The cheapest ways to heat a house without central heating

Did you know that the current cost of gas central heating per hour is £1.68 per hour? According to the latest statistics from Checkatrade, homes connected to mains gas are looking to pay around 7 pence per kWh (based on a 24 kW boiler). 

Per year, that’s £945! Unsurprisingly, costs rise sharply if you have an LPG boiler. Prices double to 14p per kWh (which is £3.68 per hour, and £1890 annually!) While inflation may have eased slightly, the cost of living crisis is more relevant than ever. 

If this sounds like something you’re struggling with, it may be time to reassess your home heating habits. When one room is cold, do you instinctively reach for the central heating? Instead, you could enjoy targeted warmth with a high-efficiency gas fire.

In poorly insulated homes, it’s not just heat escaping through drafts: it’s money, too. More often than not, the cheapest ways to heat a house without central heating are the purchases you’ve been putting off for years. 

But no more! Fires2U’s money-saving ideas are here to help. 

1. Electric fires 

It’s reported that Dimplex invented the first electric fireplace with a "realistic" wood-burning flame effect back in 1995. 

Since then, the market has exploded! Now worth $2.46 billion worldwide (according to our electric fireplaces market trend blog), the electric fire has become a must-have in energy-conscious, cost-saving households. 

These appliances convert 100% of the energy they use into heat. Nothing lost up the chimney or out of the room: you get all of its 1–2 kW heat output for yourself. 

Electric appliances also don’t produce harmful pollutants or by-products, so they’re good for your bank and the environment! Plus, most electric fires won’t require additional installation costs. 

Provided you have the right space and architecture, your inset, hole-in-the-wall, or electric stove will just plug straight into the wall – no extra charges required! They’re great for giving your chilly lounge a low-cost blast of heat. 

2. Insulate walls, floors and loft spaces

Keeping your home toasty isn’t all about the heat source. 

It’s about making sure warmth doesn’t escape. Research from the Energy Savings Trust suggests that a significant amount of heat can be lost through an uninsulated roof: up to 25% in some cases! 

Adding insulation to your loft creates a barrier that helps trap warm air inside, so your space stays cosier for longer. 

If your loft is easy to access and dry, you might be able to tackle it yourself using materials like mineral wool. But if there’s any sign of damp, or you’re unsure about the layout, it’s best to get a professional in to have a look. 

Walls can be another weak spot, especially in older homes. If your property has cavity walls, they can often be filled with insulating material to stop heat from leaking out. 

Again, this usually needs to be done by a professional, but it’s a relatively quick job that makes a big difference. 

3. Gas fires 

A fan favourite in UK homes since the 70s and 80s, gas fires today are some of the best on the market. Manufacturers like DRU and Flavel have seriously upped standards, particularly where energy-efficiency and safety are concerned. 

Nowadays, they’re some of the hottest stoves around, with heat outputs ranging from 2kW to 8kW. 

They may seem like an investment up front, but we promise that the long term can really add up (especially if you’re only looking to warm up one or two rooms at a time). 

Compared to models from 10 years ago, many gas appliances now reach efficiency ratings of over 80%, which means more warmth stays in the room and less energy goes to waste. 

Plus, with options like balanced flue and flueless gas fires, you don’t even need a traditional chimney to have one installed. That opens up the door for all kinds of properties, particularly those in flats or new builds.

4. Invest in insulating curtain liners 

Curtain liners are usually made from materials like acrylic foam or polyester and are designed to attach to your existing curtains. These liners might not look like much, but they’re the first line of defence against the outdoor chill! 

A lot of heat escapes through windows, especially if they’re older or single-glazed. Clipping these thermal liners onto your existing curtains can stop all that lovely warm air from drifting out and help block any drafts creeping in around the edges.

You might notice your room feels noticeably warmer after fitting them, and that’s without using a heating appliance! Over time, you’ll be using less energy to maintain the same level of comfort (and your liners will pay for themselves!) 

5. Wood-burning stove 

Who doesn’t love wood-burning stoves? We’ve been using them to keep warm for thousands of years, and with new DEFRA-approved appliances, we can save money on heating in a more environmentally friendly way. 

New models, like those from The Gallery Collection and Portway Stoves, are designed to burn wood more efficiently by controlling intake air. The result? More efficient, cleaner combustion. 

While, again, they are a more expensive initial investment, they will pay for themselves over time. With the amount you save on central heating costs, your wood-burning stove will quickly become the home’s main source of warmth. 

6. Purchase draft excluders 

As we’ve learnt, it’s all too easy for heat to sneak out through the little gaps around your doors and windows. These small drafts can push you to turn the heating up higher than you need to, so it’s important to take precautions. 

You can find them in a range of styles: traditional, block colour excluders or those shaped like sausage dogs. It all depends on your taste. No matter the design, they do a great job of keeping warm air in and cold air out. 

It’s one of those low-cost solutions that can genuinely help bring down your heating bills. The Energy Savings Trust, for example, states that UK homeowners could stand to save £40 on their heating bills simply by using draft excluders. 

Shop for electric, gas and wood-burning fires with Fires2U! 

The cheapest ways to heat a house without central heating are those that benefit you in the long run. Invest in curtain liners, draft excluders and insulation so that, when you purchase your new fireplace, its radiant heat won’t escape.

At Fires2U, we stock best-selling brands like Be Modern, Dik Geurts Stoves and Verine at competitive prices. So when you’re ready to invest, we’ll be waiting! Contact us if you have any questions about our products or want to learn more.