The Pros & Cons of Electric Heating Systems in Glasgow

Electric heating systems offer an alternative to gas-powered heaters. However, they generally have higher upfront costs and require an energy assessment with a qualified HVAC specialist before making an informed decision about which option best meets your home heating needs.

Electric furnaces use similar heating elements found in toaster ovens to heat your home’s air efficiently. Such systems may even prove more cost-effective if combined with a heat pump system.

person pressing a button on an electric heater

Cost

Electric heating systems pose one obvious drawback in terms of cost: their electricity use. While energy-efficiency measures may help offset this factor, New York residents face some of the highest electricity rates nationwide.

Previously, electric heating systems relied on individual appliances in each room; but thanks to technological advancements, there are now centralized electric heating systems. These can range from underfloor heating that uses cables or mats to heat the floors directly, to baseboard heaters which use coils that heat when electricity passes through them.

Utilizing an efficient electrical heating system can significantly lower your home’s carbon footprint and energy costs by running them during off-peak electricity rates for cheap off-peak electricity, thus decreasing your electricity bill.

Energy Efficiency

Electric heating systems are more eco-friendly than gas central heating because they do not emit harmful carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

Heating energy consumption makes up 50% or more of a home’s total energy usage. Simple steps such as air sealing and thermostat resetting can save up to 30% in heating costs while simultaneously decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Electric resistance heating is 100% efficient at the point of use, meaning every unit of electricity you purchase brings one unit of heat into your property. This makes electric resistance heating much more cost-effective than fossil fuel-based power generation plants which typically only deliver 30-60% of energy as heat; any excess is lost during transmission lines.

As opposed to gas boilers and radiators, there is no requirement for flue or pipework installation that may restrict building design or limit your choice of locations for the system – making it simple to incorporate into new build properties during second fix wiring stages.

Safety

As winter months approach, heating equipment users must exercise caution and practice safety when using any form of heating device. Improper usage could lead to fires, carbon monoxide poisoning or other potentially serious side effects.

When purchasing a portable electric heater, make sure it carries an official seal from an accredited testing lab such as Underwriters Laboratories or CE (European Conformity). Furthermore, ensure the device features an electrical plug equipped with either a fuse or circuit breaker to prevent overloaded electricity sources from overloading.

Portable electric heaters plugged into wall sockets can become fire hazards when placed too near to materials that burn, leading to property loss and injuries. Carbon monoxide poisoning from portable heaters plugged into wall sockets has also been known to occur, known as the silent killer due to having no odor or colour and being harmful even without being treated immediately – leading to unconsciousness or death in some instances. Therefore, routine inspection of all heating equipment such as furnaces, wood stoves and fireplaces can help avoid CO poisoning risks from portable heaters plugged into wall sockets can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from portable electric heaters plugged into wall sockets can avoid this potential fire hazard occurring portable electric heaters plugging into wall sockets can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning caused by gas furnaces, wood stoves or fireplaces and ensure all ventilation systems operate optimally avoiding CO poisoning risks from gas furnaces causing gas leakage to occur avoiding carbon monoxide poisonous gases being produced resulting from gas furnaces, wood stoves/fireplaces/vectory systems etc being monitored will avoid CO poisoning from gas furnaces/vectory systems used plugged into wall sockets from their location being placed too close. Regularly inspecting all heating equipment and venting systems helps ensure CO poisoning due to gas furnaces/wood stoves/ventilated systems/venting systems is conducted. A regular check can ensure this from gas furnaces/vincea.

Maintenance

Electric heaters can be an economical and effective way to heat both homes and businesses, but require regular maintenance for optimal performance. A properly maintained system will last longer while operating more efficiently; to maximize longevity it’s essential that a quality HVAC professional be chosen and routine inspections of your heating system scheduled.

Wiring connections must be regularly tightened on a heater to avoid loose wires carrying high voltage that could present a fire hazard. Furthermore, evaporator coils must remain clean to allow air flow without restriction or restriction of any sort.

When performing maintenance on a heater, begin by switching off its compressor disconnect and taking steps to open its cover. Next, inspect its panel switches and controls for damage, grime buildup or disconnected components before connecting gauges for an under load refrigerant test (learn more about non-invasive testing HERE) or performing other checks such as suction head pressure (HHP), subcool (SCS), delta T or other as per manufacturer guidelines.