The average expense for housing can exceed half of the minimum wage

After a beginning of autumn with mild temperatures, the cold is beginning to settle in Spain these days, causing millions of people to start turning on stoves, radiators, braziers and heaters to face the cold. Although there are different options on the market, the electric radiators They are one of the most used, especially because it is an easy-to-use, safe and maintenance-free alternative. However, before choosing this equipment over other options such as pellet stoves or butane gas stoves, it is worth knowing how much do you spend to heat the house.

To calculate the cost of an electric radiator, a series of factors must be taken into account, such as the power of the device, the daily hours of use, the price of kWh and the level of insulation of the home. Furthermore, the Spanish average for the use of electric heating during the winter can be taken as a reference, which is around 5 hours a day during the colder months. In fact, this is the recommended average value to maintain a balance between comfort and economic efficiency.

The vast majority of electric radiators used in the home have a power between 1000 and 2000 W, so if we take a 1500 W (1.5 kW) model as a reference, you can easily calculate its daily consumption with an average of 5 hours of use, thus reaching a total consumption of 7.5 kWh. If use is maintained for one month (30 days), the total monthly consumption would reach 225 kWh.

Given that the average price of a kWh in Spain may have an average annual cost of 0.14 euros/kWh, if we multiply it by the previous consumption data, we will find that the daily expenditure (7.5 kWh) is 1.05 eurosand the monthly expense (225 kWh) amounts to a total of 31.5 euros.

If its use is intensified or several radiators are used, the cost increases significantly, and can reach a quantity of between 90 and 130 euros per month in electric heating in a standard apartment during the winter months.

The annual electrical expenditure for heating is around 640 euros If several radiators are considered for the entire home, this is more than double what it would mean to heat the same home with natural gas, which would cost around 256 euros per year. However, electric radiators stand out for their ease of installation and for being ideal for small apartments, temperate areas and sporadic stays.

What factors influence the cost of an electric radiator?

The cost of an electric radiator to heat a home depends on a series of factors, so the figures mentioned may vary depending on each case. One of the most important is the thermal insulation of the housewhich can significantly reduce or increase consumption. Using thermostats and programmers helps cut your monthly bill.

On the other hand, it will also influence the contracted electricity ratebeing able to reduce costs if the radiator is used during the cheapest hours in the case of rates with time discrimination. Likewise, both the size of the room and the number of radiators necessary to heat a home will mean that there may be large variations in terms of net consumption.