Stylish heating solutions

Get cosy this winter with the most efficient fires, stoves, radiators and eco solutions that combine warmth and comfort with a designer look

Get cosy with these practical and beautiful heaters

Now is the perfect time to start thinking about how to heat your home for maximum warmth and efficiency.

Consider the fuel type available for your property – gas, electric, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), solar power, wood, pellets, bio-ethanol – and which you would prefer to use. Think about whether you want a focal point fire or stove, designer radiators or something that blends in. Will the installation be messy, time-consuming and costly or can you replace like for like? Think about the running costs too, as well as any restrictions in your area for using the fuel of your choice. To help you decide on the best option for your home, here’s our expert guide to the different heating solutions available.

ECO-FRIENDLY WOODBURNERS

If you’re choosing a wood-burning or multi-fuel stove, make sure it’s Ecodesign Ready. With new Clean Air legislation coming into effect in 2022, it’s vital to choose a model that complies with the new sustainable guidance. An Ecodesign Ready stove produces up to 90% less emissions than an open fire and up to 80% less than a stove manufactured over 10 years ago. Homes within Smoke Control Areas also need a stove that is approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Find out if you live in a Smoke Control Area at gov.uk. Also worth noting is that a Defra-approved model isn’t necessarily Ecodesign Ready and vice versa, so it’s vital to choose a stove that’s both. Added green features to look for include the energy efficiency rating, which will also keep running costs low.

RADIATORS

Radiators come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and finishes, and can be used to create a style statement or to blend in and be more of a discreet heating solution. For a classic look, consider a column design or for something more contemporary, go for an unusual shape or colour. The benefits of radiators include heating your home to a comfortable temperature as well as being affordable and easy to install. The most efficient are aluminium, as these heat up to five times faster than mild steel or cast iron – aluminium is an easier metal to recycle too. Thermostatic valves enable you to control the temperature of each radiator to optimise its effectiveness and heat output, which can help save on energy and gas bills.

GAS FIRES

Glass-fronted gas fires offer superior efficiency compared to open-fronted gas designs and you can choose from a huge range of styles, including multi-sided formats that are perfect for open-plan spaces. They’re often available in both conventional and balanced flue versions, as well as natural gas and LPG, so they can be installed in homes with or without a chimney, as well as properties without access to mains gas. Running costs can be cost-effective, especially if you’re on a fixed-price tariff for your gas. But bear in mind it will need regular servicing, just like a boiler, and its glass door will require cleaning. Have it safety checked and serviced once a year by a registered gas service engineer – find one local to you at gassaferegister.co.uk.

INFRARED HEATING PANELS

These efficient panels work by turning electricity into infrared energy, which is directed at walls, floors and ceilings to warm a room. Different to convection heaters, which heat the air rather than surfaces, panels are a much more efficient way to heat a space.

They work best when you choose a size to suit the room, as if you underestimate the area you need to heat, the panel can take a while to reach target temperature. Make sure the panel isn’t obstructed by any objects and consider the running costs, which can add up if you have it on all day during the winter. They don’t require any pipework and can be placed anywhere around the home.

‘ The main advantage is that they heat up rooms quicker than other heating options, as they instantly warm objects in the space,’ says Gregory Smith from priceyourjob.co.uk. ‘ They’re also low maintenance with fit and forget technology, which means they can be installed and left.

They produce 100% clean heat and cost from around £125 to £450 to buy, and around £50 a year to run.’

Said to reduce heating bills by up to 30%, the Solus+ M1 panel is an app-controlled electric infrared heater ideal for sustainable living. It has an IP44 rating so can be used safely in kitchens and bathrooms where resistance to water and moisture is needed. It also complies with recent legislation around heating efficiency. Prices start at £296.65

ELECTRIC FIRES

Electric fires can be installed almost anywhere and are quick to heat up. They come in varied designs, everything from sleek frameless styles, corner and inset models to classic stoves for the look and feel of a wood burner – perfect for a traditional interior. You’ll get realistic flame and log effects, mood lighting, remote control, programmable settings and customisable fuel beds so you can change the look to a crystal ice effect, for example, when you want something more contemporary. They can also be wall- or hearth-mounted, free standing or built-in, offering a flexible heat source for any room. They don’t need a chimney and you can even find app- and voice-controlled designs for a smart heating solution. Most designs are made to adhere to improvements in energy efficiency and only products that meet minimum Ecodesign standards can now be brought to market.

BIOETHANOL FIRES AND PELLET STOVES

A bioethanol fire is an easy-to-use, clean, safe and eco-friendly way to enjoy a real fire. It’s not designed to be the main heating source so you’ll also need radiators or underfloor heating for the rest of the house, but it does offer a really quick and easy solution for rooms without a chimney. To get one going you just squeeze the bioethanol fuel into the burner box and light it with an extended taper or gas-lighter tool. There’s no smoke and it burns with 98% efficiency while leaving no unpleasant residue.

Wood pellet stoves are another eco option and these can heat just one room or the whole house. Fuelled by wood pellets, which are automatically fed into the stove, they’re extremely efficient and some models can be controlled with your smartphone so you can set it to come on at a regular time or light it remotely. ‘ The initial cost of installing one is around £1,500 to £3,000,’ says Gregory Smith from priceyourjob.co.uk. ‘ The running costs range from 5.2p to 8.7p per kWh. You can also benefit from the government’s renewable heat incentive payments, which will help save on energy bills.’

ADDITIONAL ECO OPTIONS

Alternative sustainable sources include solar panels and ground-source heat pumps. The benefits include having access to endless amounts of energy, free of charge, as well as no CO emissions. The cost savings can be massive, as a lot less energy is used to heat water as well as the home, and you’ll be reducing your use of fossil fuels to help combat climate change.

The installation costs will be high however, and it can cause major upheaval to your décor and any existing systems. These heat methods are certainly an investment in a forever home and you can expect to pay around £6,000 to £7,000 for solar and between £14,000 and £19,000 for a heat pump according to The Energy Saving Trust. The payback period for both is hard to estimate as it depends on how well the house is insulated and how you use the heat generated.

A 5kW wood burner provides plenty of heat for smaller rooms. This Churchill 5 MK4 SE stove from Mendip Stoves, costs £1,192

Slender, contemporary-style stoves are ideal for shallow fireplaces. Woodwarm’s Phoenix Firegem Eco 5kW stove is EcoDesign Ready and is approved to burn wood in smokeless areas. Prices start at £1,503

Upgrade your bathroom or en suite with the Milano Nero flat matt black heated towel rail from Best Heating. Priced £149.95, it has plenty of space to keep towels warm and dry, along with a resilient black powdercoated finish.

For a designer-look column radiator to complement an industrial interior, the DQ Modus 3 from Just Radiators comes in eight finishes, including this bare-metal version. Prices start from £122

With its frameless design, the Riva2 500HL Slimline Edge gas fire from Gazco is ideal for minimalist living spaces thanks to its ‘hole in the wall’ effect. Prices from £2,475

Keep towels warm and dry with the Sitar Lato towel warmer. It comes in 188 colours and 32 special finishes. Prices start at £322 from The Radiator Company

For an electric fire with multiple flame effects, Gazco’s eStudio 105R inset design is ideal. It’s also perfect for creating ambience without the heat and can be installed almost anywhere to suit the layout of your room. Prices start at £995

The E-NEO3C Electric stove from ACR Stoves combines the look of a wood-burning stove and the convenience of electric one. It offers a view of the flame effect from every side and an optional decorative flue pipe. Prices start at £1,135

The SLE100 electric fire from Solution Fires can be fitted as a corner, front-facing or panoramic design. Control the colour and brightness via a smart device or Alexa voice control by downloading the free app. All for £1,399

For a clean, eco-friendly fire, the Basket Fire Logs Freestanding Ethanol Fireplace from Planika is a convenient option for rooms without a traditional fireplace or flue. Simply insert it into an existing disused fireplace surround and add fuel (a mains power socket is required). It’s priced £1,920 Eco friendly heat

Looking for a portable heat source that’s clean, safe and ecofriendly? Consider the Dancing Flames Tabletop Bioethanol Fire from Planika, which costs £280

For a wood burner with ultra-low emissions, an automatic wood pellet stove with self-feeding and self-lighting offers the same look and feel, but is up to 30 times cleaner, with fewer particulates in exhaust gases and cleaner air in the home. The Lundy 5 design from Island Pellet Stoves features thermostatic control, remote control, 82% efficiency and costs £3,765.