Electric Heating
This same flexibility also sets HHRSHs apart from other forms of electric heating such as direct-acting electric radiators. While these provide instant heat using electricity at the time it is needed, HHRSHs can store energy, typically charging overnight on lower-rate tariffs and release it when required. This more efficient use of energy can deliver improvements of up to 47% compared with direct-acting electric heating in the right applications.
As households pay closer attention to energy use, demand is growing for systems that offer greater control and predictability. Quantum reflects this shift, combining efficiency with straightforward, easy operation.
Customer feedback also reinforces this point - for those who have experienced both older and newer systems, the difference is often described less in technical terms and more in how the heating fits into everyday life. Jean Thorne, who lives in a retirement block in Market Harborough and recently upgraded her storage heaters, outlines the contrast clearly: “I had storage heaters, but they were horrible - too wide and you couldn’t really control how much heat was coming out or when you wanted them to come on or off. After some research I decided to go with a Dimplex product, as it was a brand I knew, so I contacted Greenvision Energy who came out and fitted Quantum.
“With my old storage heater, I was paying around £150 per month but that has now reduced to £68, which is amazing. It’s so much easier to set the temperature or the amount of heat you want and is so versatile while saving me money. The initial installation cost has soon been outweighed by the amount of money I’m saving on my electricity bill each month.” Experiences like this highlight a broader shift in how electric heating is now understood, with greater emphasis on control, adaptability and consistency.
For electrical wholesalers, this evolution has direct implications, with the trade counter remaining a key point where views are either reinforced or reshaped. Installers often draw on past experience and customer conversations when advising on heating systems, with many having seen first-hand how older storage heating performed. In this environment, product knowledge alone is not always enough; it’s the ability to explain how modern systems perform in real homes that really carries weight. Using modern storage heaters such as Quantum, as an example, is an excellent way to talk about how they embody the changes that have taken place. Wholesalers can move discussions beyond specification and into practical outcomes, helping customers understand not just what a system does, but how it behaves over time and how it can be used effectively.
“As [electrical heating] technology has developed, there is a growing gap between historic experiences and what modern systems are capable of delivering.”
Alongside this, manufacturer support is playing an increasingly important role. Initiatives such as the Dimplex PRO Installer Club, are designed to give installers access to training, tools and ongoing support, helping to build confidence in specifying modern electric heating systems and ensuring they are applied correctly in real- world settings. For wholesalers, this added layer of support can be valuable in reinforcing recommendations and ensuring customers receive consistent, well-informed advice. This is particularly important as the UK continues to focus on the electrification of heat. Around two million homes are still estimated to rely on outdated electric heating systems, many of which expose households to higher and less predictable energy costs. At the same time, a large proportion of these households are in or at risk of fuel poverty, placing greater emphasis on solutions that can deliver both affordability and reliability.
Upgrading to modern HHRSHs can help address this, improving how heat is stored and used while giving homeowners greater control over their energy consumption. This has clear implications not only for household budgets but also for wellbeing, particularly in properties where consistent heating is essential. For lower- income and off-gas households, this type of upgrade can make a meaningful difference, providing a more manageable, affordable and reliable approach to heating.
HHRSHs also offer a wider system benefit, storing energy and releasing it later to support a
more flexible approach to electricity demand. As the grid continues to evolve, this kind of flexibility will become more and more valuable, aligning household heating patterns with broader energy system needs.
None of this changes the fact that electric heating has a history that continues to influence how it is perceived today and many of the criticisms associated with older systems are justified. But as the technology has developed, there is a growing gap between those historic experiences and what modern systems are capable of delivering.
Closing that gap takes more than better products, it comes down to everyday conversations between wholesalers, installers and customers and the confidence to challenge outdated views while recognising where they came from.
As more homeowners experience the benefits of modern designs such as Quantum and as installers gain confidence in specifying them, those narratives are beginning to shift. Electric heating is no longer defined solely by its past and is now increasingly judged on how well it meets the expectations of today’s user. For the trade, this is a real opportunity - focusing on real-world experiences and helping customers understand how modern systems perform will be key to changing how electric heating is seen. The category may carry a legacy, but what matters now is how it performs in today’s homes and how that is explained at the point of sale.
ewnews.co.uk
May 2026 electrical wholesaler | 29
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
