Electric heating for your home requires a coordinated plan for each room. A living room used daily has different needs from a guest room or a workplace used briefly. Start with heat demand and use, then assess which technology, controls and mounting suit each space.
This guide helps coordinate choices between rooms and total electricity consumption. We advise private and business end users and support installation companies and wholesalers. Choosing a product alone is not a complete gas-free plan: domestic hot water, cooking and any other gas functions need separate attention.
Key points
Distinguish targeted supplementary heating from primary heating. Calculate heat loss per room and check the simultaneous electrical load for the whole house. Compare alternatives for the same comfort requirement. Smart features, solar panels or a particular origin do not by themselves prove low costs, subsidy eligibility or compliance with building regulations.
What does electric home heating include?
The group includes resistance panels, convectors, electric underfloor heating and heat pumps. They differ in arrangement and operation. Resistance appliances generate heat from electricity; a heat pump moves environmental heat and can deliver several units of heat per unit of electricity. The word electric therefore does not mean that all systems have the same annual consumption.
A system can be designed for the whole home or supplement existing heating. With supplementary heating, the remaining consumption of the main installation is still part of the bill. A room with panels does not automatically make the home gas-free. For a complete switch, also check the electricity supply for hot water and cooking.
Convection and radiation in the design
Panels and radiators emit radiant and convective heat in different proportions. With infrared, whether radiation can reach people and surfaces matters. A wardrobe, sofa or curtain can block direct radiation. Heat stored in building elements changes its timing but does not remove heat losses through the façade and ventilation.
Assess comfort where you sit, stand or work. It depends on air and surrounding surface temperatures, air movement, clothing and activity. A fixed thermostat reduction of two or three degrees with the same comfort cannot be promised generally. Air movement still occurs without a fan, and ventilation remains necessary.
Calculating consumption and cost-effectiveness fairly
Use actual input power in kilowatts multiplied by operating hours to calculate energy in kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your own tariff. An eight-hour programme does not mean the panel runs continuously for eight hours. Conversely, do not assume a fixed short operating time without supporting evidence. Use measured data or an estimate with explicit assumptions.
Compare purchase, installation, maintenance and replacement over the same period. In a comparison with gas, identify separately any fixed charges that genuinely disappear. For a heat pump, the calculated seasonal performance matters, not merely a favourable value at one moment. A panel’s almost complete conversion of electricity to heat does not automatically make it cheaper to run than a heat pump.
Solar electricity and energy management
Solar electricity can reduce grid imports when generation and demand coincide. Winter heat demand often coincides with limited generation. Include contract terms and forgone export income, and do not automatically assume a zero tariff. Preheating during sunny periods or at a low dynamic price can cause additional losses. A home battery does not automatically make the design independent of the grid.
Making a practical plan for each room
1. Recording heat loss and use
Collect dimensions, external surfaces, insulation, glazing, ventilation and desired temperatures. Have an appropriate heat-loss calculation made. An energy label, construction year or fixed 20 to 60 watts per cubic metre does not determine the design. General Rc thermal-resistance values do not prove that a home meets all applicable building requirements either. Have current requirements assessed for the specific work.
2. Choosing functions for each room
Determine where a constant room temperature is needed and where targeted supplementary heat may suffice. A bathroom has additional positioning requirements; a mirror is not automatically the most economical solution. In a bedroom, hot surfaces, indicator lights and control noise also matter. For a workplace, assess the actual seating position and shielding by furniture.
3. Designing electricity and mounting together
Have simultaneous load, circuits, wiring and protective devices assessed. The supply connection follows from the design; a 3×25-amp connection is not a general requirement or guarantee. Check the substrate, fixings, clearances and maintenance access. An existing lighting point or socket is not automatically suitable for the chosen load.
4. Testing controls and coordinating use
Choose suitable thermostats with representative sensors. Wi-Fi or an app is not needed in every room and does not always provide real consumption measurement. Test schedules, local operation and recovery after a power failure. Do not make zones warmer than necessary, but maintain appropriate comfort and moisture control. An open-plan kitchen and living room do not automatically acquire independent air temperatures through two controllers.
Discussing product selection with us
Share a floor plan, usage details, insulation and existing facilities. We discuss panel versions, controls and available product information with you and, where relevant, the installer or wholesaler. Colour, glass, mirror and printing can suit the interior if available for the model. Have customisation, delivery and warranty confirmed beforehand rather than assuming complete design freedom.
From planning to checked installation
Trying one room can be useful before adapting the whole home. Measure comfort and consumption and also track the main heating. Have the final proposal describe calculations, mounting conditions, included components and responsibilities. Cleaning and checking remain necessary according to the manual; product origin or the absence of moving parts does not prove twenty to thirty years of trouble-free operation.
Frequently asked questions
Is electric underfloor heating automatically suitable as primary heating?
No. Assess capacity, heat loss, approved floor construction, finish and temperature limits. An additional ceiling panel does not make an unsuitable floor combination suitable. Check how both systems work together and their total consumption before combining them.
Does supplementing central heating always save money?
No. Compare the extra electricity consumed with the actual reduction in consumption by the existing heating. If that continues unchanged, panel consumption is additional. Compare the same comfort requirement and tariffs for both energy sources, and include fixed costs only if they genuinely change.
Sources and assumptions
- Heating for the living room
- Infrared mirrors
- Panels with images
- Browse the range
- Discuss your home heating
- IEA: how a heat pump works
- Milieu Centraal: heating with infrared panels
- NEN: low-voltage installations
- Welltherm: installation and operating manual for WS/SP/TA glass panelsOpen PDF in a new tab