Electric vs Gas Heating: Which One Should You Choose?

Choosing the right heating system for your home is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make as a homeowner. With rising energy costs and environmental concerns, understanding the differences between electric and gas heating is crucial.

Whether you’re dealing with leaking pipework, outdated oil radiators, or simply planning for the future, this guide will help you make an informed decision.

In this blog, we’ll explore the key differences between electric and gas, costs and considerations to help you make an informed decision for your property.

Overview of Electric vs Gas Heating

When it comes to whole-house heating, UK homeowners typically choose between two main options: gas or electric central heating systems. Each has its own advantages, operating principles and cost implications.

Gas central heating works by burning natural gas in a boiler to heat water, which is then circulated through radiators and pipes throughout your home. This system has been the traditional choice for UK homes for decades, primarily because gas prices have historically been lower.

Electric heating systems include electric boilers, heat pumps and individual electric radiators. Electric boilers heat water with electricity rather than gas, while heat pumps extract heat from the air or the ground. Individual electric radiators work independently, converting electricity directly into heat at the point of use with near-perfect efficiency.

The importance of choosing the right heating system cannot be overstated. Your decision will affect your energy bills for years to come, impact your home’s carbon footprint and influence your property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating.

Key Differences Between Electric and Gas Heating

The biggest and most significant difference between electric and gas heating is the energy source. Gas heating relies on natural gas (i.e., a fossil fuel), while electric heating uses electricity, which can increasingly be generated from renewable sources.

Gas systems require a central boiler, extensive pipework and radiators throughout the property. Whereas electric systems can be centralised (electric boilers) or decentralised (individual radiators), offering more flexibility in installation and control.

In terms of how energy is delivered, gas systems transport heated water through pipes, which can lead to heat loss. Electric radiators generate heat directly where it’s needed, eliminating distribution losses and achieving almost 100% efficiency at the point of use.

Cost Analysis: Electric vs Gas Heating

Cost is a primary consideration for most homeowners, though the final price you’ll pay depends on many factors, including your current electrical infrastructure, the type of tariff you’re on (such as Economy 7), your home’s power supply capacity and existing circuits.

Installation Costs
One of the most significant upfront differences between the two systems lies in installation complexity and cost.

Electric heating systems are often simpler and cheaper to install. Installation typically requires less disruption as there’s no need for extensive pipework, gas connections or flues. Individual electric radiators can often be fitted quickly with minimal upheaval.

Gas central heating systems, on the other hand, involve a more substantial initial investment. A new gas boiler installation requires professional fitting, along with pipework throughout your property and connection to the gas supply. If you don’t already have a gas connection, this adds considerably to the overall cost.

Running Costs and Energy Bills

Running costs depend on system efficiency, usage patterns and your energy tariff.

Currently, electricity costs more per unit (kWh) than gas. This means that for whole-house heating with continuous use, gas remains cheaper in pure running costs.

However, the advantages of electric heating include:

• 100% efficiency at the point of use, so you don’t lose heat through the pipes or flues
• You can control which rooms you heat and save money that way
• The ability to control temperature precisely and reduce energy waste
• Compatibility with renewable energy, so solar panels can offset electricity costs
• Eligibility for special tariffs, such as Economy 7, can significantly reduce costs.

For well-insulated properties, those with renewable energy generation or homes where only certain rooms need heating, electric systems can prove cost-competitive or even cheaper than gas. Those on Economy 7 or similar tariffs designed for electric heating may find their running costs much lower than expected.

Maintenance and Repair Costs

A final consideration when it comes to costs is maintenance and repairs.

Gas boilers require annual servicing by a Gas Safe-registered engineer. Over a boiler’s lifespan, these servicing costs add up considerably.

Gas systems also require regular checks of pipework, pressure vessels and radiators, as well as occasional expensive repairs such as heat exchanger replacements. Ageing pipework can also develop leaks and become less efficient over time, requiring costly repairs or complete replacement.

Electric heating systems, however, don’t need much or any maintenance. With no moving parts, no combustion process and no water circulation in individual radiators, there’s nothing to service annually. This means you can save money over the lifespan of the electric heating system.

What Other Heating Considerations Are There?

Cost isn’t the only consideration to take into account when you’re choosing which type of heating system is right for you and your home. You also need to think about the performance, efficiency and environmental impact.

1. System Efficiency and Comfort

Modern condensing gas boilers operate at approximately 90-95% efficiency when new, but as they age, this decreases.

With a gas boiler, heat can be lost through the flue, pipework and during the warm-up period. Temperature control is typically managed by a central thermostat, which can lead to some rooms being too warm while others remain cold.

Whereas electric heating systems offer near-perfect efficiency at the point of use. Every watt of electricity consumed is converted directly into heat within the room.

Unlike gas heaters, you can also install individual thermostats on each radiator, which means you get room-by-room control and use only the energy you need to heat the rooms you are using.

2. Environmental Impact and Sustainability

The environmental impact and sustainability of your heating system are important, not only for the planet but also for future-proofing your home.

Gas heating burns fossil fuels, which means it produces CO₂ emissions. According to the National Audit Office, heating the UK’s 28 million homes accounted for 18% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. And gas boilers are a major contributor to this.

Electric heating produces zero emissions at the point of use. While electricity generation can produce emissions, the UK grid is rapidly decarbonising and using renewable sources to supply the UK with electricity.

As the UK electricity grid becomes greener, electric heating automatically becomes more environmentally friendly without any changes to your home system.

What’s more, homeowners with solar panels or green energy tariffs can create a low-carbon heating system for their home by choosing electric heating.

3. Future Trends and Energy Transition

Another consideration when choosing between gas and electric heating systems should be what the future holds.

The UK government has set ambitious targets to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As part of this strategy and the UK’s future energy transition, here are some factors to consider:

• Under the Future Homes Standard, the government have stated that new build homes cannot have gas boilers installed from 2025.
• In a UK-wide energy transition, older properties are likely to eventually need to move away from fossil-fuel heating.
• There are currently some financial incentives for choosing electric and renewable heating systems.

Choosing electric heating now means you’re ahead of this transition, with a system that will remain compliant and potentially increase in value as the market shifts away from gas.

Case Study: Mr Everitt’s Experience Switching from Gas to Electric Heating

Mr Everitt approached North East Heating Solutions about switching from his wet heating system after a leak in his bathroom and bedroom radiators. After being told that his gas system would continue to leak due to the piping, he started researching electric vs. gas heating. He discovered German-manufactured radTherm, built with a ceramic core, which would heat his home efficiently.

After contacting North East Heating Solutions to book his free home survey, Howard was able to recommend the types of radiators he needed for a warm, comfortable home. Mr Everitt was pleased with the installation process, finding the engineers clean, tidy, and efficient, fitting the whole system in a day.

How to Choose Between Electric and Gas?

Choosing the right heating system depends on your specific circumstances. We’d recommend electric if:

• You’re building an extension or converting a space
• Your home lacks a gas supply
• You want zone control and individual room heating
• You have or plan to install solar panels
• You prioritise low maintenance and safety
• You want to future-proof against gas phase-out
• You’re experiencing leaks in your gas pipework
• You have old, inefficient pipework that’s affecting system performance
• You currently use oil radiators or oil heating and want a cleaner, more efficient solution
• You’re concerned about changing regulations regarding oil storage tanks
• Your current system requires frequent, costly repairs.

You might want to choose gas if:

• You already have gas central heating, and the boiler is functioning
• You need whole-house heating with high continuous demand
• Upfront running cost per kWh is your primary concern
• Your home is poorly insulated (though improving insulation is advisable regardless).

For many homes, a hybrid approach can work well, and many people choose to use gas for primary heating and supplement it with electric radiators in extensions, conservatories or home offices.

Making the Switch from Gas to Electric

At North East Heating Solutions, we specialise in providing cutting-edge electric heating solutions tailored to your specific needs.

If you’re interested in switching from gas to electric heating, we can help. Book your free home survey today and discover how switching to electric heating can improve the warmth and efficiency of your home.

For more information or to book a survey, contact North East Heating Solutions online, call 0800 808 5513, or email [email protected].

If you’re also considering a more efficient hot water system, check out our Sunamp hot water storage solution, or if you’re looking for a zero-emission boiler, discover our intelligent home heating solutions with ZEB.

NEHS have been installing electric heating solutions to over 5000 customers, have brilliant independent reviews on Which and are members of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineers.