Cheapest and most expensive ways to heat your home

Switcher.ie has analysed the average daily* and hourly costs of a range of heaters and compared them against the cost of electric, oil fired and gas central heating.

Key Findings:

Infrared/halogen heaters, with an average daily cost* of €2.78 and an hourly cost of 0.35c, emerged as the most cost-effective small room heater.

Ceramic heaters were hot on the heels with a daily cost of €3.13 and an hourly cost of 0.39c. They’re slower to heat, so potentially costly for large rooms.

Wall-mounted panel heaters followed snugly behind with an average daily cost of €3.48 and an hourly cost of 0.43c.

Oil-filled radiators followed, with an average daily cost of €4.87 and an hourly cost of 0.61c. Although not the cheapest, they are worth a shot because they radiate heat long after switching off.

Fan heaters and freestanding convector heaters were the most expensive to run with average daily costs of between €6.26 and €6.95 with an hourly cost up to 0.87c, depending on size.

* Based on 8 hours per day

Most cost-effective?

Switcher.ie also compared the average cost of heating an entire house with a central heating system and confirmed that gas was the most cost-effective heating method.

Gas central heating averaged between €8.00 and €15.00, electric central heating averaged between €10.00 and €18.00, and oil-fired central heating averaged between €11.00 and €19.00.

How do room heaters compare to central heating?

Some portable heaters are very cost-effective for individual rooms, but if you need to heat several rooms on a daily basis, costs could soon add up.

Ultimately, the actual cost of centrally heating your home depends on the house size, the thermostat setting, insulation and boiler efficiency. The only real way to compare costs accurately is to use a smart meter.

So, what’s the most efficient way to heat your house?

Electric, portable heaters like infrared, ceramic, and oil-filled radiators are great for heating one room efficiently, but buying an electric heater for every room would increase your electricity bill more than notching up the central heating.

For those working from home or regularly only using one or two rooms, it’s worth investing in a portable, energy-efficient heater with a thermostat to keep the room toasty. This means you can keep the heating down or off in unused rooms.

But, on balance, when you need to heat your whole home, central heating, especially gas central heating, is the cheapest way to stay warm through winter.

What else can you do to beat the heating bills?

Rocketing energy bills have led to a rise in the popularity of heating suits and foot warmers. These devices are energy efficient and truly portable, so you can wear them while working at your desk, watching TV, or reading. Heated wearables keep you warm and cosy without the financial chill.

Eoin Clarke, Energy Expert at Switcher.ie said: “With the reduction in Electricity Credits, and a potential €100 hike to help pay for investment in Ireland’s electricity network, it’s worth reviewing how we heat our homes and ensuring we do it as efficiently and cheaply as possible.”

Many householders don’t have the cash upfront to make energy upgrades; however, if you work from home or only use one or two rooms, investing in an energy-efficient room heater could be less costly than turning up the boiler.

“Before you buy, consider the size of your room, compare wattage and cost per hour and choose one with a thermostat so it stays at the right temperature.

“Another way to cut costs is to switch your supplier - especially now competitive discounting has returned. An average household could save up to €800 per year by making the switch. And there’s no need to worry about losing your energy credit, it’ll be added automatically by your new provider, so you won’t lose out.

“Every cent counts, so even simple fixes like insulating against drafts and turning off unused devices can help keep costs down.”

The numbers...

Each device was calculated based on its average daily cost, average hourly cost and average wattage. Room heater running costs are based on a standard tariff unit rate of 34.75 c/kWh (inc VAT).

Infrared heater - 500w to 1,500w (wattage) €2.78 (daily cost) 0.35c (hourly cost).

Ceramic heater - 750w to 1,500w (wattage) €3.13 (daily cost) 0.39c (hourly cost).

Wall-mounted panel heater - 500w to 2,000w (wattage) €3.48 (daily cost) 0.43c (hourly cost).

Oil filled radiator - 1,000w to 2,500w (wattage) €4.87 (daily cost) 0.61c (hourly cost).

Fan heater - 1,500w to 3,000w (wattage) €6.26 (daily cost) 0.78c (hourly cost).

Freestanding convector heater - 2,000w to 3,000w (wattage) €6.95 (daily cost) 0.87c (hourly cost).