Heating your business is important for keeping your staff and customers comfortable, and keeping your building well-maintained. But there are many factors to consider when choosing a commercial heating system, such as: is electric heating cheaper than gas? Read on to find out more about the pros and cons of these two heating solutions.
What is the difference between gas and electric heating?
Gas-fuelled commercial heating systems are generally powered by a boiler. This boiler burns gas and heats up water, which is then circulated throughout the heating system to provide indoor heating.
Commercial electric heating systems come in a variety of forms and are powered by electricity which is directly supplied to the separate heating appliances that make up the heating system. This is considered to be more efficient. If you’ve got large premises with high ceilings, radiant heating is a particularly useful commercial electric heating solution. Radiant heating works by warming the objects and people inside spaces with infrared heat, rather than heating the air. This is a very efficient way of heating large interior spaces, and minimising heat loss.
Gas heating
Pros
- With the prices of energy constantly on the rise, gas heating can often cost less to run than electric heating.
- New, modern gas boilers are much more efficient than older boilers.
- Gas heating can be controlled by a smart thermostat, further increasing its efficiency.
Cons
- The installation of gas heating is more complex and expensive than electric heating.
- The maintenance of gas boilers can be expensive too.
- Old boiler systems are inefficient and sometimes dangerous, and need to be replaced. Upgrading to a more modern, efficient boiler is a further expense.
Electric heating
Pros
- Whilst energy prices can be expensive, you can use smart thermostats to manage your heating efficiently, and use electricity during off-peak times to bring down costs.
- Commercial electric heating systems are cheaper to install and maintain than a gas heating system. No pipework or flue needs to be installed.
- Electric heating is a cleaner heat source, and causes less environmental damage.
Cons
- Electric heating does not work as quickly as gas heating.
- Depending on factors such as your energy tariff and whether you use your heating during off-peak or peak times, electric heating can be more expensive to run.
