As electric heating continues to evolve, so too does the terminology surrounding it. From High Heat Retention (HHR) and adaptive start to time-of-use tariffs and connected heating controls, today’s electric heating technologies offer far more than many homeowners realise.
As products become increasingly intelligent, customers are asking more informed questions about comfort, efficiency, running costs and ease of use. Being able to explain these concepts in straightforward terms helps build confidence, supports better product specification, and ultimately enables customers to make more informed decisions.
High Heat Retention
HHR describes the latest generation of storage heaters, designed to retain heat for longer and release it more steadily throughout the day than traditional storage heaters.
Using highly insulated cores, modern HHR storage heaters such as Dimplex Quantum retain stored heat until it’s needed, helping deliver more consistent comfort while making better use of lower-cost electricity periods. Intelligent controls also ensure warmth is released when required, rather than dissipating unnecessarily during the day. This means homeowners benefit from a more comfortable living environment, while heating professionals have a modern storage heating solution that performs very differently to the older systems many customers still associate with storage heating.
Time-of-use tariffs
Time-of-use tariffs are electricity tariffs where the cost of energy varies depending on when electricity is used. Typically, it is cheaper overnight and more expensive during peak daytime periods.
Modern electric heating systems, particularly HHR storage heaters, are designed to take advantage of these tariffs by charging when electricity prices are lower before using that stored energy throughout the following day.
As smart meters become more common and suppliers continue introducing flexible tariffs, understanding how electric heating works alongside these pricing structures is an important part of advising customers.
Adaptive Start
Adaptive Start is an intelligent heating feature that removes much of the guesswork from programming heating schedules. Rather than switching on at the same time every day, the heating system learns how long it typically takes a room to reach the desired temperature and automatically adjusts its start time accordingly. This ensures the desired temperature is achieved at the scheduled time without heating the room for longer than necessary.
The result is improved comfort, greater efficiency and a heating schedule that automatically adapts to changing conditions throughout the year.
Boost and Away modes
Two of the simplest but very useful smart heating functions are Boost and Away modes.
Boost provides a temporary burst of additional heat whenever extra warmth is needed without affecting the programmed schedule. Away mode works in the opposite way by maintaining a lower temperature while the property is unoccupied. This helps reduce energy consumption while protecting the home from becoming excessively cold, ensuring it remains comfortable to return to. Although straightforward features, both offer residents greater flexibility while helping improve overall efficiency.
"TECHNOLOGY WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE, BRINGING NEW TERMINOLOGY AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
Open-window detection
Heating an empty room while a window is open wastes energy, yet it’s something many residents do without realising. Open-window detection recognises the sudden drop in temperature that typically occurs when a window or external door is opened. To avoid wasting energy, the heater temporarily reduces or pauses its output before automatically resuming normal operation once the room temperature stabilises.
It’s a simple but effective feature that helps avoid unnecessary energy consumption without requiring any action from the resident.
Connected heating controls
Connectivity is becoming an important part of modern electric heating. Many systems can now be controlled remotely using smartphone apps, allowing residents to adjust temperatures, create personalised schedules and monitor energy usage wherever they are.
For example, the Dimplex Control app allows users to manage compatible heaters connected via the Dimplex Hub from a single platform. Whether adjusting temperatures before arriving home, creating schedules across multiple rooms or monitoring energy use, connected controls provide greater convenience while helping users optimise their heating patterns.
Far-infrared heating
Unlike conventional heating systems, which rely primarily on warming the surrounding air through convection, far-infrared heating delivers a greater proportion of heat as radiant energy. This long-wave infrared energy is absorbed directly by people, surfaces and objects within the space, creating a comfortable, natural feeling of warmth.
Products such as the Dimplex IRP panel heater use this technology to provide responsive, targeted heating, making them particularly suited to well-insulated homes, offices and light-commercial environments where zoned heating is preferred.
Their slim profile and flexible wall or ceiling installation options also make far-infrared heaters an attractive solution where aesthetics and available space are important considerations.
Smart whole-home systems
Electric heating technologies are no longer viewed as standalone products but as part of an integrated whole-home solution.
For example, Dimplex Quantum, the Q-Rad electric radiator and the Dimplex Edel Hot Water Heat Pump can all be connected to the Dimplex Control Hub and managed via the Dimplex Control app, giving homeowners a simple way to manage space heating and hot water from a single platform.
Taking this integrated approach enables households to optimise comfort, improve efficiency and simplify day-today heating management, while giving installers the opportunity to specify complete low-carbon heating solutions rather than individual products.
Clear communication builds confidence
Technology will continue to evolve, bringing new terminology and new opportunities for heating professionals. However, one thing remains constant – customers value clear, practical advice.
By understanding the language behind modern electric heating and translating technical features into real-world benefits, installers can help customers make more confident decisions while building confidence in low-carbon technologies.
Ultimately, what matters isn’t the terminology itself, but the intelligent heating technologies behind it, delivering greater comfort, smarter control, improved efficiency and flexible solutions that meet the demands of modern homes. www.dimplex.co.uk
Victoria Crisp is Trade Marketing Manager at Dimplex UK.