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Electric heating vs gas: which is better?
Choosing between electric and gas heating depends on your home, budget, and how you use each room. Below we compare the pros and cons of both—and when dual fuel makes sense—so you can pick the setup that keeps costs down and comfort up.
Electric heating: advantages
- Simple installation: Electric radiators and towel rails connect to the mains—no pipework, boiler, or floorboards up.
- Lower upfront cost: Pay for the units and a qualified electrician. No boiler or copper pipe network.
- Low maintenance: Few moving parts and no annual boiler service.
Electric heating: disadvantages
- Slower warm‑up: Rooms usually take longer to feel warm than with a wet (hydronic) system.
- Higher running costs: Electricity typically costs more per unit than gas, so ongoing bills may be higher.
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Gas heating: advantages
- Fast room heat: Hot‑water radiators warm spaces quickly—ideal in colder months.
- Easy to repair: Widely supported; parts and engineers are readily available.
- Lower ongoing costs: Gas is generally cheaper per unit; modern boilers exceed 90% efficiency.
- Huge choice: Broad range of sizes, styles, finishes, and colours for radiators and towel rails.
Gas heating: disadvantages
- Higher upfront cost: Boiler, pipework, and installation can be disruptive and expensive in homes without existing central heating.
- Annual servicing: Requires a Gas Safe Registered engineer check each year for safety and reliability.
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Dual fuel: a practical third option
Dual fuel lets you use both energy sources. A common choice is a dual fuel heated towel rail that warms with central heating in winter and switches on electrically when you only need the rail—perfect for summer towel‑drying without heating the whole house.
Which is better for you?
Consider budget, installation practicalities, energy tariffs, and how each room is used. Many homes prefer gas (lower running costs, faster heat), while electric fits properties without gas or rooms that need independent control. Dual fuel adds flexibility when you want targeted heat without switching on the whole system.
Running costs, tariffs and when each makes sense
| System | Typical runtime scenario | Tariff example | Indicative cost per day | Best use cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric radiator. | 1.0 kW × 3 h/day. | Electric: 25–35p/kWh. | ≈ 1.0 × 3 × £0.30 = £0.90. | Rooms needing independent control, properties without gas, targeted evening heat. |
| Gas central heating (CH). | Whole house heat, 2 h/day shoulder season. | Gas: 7–10p/kWh; modern boilers ≥90% efficient. | Household‑level; per kWh is lower than electric, so whole‑home heating often cheaper than electric equivalents. | Cold days, fast warm‑up across multiple rooms; homes with existing CH. |
| Dual fuel towel rail (electric element). | 0.4 kW × 1 h/day (summer or off‑peak use). | Electric: 25–35p/kWh. | ≈ 0.4 × 1 × £0.30 = £0.12. | Year‑round towel drying without running the whole CH; summer bathrooms. |
Illustrative only. Actual costs depend on your exact tariffs, thermostat setpoints, insulation, and duty cycle (cycling reduces average draw). Cost ≈ Power (kW) × Hours × Tariff (£/kWh).