Electric Radiators vs. Storage Heaters

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James Longley

Managing Director

min read

Electric Radiators vs. Storage Heaters

Conversations around climate change and rising energy bills are becoming more prominent and both homeowners and business leaders alike are considering how best to heat their homes and offices. Historically, traditional gas boilers were used to heat buildings in the UK, but these are not the most energy efficient solution. Alternative methods to heat buildings have been on the rise, but what exactly is the difference between electric radiators vs. storage heaters?

For a start, both use electricity, which is more expensive than gas. With the cost of heating homes and offices on the rise, there are limited options for finding a healthy balance between lower home and business energy prices, and being energy efficient to help reduce your carbon footprint. In our guide, we explore electric radiators vs. storage heaters to see which is better for your home or business. We’ll evaluate their pros and cons, how to make them more efficient, as well as providing you with expert tips on reducing your home and business energy tariffs.

What’s the difference between electric radiators and storage heaters?

Modern electric radiators are connected to your home or business’ main electrical supply. They contain an element that converts electricity into heat via the internal tubes or thermal fluid, which then convects heat into the room. Electric radiators are designed to be switched on at any time to give you the warmth you need; they also feature precision digital thermostats and an in-built energy savings feature which can help increase your energy efficiency and save you money in the process.

Storage heaters are also connected to business or domestic electrical supplies. Unlike electric radiators, storage heaters contain ceramic bricks that store thermal energy during the night and release that heat during the day. Most homes in the UK that have storage heaters are on an ‘Economy 7’ electricity tariff, whereby electricity is cheaper at night, than it is during the day. Storage heaters have limited controls and have a bulky appearance, which may not be for everyone. Plus, since they’re designed to slowly release heat during the day, this may be at odds with modern lifestyles, as most people are at work in the office during the day and don’t need their homes heated. Even those working from home would prefer to heat their homes in the evening, ready for the after-work wind-down.

Pros and cons of electric radiators

Pros	Cons
They are fully programmable with precision temperature control to within 0.5 of a degree. By turning down the electric radiator by one degree, you can save 10% on your electricity bill.	Electric radiators use electricity as and when is required, so economy tariffs are unsuitable. They use standard electricity tariffs, meaning electricity will be charged at an average price, rather than the economy tariff, which charges less for electricity used at night.
Some electric radiators are made from recycled materials, making them more environmentally friendly.
They have lower running costs and more economical than conventional electric heaters.
They cause less condensation than storage heaters.
Most electric radiators come in a variety of styles and finishes, and have a small projection on the wall. This makes them more streamlined and stylish for modern homes.

Pros and cons of storage heaters

Pros	Cons
They use economy electricity tariffs, so electricity will be cheaper at night.	They provide inconsistent heat, so your home or business will feel very hot during the day but struggle to stay warm in the evening.
They have relatively low installation costs.	Storage heaters are very large and chunky, and protrude from the wall quite a long way too.
Storage heaters require little maintenance.	Poor energy efficiency, as the storage heater loses heat as soon as it is stored.
No fossil fuels are burnt.	Very inflexible to modern lives and lack of control over heating controls and temperatures.
	They can cause stains on walls.

Are electric radiators better than storage heaters?

From the tables, it’s pretty clear that electric radiators are the all-round winner for price and usability. However, they may not be the best fit for your home or office. Storage heaters may be the best solution for your business if you have a large amount of space to cover. Additionally, they can be much more energy efficient and can cost less to run if you choose the right energy tariff.

Switching to an Economy 7 tariff can help you reduce your business and home energy bills by offering a cheaper unit rate for electricity used during off-peak hours at night. So, if you install night storage heaters into your home or business, then it can generate lots of heat to steadily release during the day. If you’re struggling with switching energy suppliers, then why not let us help you? Our friendly expert team will help you save more than 45% on your business utility bills.

Electric heaters can have a bad reputation of having high running costs; however, with the right implementation and use, they can be more economical and energy efficient than other methods of heating. These also offer greater control and flexibility, so it’s easy to alter the temperature if someone complains that they’re too warm, or too cold.

Energy efficient electric radiators

Modern electric radiators are efficient as they minimise energy wastage by converting nearly all of the energy into heat. Many also have additional energy-saving features, such as digital programming which allows the user to specify precisely what rooms are heated and to what extent. Using a modular heating system, you can run separate radiators to different schedules, so the living room or office community area can be nice and toasty, while the bathrooms can be kept tepid.

If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint in either your home or business, then changing to a green energy provider is one step closer to energy efficiency. Take meaningful and sustainable action, and also save money, by using energy that comes from renewable resources.

In the debate over electric radiators vs. storage heaters, we hope we’ve provided clearer guidance over what’s best for your company or household. If you need further help with switching energy suppliers, then why not get in touch today and see how we can help you save money on your utility bill?

Frequently asked questions

The energy regulator, Ofgem, will implement a SoLR or “supplier of last resort” if your supplier ceased business.

No, if your supplier ceased business, your supply will not be cut off. This is because you will be given a SoLR or “supplier of last resort” to ensure you have a continuous supply of gas and electricity. Other suppliers will bid to replace the contracts of businesses that have ceased trading and Ofgem will try to get the best possible deal for the customer in these circumstances.

Ofgem will be working on finding your new supplier as quickly as possible. This will be announced on their website within a few days.

Your business contract will now be void and you will immediately be put on an “out of contract” rate which may result in your bills increasing. This will only be the case until a new tariff is agreed.

In regards to domestic customers, the protection of funds paid by non-domestic customers into their accounts “cannot be guaranteed”. Find out more information here.

Depending on your new supplier, you will still need to pay the debt to your new supplier if they have agreed to take on customer debts owed to your old supplier. If this is not the case, you will need to set up a payment plan with your old supplier’s administrators that will get in touch with you.

Businesses that use a smart meter will be appointed a SoLR and will still have access to a continuous supply. Similarly, to traditional meters, Ofgem will quickly find a suitable supplier for the circumstances. If a supplier is appointed but they can’t operate your smart meter in smart mode, it will work as a traditional meter for that time.

Ofgem advises that you should not cancel your direct debit as your new supplier will get in touch to provide further information on direct debit arrangements.