Electric heaters are perhaps the most familiar form of electric heating. Electric heaters are available in various forms, commonly as electric storage heaters that use electrical energy to heat bricks (such as clay bricks) at times when electricity is cheap such as at night. The heat is then stored in the bricks and released slowly over the course of the day. These electric heaters have advantages, notably the cheaper cost of using energy at off peak hours but they also have limitations. If the heat is not required because of a warm day the bricks will still have been warmed up and so the heat will still be released. Alternatively if, for some reason, the heat is lost too quickly from the bricks, because of a draught for example, then the heat may not be there when required.

Electric panel heaters work by heating an electrical element within the heater. The heater turns electrical energy into heat energy which heats the element. Air around the element is warmed and rises letting cooler air replace it which is in turn warmed. An advantage of electric heaters is the controllability of the heat. Heating using electricity is almost instant in its reaction to any changes and its possible to heat only one room rather than a whole house.

Electric Radiators are usually filled with some form of liquid that is heated by an electrical element. The heat then radiates out much like a normal radiator. These units are easy to install and have the advantage over gas central heating radiators that they have no pipe work to install.

Electric Water Heaters are also easy to install and work in a similar way to electric radiators in that an electrical element heats liquid inside. In this case the liquid is water and it is meant to be released through a tap. These units are more commonly used in workplaces rather than home heating and have the advantage that they are simple to use and easy to install. They are also reliable with few moving parts that could break down. There are many advantages and disadvantages of electric heating many of which have been touched on already.