Winter not only brings cold; It brings with it the fear of opening the mailbox and finding the energy bill. The scenario becomes complicated when we move away from the new work. Heating an old home is, today, one of the great challenges for homeowners and reformers. High ceilings, thick uninsulated walls and outdated installations turn thermal comfort into an obstacle course. In this context, many users find themselves caught between the desire for efficiency and the technical impossibility of installing the most modern systems.
At first glance, the most convenient solution seems to be the electric radiator: plug and play. However, as experts warnthis convenience comes at a price. If not calculated well, these devices can easily become a “hole in the bill” at the end of the month.
The reality of the brick versus technology. While Europe talks about heat pumps and decarbonization, the reality of Spanish homes is moving at a different pace. Many of the current solutions, such as underfloor heating either aerothermalare not always viable in historic or older buildings due to structural limitations.
Fran Carbonell, electrician specialized in rehabilitation, explains in your TikTok account that, far from being dead, electric radiators are consolidated as an “efficient, simple and compatible alternative” with the character of these homes when it is not possible to carry out major works. Carbonell defends models such as natural stone emitters, which offer interesting thermal inertia without the need to break up floors.
There is a sweepinvisible: the wiring. It is worth remembering, and this is not to put my finger on the sore spot, that 80% of the homes in Spain It has obsolete electrical installations and only 22.4% were built after the 2002 Technical Regulation. This means that before thinking about powerful systems, the house must be prepared.
In fact, Carbonell himself insists on a key condition for installing radiators safely: “It is essential to carry out an independent electrical installation”, since conventional plugs Many old houses do not support the necessary power.
Physics does not forgive the pocketbook. To understand why some options are more expensive than others, you have to look beyond the price of the device and look at efficiency. This is where it comes into play the Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP).
As explained from Xataka Homea traditional electric radiator has a ratio of 1 to 1. That is, for every kilowatt (kW) of electricity you pay, you get 1 kW of heat. However, a heat pump (aerothermal) has an efficiency of 4 or 5. You pay 1 kW of electricity, but the machine returns 4 kW of heat because it “steals” the remaining thermal energy from the outside air for free.
The translation into euros. If we update the calculator to the market prices of this first week of February, the electricity bill shows a truce relative, but dangerous. A standard 1,500 W radiator on five hours a day consumes 225 kWh per month.
With the average price of the wholesale market hovering around minimums thanks to renewables, the monthly cost per device today would be around 27 euros for regulated rates. However, during peak hours or with high fixed rates, that same device can skyrocket to 45 euros per month. If we multiply by four radiators for a complete home, the range ranges between 108 and 180 euros extra on the bill.
So what is the best option? The short answer is: it depends on your house and your initial budget. On the one hand, the efficiency winner—if you can afford it— It is Aerothermal. OCU studies confirm that the cheapest option for the pocket in the long term is the heat pump (aerothermal), followed by biomass. An example cThis is the case of Natalia, collected by The Spanish in Novemberwho went from spending 1,300 euros per year with radiators to around 400 euros after the reform, although the initial investment was around 6,500 euros.
On the other hand, if you live in an old house where you cannot raise the floor, or in an area where winter is mild, electric radiators still make sense. They are the recommended option for “specific uses or small rooms.”
What if I switch to gas? If we look at the other side, natural gas is experiencing a moment of contained stability at the start of the year. According to MIBGAS datathe daily price stands at €31.72/MWh, with a forecast for March that drops slightly to €30.85/MWh. This means that the “raw material” of gas remains competitive (just €0.031/kWh before taxes), being notably cheaper than raw electricity.
However, the advantage is diluted when adding the fixed costs of the bill, boiler maintenance and the lower efficiency of the system compared to aerothermal energy. Furthermore, although today the price is attractive, the volatility of the European market and regulatory pressure to eliminate fossil boilers They add a layer of long-term uncertainty for anyone considering a new installation now.
Tricks that are worth money. Regardless of the system you choose, there are golden rules that physics and experts recommend to avoid throwing away money in 2026:
- Turning off is saving: Forget the myth that “it’s better to keep it on.” Jorge Morales de Labra, energy expertis blunt: “Even if you go down for five minutes to buy bread, it’s worth turning it off.” Maintaining the temperature in an empty house means paying for constant heat losses.
- The 21 degree limit: Every degree you rise above 21 ºC increases the bill by 7%. That is the invisible barrier that you should not cross.
- “Low Cost” Insulation: If you can’t change the windows, there are effective patches. According to Decoesferathe use of weather stripping, wool rugs and the strategic closing of blinds to avoid thermal leaks.
A resistance against the cold. While aerothermal energy is crowned as the queen of technical efficiency, electric radiators resist as the necessary trench solution for an aging real estate park that does not always allow for comprehensive renovations.
The best decision depends of a personal equation: initial budget, insulation of the home and climatic zone. But whatever we choose, the lesson of this winter is clear: heating is not just about generating heat, but about preventing the heat we have already paid for from escaping.
Image | freepik
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