Homes with electric panel heaters and ECO4: questions UK households ask (guide 2026)

Guide by ApplyFreeBoiler.uk (Reliant Energy Solutions Ltd), a heating and insulation installer in Bury, Greater Manchester. We are not the government, Ofgem or an energy supplier.

Some UK homes, often flats or homes without a gas supply, are heated by wall-mounted electric panel heaters or convector heaters rather than a boiler and radiators or storage heaters. Electric room heating can be expensive to run, which is one reason these homes are often looked at for heating and insulation upgrades. This raises a few common questions when a home is assessed for ECO4. This guide covers questions households commonly ask. It is general information from ApplyFreeBoiler.uk, a heating and insulation installer in Bury. What is recommended depends on the survey and the scheme rules at the time. This page does not guarantee funding.

1. List the heaters

Tell the surveyor how many electric heaters you have, which rooms they are in and roughly how old they are.

2. Gas supply

Say whether the property has a gas supply or a gas meter, even if it is not used for heating.

3. Hot water

Explain how you heat water now, for example an immersion heater in a cylinder or an electric shower.

4. Your electricity meter and tariff

Mention the type of meter you have, such as a single-rate, Economy 7 or prepayment meter.

5. Insulation

Say whether the loft is insulated and whether any wall insulation has been fitted before.

6. Rooms that stay cold

Note rooms that never warm up properly, or rooms you avoid heating because of the cost.

7. Clear access

Clear space around the meters, consumer unit and loft hatch before the survey visit.

8. Check funding and local figures

See ECO measures by council on ApplyFreeBoiler.uk, built from DESNZ Household Energy Efficiency statistics, to see how many ECO measures have been installed in your local authority area. Use the ApplyFreeBoiler.uk eligibility check to see whether an ECO4 heating or insulation pathway may be available for your home in England, Scotland or Wales. ECO4 is due to close on 31 December 2026.