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Cheapest Way to Heat Your Home: A Comprehensive Guide

Cheapest Way to Heat Your Home: A Comprehensive Guide

As energy prices continue to rise, finding the most efficient and affordable way to heat your home is more important than ever.

In this post, we’ll break down the costs and benefits of some of the most common home heating methods. We’ll also reveal why infrared heating is the cheapest way to heat your home for many people.

 

1. Gas Central Heating

Gas central heating is one of the most common ways to heat homes in the UK. A gas boiler heats water that is pumped through pipes to radiators around your home.

Costs:

  • Installation: £1,500 to £4,000 (depending on system size and complexity)
  • Running Costs: Approx. 10-12p per kWh
  • Efficiency: Modern gas boilers can be up to 90% efficient, but there’s always some energy loss in heating water and distributing it through pipes.

Pros:

  • Widely available
  • Reasonably efficient

Cons:

  • High installation cost
  • Requires ongoing maintenance
  • Fossil fuel-based, contributing to carbon emissions

 

2. Electric Heating

Electric heaters convert electricity into heat. They can range from storage heaters to portable electric radiators.

Costs:

  • Installation: Typically low for plug-in models; higher for storage heaters (£2,000+)
  • Running Costs: Approx. 14-16p per kWh
  • Efficiency: Electric heaters are almost 100% efficient in converting electricity to heat, but they can be expensive to run.

Pros:

  • Easy to install
  • No need for complex piping or boilers

Cons:

  • High running costs
  • Not always suitable for heating large spaces

 

3. Wood-Burning Stoves

How It Works: Wood-burning stoves generate heat by burning logs, providing a traditional and cozy way to warm a room.

Costs:

  • Installation: £1,000 to £3,500 (including chimney installation)
  • Running Costs: Approx. 5-6p per kWh (depending on wood prices)
  • Efficiency: Around 70-80% efficient

Pros:

  • Aesthetic appeal and warmth
  • Renewable fuel source (if using sustainable wood)

Cons:

  • High installation cost
  • Requires regular fuel (wood) and maintenance
  • Produces emissions and needs a chimney or flue

 

4. Air Source Heat Pumps

Air source heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air and transfer it to your home. They work best in moderate climates and can be used for heating and cooling.

Costs:

  • Installation: £7,000 to £14,000
  • Running Costs: Approx. 5-10p per kWh
  • Efficiency: Heat pumps are very efficient, often providing 3-4 kWh of heat for every kWh of electricity used.

Pros:

  • Energy efficient, especially in milder climates
  • Can provide both heating and cooling

Cons:

  • High upfront cost
  • Less efficient in very cold weather
  • Requires outdoor space for installation

 

5. Ground Source Heat Pumps

Similar to air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps extract heat from the ground using pipes buried in your garden.

Costs:

  • Installation: £10,000 to £18,000 (including ground excavation)
  • Running Costs: Approx. 4-8p per kWh
  • Efficiency: Even more efficient than air source, but with a higher installation cost.

Pros:

  • Highly efficient and renewable
  • Can last for 20+ years

Cons:

  • Very high installation costs
  • Requires significant garden space for pipes

 

6. Infrared Heating: The Cheapest Way to Heat Your Home

Unlike traditional heaters that warm the air, infrared heaters work by directly heating objects and people in a room. This makes it a far more efficient and targeted form of heating.

Costs:

  • Installation: Very low (plug-and-play)
  • Running Costs: Approx. 5-8p per hour per panel (depending on your electricity tariff)
  • Efficiency: Infrared heaters are nearly 100% efficient, as they convert almost all electricity into heat.

 

Why Infrared Heaters Are So Cost-Effective:

Infrared heating is so energy efficient because it doesn’t waste energy heating the air. This means rooms stay warm for longer, and you can feel the heat almost immediately after switching the panel on.

Other heating methods heat the air and circulate it around the room. Infrared heat is absorbed by your furniture, walls, and floors, which then radiate heat back into the room.

Plus, infrared heaters allow you to target specific areas using Zonal Heating. You can heat individual rooms or spaces where you need warmth most, avoiding the cost of heating unused areas. This method helps save energy and further reduces heating costs.

Conclusion: Make the Switch to Infrared Heating

Traditional heating methods like gas and electric heating have their merits. But infrared heating stands out as the most cost-effective and energy-efficient. With low running costs, easy installation, and the ability to heat specific areas, infrared heaters are an excellent choice if you want to reduce your heating bills and environmental impact.

Check out our range of energy-efficient infrared heaters and start heating smarter today!