark your fixing points with a pencil and mount your wall brackets using the screws and lugs provided.

The radiators click-in to the brackets, and that's it - Job done! There's no need to measure, re-check, or second guess. It takes minutes, and with the new preset heating programs and battery back-up, you can enjoy instant warmth "out of the box".

Want to see how easy it is to install a Vantage electric radiator? Get in contact with us and we'll email you a manual!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We've added some clever new functions to the Vantage Electric Radiator. The open window sensor guards against wasted energy.  

This is a new feature that will really appeal to homeowners as well as landlords and facilities managers who need to combat energy wastage.

All too often a window is opened in a hotel, office, or student accommodation block, and the heating is left on. The result is wasteful and expensive. According to a worldwide study by utility software firm Opower, simple behavioural changes could save UK homes and businesses £500m.

"We won't assume that others are mindful of your energy bills"

Of course most of us are more environmentally aware than ever, but we won't assume that office workers, university students, or hotel guests are going to change their habits overnight. With the new open window sensor, the Vantage Electric Radiator won't assume that others are mindful of your energy bills either.

During the heating cycle, the Vantage Radiator monitors the air temperature continuously. If a sudden drop in the ambient room temperature is detected, the radiator will pause its heat output for thirty minutes.

After thirty minutes the radiator will resume heating at the programmed setting, but only if the room temperature has increased once the window has been closed.

The new Vantage range launches in three weeks. If you'd like more information, call us on 01252 560770 or email us: enquiries@electricheatingexpert.co.uk. 

We deliver exceptional service and the highest-quality electric radiators. 

Since our beginnings back in 2009 we have seen enormous growth in the electric heating industry in the UK, and we have gone from stocking just one type of electric radiator, to stocking a range with no fewer than…. two!

We understand that everyone has their own preferences in terms of styling, and not everyone has a huge budget, but we will never supply a “cheap” electric radiator, and we won’t offer products that we wouldn't have in our own homes. For this reason, we offer two ranges at two price points. Both ranges represent the very best in their categories.

Though it would be easy to adopt a similar approach to that of some of our competitors, we won’t supply a huge product range from a wide variety of manufacturers. Doing so would make us simply a wholesaler – not an electric heating specialist. If you were to ask a wholesaler a question regarding one of their many products, it’s unlikely that they would have a detailed answer for you.

Specialist product knowledge is a key to delivering proper service and ensuring customer satisfaction. Without a sound understanding of electric heating, and knowing a specific product well, it’s impossible to give good advice.

Recently we’ve seen some new online electric heating retailers that don’t hold stock. They make a sale, and then send their order to one of their many manufacturers, who then deliver it for them. This is a business model known as drop-shipping. Many retailers that drop-ship are unlikely to have much experience of their numerous products. Some may never have seen their products in the flesh.

When viewing a website or shop floor that’s packed with a multitude of products from different manufacturers, it’s apparent that the retailer will likely supply you with whatever you think is suitable – not necessarily what is best for you, or your property.

Where several different electric radiators of varying quality are on offer alongside other types of heating such as panel heaters, infrared panels and storage heaters, it’s not clear which option is best in terms of quality or suitability. They cannot all be the best, and as we have discussed before, some forms of electric heating are only suitable in very limited applications.

At EHE we take a different approach. We work closely with our two manufacturers who make radiators to our specification. We stock our electric radiators in large quantities to ensure that we can deliver quickly, and be competitive with our prices. Most importantly, we know our radiators inside-out.

Choice can be a good thing, but if you are considering an electric heating system for your home or business, it’s a long-term investment. Wouldn’t it be best to limit that choice to just two of the best?

This month EHE specified electric heating for a number of new housing developments. With low costs, easy installation, and compliance with building regs, we have the perfect heating solution for developers.

We've seen a big increase in electric heating requirements from developers this year. Our electric radiators have been specified for a number of major projects.

If you're a developer, we can work from your scale drawings and have most specifications completed within 48 hours.

Recent projects have included 25 new-build apartments in Chester which are now heated with Vantage Radiators, and a new leased office complex in Nottingham comprising of 30 suites. We've also supplied heating for the refurbishment of a listed building in London, which has been converted into 65 luxury apartments.

In most cases, our electric heating systems are chosen by developers in favour of gas-fired wet systems because they are easier to install, and they cost less. There are also considerable benefits to the end user.

The installation of gas boilers and the associated pipework is expensive and disruptive. Installing boilers in upper-floor properties is problematic, and building regulations now dictate that gas flues must not be fully concealed within voids. Much of the time it's not possible to meet the requirements of these regulations - especially when installing in older buildings.

Electric heating is not only a commercially viable option. It makes sense on a number of levels. Homeowners benefit from a fully controllable, and 100% efficient heating system that can be programmed around their lifestyle. The reliability is exceptional, and the lifespan of our electric heating systems is far longer than that of any boiler (our systems are backed by 30-year warranties).

From an environmental viewpoint, the future for electric heating is bright. The Energy Saving Trust reported that the ongoing commitment to reduce the carbon produced by power stations in the UK, electric heating will achieve an emmisions rating equal to an A-rated gas boiler by 2020.

The case for installing electric heating instead of boiler-fired central heating continues to strengthen.

As the wholesale price of electricity has fallen lately, you’d think that your electric heating bills would too. The wholesale price drop should save you at least £140 a year. Unfortunately, if your supplier is one of the larger companies, it’s likely that they have pocketed the cash instead.

We’ve always advised our customers to use online comparison websites to ensure that they get the best deal on their home energy. Getting the right tariff is vital if you want to reduce your electric heating costs. In our experience, it’s always the smaller independent suppliers that provide the lowest prices.

Energy suppliers buy the electricity that you use from the wholesale market. The market is made up of suppliers, generators, traders and customers trading on the competitive market. Unfortunately, once acquired at the lowest price seen in years, the big six energy companies continue to charge you full-rate.

“If the price falls were passed on, customers would see bills fall by at least £140 a year”

The big six energy companies keep their prices high. It’s been said for years that they work as a cartel – agreeing between them to keep the prices high in order to maximise profits. Smaller UK-based energy suppliers have demonstrated a much more competitive approach, and whilst not all of them have jumped at the chance to pass on savings from their wholesale buy prices, they have at least entered the market with lower prices from the off, and some are now offering further reductions.

In an article published recently by The Guardian, TheEnergyShop.com’s Joe Malinowski said if the price falls were passed on, customers would see bills fall by at least £140 a year.

He added that he had never seen such large savings available to those prepared to ditch their big six supplier, and that those on standard tariffs could save as much as £320 a year by shopping around. The combination of the big firms' refusal to cut standard bills and a host of great offers from small players has resulted in the largest price disparity since switching began.

At ElectricHeatingExpert.co.uk we hear about the best and worst energy deals from our customers every day. If you’d like some friendly, impartial advice on how you could make savings on your electric heating bill, we will be happy to help.

Comparison websites can be a useful resource when you're looking to reduce your electric heating bill, but be careful…

This week it came to light that many of the comparison websites that promise to give you an overview of the best deals on the market are actually doing just the opposite. Some, it has been revealed, actually hide the lowest price energy deals, and point you toward deals that earn them the most money.

Of course, we know that the comparison sites have to make money. They are businesses after all, and considerable revenues can come from advertising. What may not be so obvious though, is that many of the comparison sites now hide the best deals from you – filtering them out of your search criteria by asking if you are ready to switch today. If you say yes, you could be presented with a shortlist of larger energy suppliers that are willing to pay the comparison site up to £70 if you switch to their tariff. The smaller suppliers that often offer the most affordable tariffs will be hidden.

Some websites make up to £70 when you switch.

Clearly the comparison sites that hide the best deals are putting their financial interests ahead of the consumer.  In an interview with the Daily Mail this week, Angela Knight, the chief executive of Energy UK said: ‘Not disclosing commission and not advertising the full array of deals on offer undermines the industry’s work to be more upfront with customers.’

The energy tariff that you choose is a key factor in running an electric heating system in the long-term. With electricity prices varying wildly between the suppliers and tariffs, it’s never been more important to shop around.

Comparison websites can still be helpful if you’re looking to get a better deal on your energy tariff, but don't let the sites make your decision for you. Here are a few pointers:

To avoid missing out on cheap deals, click “no” if you are asked if you are ready to switch immediately. Use the listed tariffs just as a guide or shortlist.

Don’t sign-up via the comparison website. Contact the suppliers who appear to be cheapest directly, and ask them for their best price per kilowatt hour (KWH).

Keep an aye on additional charges as well as the price per kilowatt hour. Sometimes energy suppliers add a daily standing charge. In some cases this can add to your electric heating bill considerably over the course of a year.

Find our more about some other factors that determine the running costs of your electric heating system here. 

Have you ever noticed that some white household appliances turn yellow?

It's something that's pretty much unavoidable in products that are made from plastic. Once you've spent time and money redecorating your home, those freshly-glossed skirting boards and door frames can make your once-white appliances look decidedly yellow.

Discolouration occurs because plastic is an oil-based compound that degrades over time. The dye and oil polymers used to make the plastic degrade as they are exposed to heat, light, and airborne dust particles and contaminants.

Some electric radiators are constructed with plastic to cut manufacturing costs. Plastic panels at the ends, top or bottom, and in the housing around the controls are particularly susceptible to yellowing. Radiators that are simply painted white, rather than powder-coated also tend to discolour.

When selecting an electric radiator, always check how it's made. Manufacturing costs are cut by attaching plastic lateral panels to the ends. Sometimes even when new, you can see that these panels are a slightly different shade to the metal parts. This becomes more pronounced over time. 

All EHE Electric Radiator bodies are 100% metal. That includes the end panels. The metal is finished in a tough scratch resistant coating that stays white indefinitely.