Gas or Electric… Which one is best for your home?
Nothing beats a warm and cosy home when the weather is miserable outside, however this comes with a cost. Heating and hot water is the main costs of people’s energy bills. However, heating is also one area that can help you creating the biggest savings on your homes carbon footprint. This means it is important that your heating system is not just cheap to run but is also energy efficient.
In this blog we will compare gas vs electric energy, which is cheaper, the differences between the two and weigh up the pros and cons – and help you decide which is the better option for your home.
Gas systems rely on the boiler to burn the fuel which will then heat the water so the hot water can then circulate through the radiators or pipes under the floor and heat your home. As your radiators and pipes heat up this will heat the air in your home creating a warm home. On the other hand, there is a lot more variety with electrical heating systems. While gas systems rely on a boiler, electric systems tend to rely on individual heating appliances in each room, be it a plug-in fan, panel heaters or off-peak cheap electricity (Economy 7).
Both gas and electric systems both have their own pros and cons, and below is a comparison of both types of systems.
Gas Heating Systems
Pros
Higher Heat output so will give off more heat.
Lower running costs - gas is cheaper than electricity.
Gas systems are more efficient.
Easy to replace.
Gas systems heat your home faster than electric saving you money as you don’t have to keep It on as long.
Cons
Higher Installation costs - needs to be installed by a gas engineer.
Needs regular servicing and maintenance and gas safety checks.
If you don’t have a gas meter in your home it can be costly and time consuming to install.
Shorter life span - only last about 15 years electric last about 30 years.
Most systems are combi boilers so if it breaks down you also lose your hot water as well as your heating.
Electric Heating Systems
Pros
Cheaper and easier to install
no pipework.
Usually cheaper to buy.
Does not need to be yearly serviced to be maintained and keep working.
You do not need venting - gas needs special venting to discharge the gas.
Cons
Lower heat output.
Higher running costs
electricity is more expensive than gas.
Not as efficient as a gas system.
Slower heating takes longer to heat your home.
To summarise, both gas and electric systems can be very beneficial to your home. However, in the UK climate gas would be the most cost effective and energy efficient for your home.
If you would like more information on how Simple Heating Services can help with your heating installation, get in touch today! Call us on 0330 124 4423, or send us a message on Live Chat.
