Heating Buying Guide

There's truly nothing more lovely than sitting on the setee after a long day at work, and enjoying the warmth of your home. However, it's going to be uncomfortable if you can't keep warm, as you'll need kettles, blankets and jumpers. This is where having the highest quality, effective heating is essential for you.

Finding the perfect heater for your home has never been easier. Our range of heaters includes a selection for every room of the house, so you can stay warm whatever you’re doing. Featuring top quality products from brands such as Dimplex, Devola & Rointe; These products are extremely energy efficient, allowing you to heat your home for less than you may think.

Fan Heaters

Fan Heaters pass air through a heated element, and then disperse the warmed air out into the room using its built-in fan. There are two types available:

• Fan heaters which use a metal element to generate heat.

• Ceramic heaters which use a ceramic element to convert the energy into heat quicker and more efficiently than the metal version. It can also output the same level of heat at a lower power rating, making it more cost efficient.

Fan heaters are ideal if you want to heat a specific area of your home quickly. They are also ideal for heating up smaller spaces, as they are compact in size. Fan heaters are most commonly used in bathrooms, garages and attics.

Advantages of Fan Heaters

• Low price heating, making them popular for homes

• Portable, and easy to lift and carry between different rooms in your home

• Fan heaters have significant heating power, as they work quickly to heat up the space they are placed in

• The design of fan heaters are becoming increasingly modern and energy efficient to reduce their carbon footprint

Disadvantages of Fan Heaters

• They are small products which consume a lot of electric power in a short heating time

• They can be noisy products, as they contain an electric fan which will make noise when it is switched on

• Once they are switched off, the space will cool down rapidly as there will no longer be hot air being outputted by the heater

Convector Heaters

Convector heaters work by applying the principle of convection. Heat is generated in an electric element, and then the warmed air transfers out of the heater and moves outwards into the room. The more powerful the heater, the wider the area of circulation of the warmed air. They warm up quickly and are quite silent when working. Most convector heaters are freestanding, but they can be mounted to the wall if you are using them long-term. They are lightweight and easy to move around in your house. There are models available which have thermostatic control to select your preferred heat setting and timers to set for certain times of the day.

Advantages of Convector Heaters

• Convector heaters will warm a room evenly as the air rises and falls equally within the space

• They can be mounted in unique spaces such as on the wall, at the base of stairways, offering different ways to heat your room

• Convector heaters are fairly silent, as they are not dependent on ductwork to provide heat

Disadvantages of Convector Heaters

• Convector heaters are not effective for heating large spaces, as they disperse the air in a room naturally

• As the air doesn't circulate through a filter, they can result in excessive accumulation of dust and allergens

Panel Heaters

A panel heater is a type of electric heater which can be mounted to the wall. You can place them anywhere you want, as long as you have 30 cm (1 Foot) clearance at the top and bottom to allow for Convection current and a power socket. They work by creating a Convection current, which pushes warm air to the ceiling. This forces the cool air down into the heater. Once you switch on the Panel Heater, you instantly feel a warm current of air moving through the room.

To learn more about Panel Heaters, check out our Panel Heaters Buying Guide

Panel Heaters Advantages

• Panel Heaters provide instant heat once they are switched on. The aluminium heating element allows the heat to distribute in an efficient way

• They can be wall mounted, or freestanding with castor wheels fitted so you can move them around your home with ease

• They are suitable for small spaces and bathrooms, as they are designed to be IP24 splashproof

• They give you full control over your heating. This allows you to monitor your energy spend, and ensure heating is provided as and when you need it

Panel Heaters Disadvantages

• Panel heaters are less efficient than electric radiators, as they transfer heat to the air,and then it goes to people in the room. This in turn makes them more expensive to run

• They are not suitable for constant use. The hot elements come into direct contact with the air, and the dust particles can burn which can leave sooty deposits on the wall

• They are less durable and efficient than electric radiators, as they work harder to heat up spaces in the home. This can give them lower life expectancies

Oil Filled Radiators

Oil filled radiators are electric heaters with multiple fins. The fins increase the surface area of the heater whilst creating pockets for air to collect in. The radiator is full of small pipes which carry the oil around. The oil is then heated by an electrical element, and pumped all round the heater. This allows the surfaces of the radiator to heat up, warming the room. They usually have a control panel, with the thermostat to set the temperature and a timer to choose time intervals.

To learn more about Oil Filled Radiators, check out our Oil Filled Radiators Buying Guide. 

Advantages of Oil Filled Radiators

• Oil filled radiators have excellent thermal retention, as less energy is needed to top up temperatures in your room space

• They have lower running costs, as the improved heat retention makes them more energy efficient. The precision digital thermostat gives you an option on how much energy you use to heat your home

• Oil filled radiators offer convenient control, by creating a lasting, comfortable warmth over a longer period of time. You won't need to refill the oil, as it won't burn or evaporate inside the radiator

Disadvantages of Oil Filled Radiators

• Oil filled radiators may take around 15 minutes to heat the room, which means you won't instantly get heat

• They can be heavy to move around in the home, as they have the added weight of the oil

Oil Free Radiators

Oil free radiators work by using thermal components, liker ceramic stone or aluminium. The heat is transferred by the processes of Convection and radiation. Convection transports the heat around the room, and the radiation emits the heat to the air. The room will warm up quickly, as this heating technology is the most advanced.

Advantages of Oil Free Radiators

• Oil free radiators are easy to use, and don't make much noise when they are switched on. They are lighter portable, which means you can move them from room to room with less hassle

• They warm up faster than oil filled radiators, making it easier to control the exact heat in your room

• They are ideal for large spaces, homes with high ceilings, open floor plans and stairwells

• Oil free radiators are environmentally friendly, as they don't use oils or harmful substances

Disadvantages of Oil Free Radiators

• Oil free radiators don't have as much heat retention as oil filled radiators

• They don't have the even distribution of heat, which oil filled radiators have

Electric Fires

Electric Fires provide the warmth and atmosphere of a real fireplace, without the use of gas, wood or coal as the heat source. They use electricity to generate heat in the metal coils of the electric fire. The internal fan distributes the heat throughout the room. The installation is simple, as the electric fire only needs to be plugged into an electrical socket.

To learn more about Electric Fires, check out our Electric Fires Buying Guide. 

Advantages of Electric Fires

• High efficiency as heat energy is not lost through the burning of fuel or chimney

• No servicing costs, as they are easy to maintain

• Safe as they don't produce toxic fumes

• Installation is simple, a you can plug and play

• Variety of designs available, and they are portable

Disadvantages of Electric Fires

• Noisy because of the fan within the fireplace
• Heat output is limited to 2kW for safety
• It takes a longer time to heat up the room

Patio Heaters

Patio Heaters use the heat transfer method of radiant heat to warm up the outdoor environment. They will warm up people, furniture and objects directly, which means the heat won't be lost by the wind. Patio Heaters are the most efficient way to heat an outdoor space, as people will retain the heat and radiate it out further. They are suitable for homes, as well as commercial environments like bars, cafès, restaurants, terraces and warehouses.

To learn more about Patio Heaters, check out our Patio Heaters Buying Guide. 

Advantages of Patio Heaters

• Patio Heaters are good for outdoor gatherings with friends and family when it's cold
• They come in multiple size and design options
• Patio Heaters are affordable, with our price range between £100-600 for most of our units
• They can heat a large area
• Many Patio Heaters are designed to be efficient
• They are portable, so you can find the perfect spot for it in your room

Disadvantages of Patio Heaters

• Gas Patio Heaters require installation, which will be expensive initially as you'll need a professional
• Electric Patio Heaters may cost more in the long term, due to electricity rates
• Propane Heaters are more expensive to run than Natural Gas Heaters, and you'll have to replace the Propane once it runs out
• Gas Patio Heaters can have a negative effect on the environment, as they produce carbon dioxide

Heating Your Home for Less!

Heating your home in the winter can be a struggle for many. Portable heaters allow you to heat a chosen room much quicker than you would be able to when solely relying on your central heating.

Electric heating is a popular choice by many homeowners as it’s easy for you to keep bills manageable whilst allowing you to quickly and effectively heat any room in your home just the way you like it. Electric Heaters are also very important in reducing your carbon footprint due to lower energy costs.

Staying warm in the winter is a struggle we all must deal with and if your central heating, as is often the case, just doesn’t cut it then an electric heater could be just what your home needs. Whether it’s a burst of warmth in the morning or sustained heat in the evening, our range of Electric Home Heaters are exceptional value for money!