In this article, we will delve into all the key factors affecting electric fire running costs in the UK so you’ll know what to expect to spend on operating different electric fires and make an informed buying decision.
We’ll be looking in more detail at things like different heat outputs and the impact of UK energy prices, as well as the role played by your home and how you intend to use the electric fire. Let’s start exploring electric fire running costs.
The kW of an electric fire is its heat output or power rating. You’ve probably heard about the wattage of an electric appliance, and that’s exactly what we’re talking about here. It’s just that the figures are in kilowatts (kW) rather than watts.
In other words, the kW rating associated with an electric fire is the amount of electricity the appliance would consume if used for one hour. An electric fire with a higher kW rating will generate more heat. In doing so, it will consume more electricity. That means electric fires with a higher kW rating cost more to run.
For example, the Dimplex Kingsley 2kW Electric Inset Stove will have higher running costs than the Ezee Glow 60'' Celestial Built-In Electric Fire, which has 1.4kW and 1.6kW heat output settings, if both fires are in use for the same amount of time.
How Much Does Your Electricity Cost?
A key factor in electric fire running costs is the price of your electricity. You can easily find out how much your electricity costs by checking a recent bill or your energy provider’s app.
You will see a unit price, which is how much you pay for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity. That means the unit price is equivalent to running a 1kW electrical appliance for one hour. You can use the information on your bill to calculate how much an electric fire will cost to run.
Electricity prices change regularly and vary between different providers — and even between different tariffs offered by the same provider — so it’s always worth checking that you’re getting the best deal. A reduction in unit price will also cut your electric fire running costs.
How Often Will You Use It?
Since electric fires turn on at the press of a button and get up to temperature very quickly, you only ever pay for the electricity you need to make your room nice and cosy. With that in mind, how frequently or infrequently you plan to use the electric fire will affect the running costs.
Using the electric fire for a blast of extra warmth in an evening will result in far lower running costs than if you intend to have it running for extended periods every day.
How Energy Efficient is Your Electric Fire?
All modern electric fires are 100% efficient at the point of use. For most gas fires, efficiency will be somewhere between 50% and 80%. For woodburners it’s typically 70-85%, and for open fires, it can be as low as 30%.
With an electric fire, all of your running costs go towards heating your home. With less efficient options — appliances where fuel is being burned and energy lost in the process — that isn’t the case.
How Insulated is Your Home?
The energy efficiency of your home also has a key part to play in electric fire running costs. A well-insulated, draught-free home will help to keep costs down. On the other hand, a draughty property with poor insulation will cost more to heat with an electric fire (just as it would with any other form of heating).
You can take steps to address this problem. For example, if you currently have a draughty open fireplace, you could install an electric inset fire that would simultaneously stop the chill from getting into the room and add more warmth.
Is There Anything You Can Do To Reduce Electric Fire Running Costs?
Yes, there are lots of things you can do to reduce electric fire running costs. We’ve discussed one of the key ones already: shop around for the best deal on electricity prices. There are many other things you can do to cut electricity costs:
Flame-only settings
Perhaps the most important way to save money on electric fire running costs is to take advantage of the flame-only settings. There are some incredibly realistic electric fire flame effects available that can create a cosy atmosphere even when the heater itself is switched off.
Given that the running costs of the LEDs that create the flame effect are minuscule, using the flame independently of the heater significantly reduces the running costs. We’re repeatedly told that people feel warmer, as if the heater is on, even when it’s not.
Use the thermostat
Many contemporary electric fires, such as the Ezee Glow 72” Celestial Media Wall Fire and ACR Neo 3F 2 kW Electric Stove, come with adjustable thermostats. This means your electric fire will automatically turn off when the room reaches the desired temperature so that you don’t end up paying for heat you don’t need.
Use timer controls
The timer function is a fantastic money-saving feature on many electric fires. You can set the timer to heat the room just before you get up in the morning or just before you get home in the evening to ensure it’s a comfortable temperature. Similarly, you can set a timer so that the fire switches off after a set time to make sure you don’t accidentally leave it running.
The Ezee Glow Zara 50” Recessed Electric Fire and the ACR Malvern 2kW Electric Stove have a 7-day timer function, so you can set the fire to work exactly as you need it each day.
Switch off when you leave the room
Get into the habit of switching off the electric fire when you leave the room, just as you might with the lights. Electric fires get up to temperature very quickly so you don’t need it to be on when you’re not in the room — it will keep you just as cosy if you switch it back on when you return.
Turn off the plug
To eke out the final few pennies of savings on electric fire running costs, you could turn off the appliance at the socket when it’s not in use. Many electric fires have a remote control, which will put the appliance into standby mode when you press the off button.
Electric fire running costs in standby mode are very low, but there is a small saving to be made by turning off the electricity supply.
Is an Electric Fireplace Better than Central Heating?
An electric fireplace has a few key advantages over central heating. Firstly, it’s easier to provide targeted heating in your living room with an electric fireplace than having to turn radiators on and off in other rooms. This is particularly useful if you just want a quick boost of heat for the room you’re in.
Secondly, an electric fireplace is 100% efficient at the point of use. With gas central heating and oil central heating, energy is lost when the fuel is burned in your boiler. That means not all the energy you pay for goes towards heating your home when you use your central heating.
Lastly, electric fireplaces start giving out heat almost immediately after being switched on. That means you don’t have to wait for a radiator to warm up before feeling any benefit. Similarly, electric fireplaces stop generating heat as soon as they’re switched off, which gives you greater control over the room temperature.
Ready to Explore Electric Fires?
Discover our full range of electric fires to find the perfect appliance for your home. You’ll find electric fireplaces with a variety of different heat outputs, many of the features we’ve discussed above and an array of styles and designs.
