With any heating system, it’s not just the unit price of the heater you need to consider but also any installation costs, running costs, and potential ongoing maintenance. Two of the main benefits of electric radiators are that they don’t require annual checks and most can be installed DIY so you’re already saving money from the start!

The mechanical thermostats often used with central heating systems use two pieces of metal which expand and contract in the heat to switch your home heating on and off. Needless to say, this isn’t exactly a fancy bit of kit: mechanical thermostats can be as inaccurate as 3 °C, causing your system to overheat your space and waste energy in the process. The digital thermostats in electric radiators are far more precise in comparison and are, at most, only a fraction of a degree out when it comes to reading your room temperature.

Radiators are increasingly becoming decorative accessories. You have, for example, the choice of shape: a low or high model, horizontal or vertical, even in the form of baseboards. Where space is limited, opt for a column radiator. Demande is increasing for radiators in different colors. You might also appreciate the very pure aesthetics of models with glass or stone facades. New trends include: retro designs, a concrete effect, vertical radiators with a flat surface, remote control radiators, radiators that also purify air, a “mirror” aesthetic, integrated night light—ideal in a child’s room—, powerful baseboard radiators and intelligent and connected electric radiators.

The size and wattage you’ll need from your electric radiators depends on the size of your room, the quality of your insulation and the location of your property. Wattage measures your radiator’s maximum power output and determines what size area it can heat. You can use our radiator calculator to work out what wattage you need to heat your room. You’ll need to find a radiator, or combination of radiators, which adds up to the required wattage. For example: if your required wattage is 1250W you could heat your room using a 450W and 800W radiator. If it’s a choice between going higher or lower, always go higher. Underspecified radiators will work inefficiently when trying to heat a larger space. More powerful radiators will simply use less power when the room reaches temperature. Radiator Outlet is the home of affordable radiators online!