Temporary Heating Solutions if Your Boiler Breaks

A broken boiler during the UK winter is not just annoying. It can make your home feel cold, hard to stay in, and sometimes not safe. A boiler is a big part of most central heating systems. When it stops working, people need a good and quick temporary heating solution to keep the house warm.

This guide talks about the best temporary heating you can use in UK homes in 2025. It helps you pick the right portable heater. You will read about how much it costs to use a heater. The guide will also show you how you can save some money on your energy bills while you wait for a repair.

Why Do Boilers Break Down in the Winter?

Boilers have to work hard during the cold months. Many break down when it is cold outside. In fact, over 60% of them stop working between November and February. These things are the main reasons:

• Frozen condensate pipes.
• Faulty thermostats or timers.
• Parts that wear out after years of experience working with the heating system.
• Pressure loss or leaks that can happen in radiators.
• Problems with the electrical supply that can affect the heating system.

Even if you have boiler cover, you can still wait some time for an engineer to get there. This is why using temporary heating equipment is so important. It helps you keep a living room, home office, or large room warm until your boiler is fixed. Temporary heating can make your space feel good and help you go about your day. It’s a simple way to stay warm when your main heating can’t work.

What Are the Best Temporary Heating Solutions for Homes During the Winter?

The UK has a lot of portable heaters you can use when your boiler stops working. Every type of heater is different, and each one comes with its own good and bad sides. Which heater you pick will depend on how much heating power you need, the size of the room, and how much electricity it takes to run it.

How Quickly Can Temporary Heaters Be Delivered and Set Up?

When the boiler stops working, time matters. Most portable heaters for a broken boiler can be delivered the next day from top places in the UK. Local shops often sell compact heaters like fan heaters, oil heaters, and convection ones. That means you can get enough heat in just a few hours.

• Delivery Speed: Most online stores in the UK can get an electric heater to you by the next day if you order before 9pm. If you live in a big UK city, you may also get same-day delivery.
• Ease of Set-Up: A portable electric heater is very simple to use. You do not have to install anything, like with central heating. To use the heater, just plug it in, then you can set the temperature with a built-in thermostat or with a remote control.
• Safety Features: A lot of portable electric heaters come with helpful safety features. Most are made for occasional use and have an automatic shut-off. This gives you quick warmth and helps make sure the heater is safe while you use it.

In most cases, you can order a heater online and feel warm air in your living room within one day.

Portable Oil-Filled Radiator UK Models

Oil heaters are a good way to get temporary heating for homes. You can use them for a long period of time. They heat up rooms well and are safe to have in your house. If you need heating that works for many days, oil heaters can be a smart choice. A lot of people get them when they want to warm up a space now and then. With oil heaters, you can feel comfortable at home no matter the time of year.

• This heater gives steady and comfortable warm air. It fills the whole room each time you turn it on.
• The heater holds heat even after you switch it off. This helps to lower kWh use.
• You get good safety features with this heater. The oil inside is sealed, so you do not need to refill it.
• The prices are between £40 and £120. It depends on the size and brand you go for.

Running costs (2025 average): A 2kW oil-filled radiator will use about 56p each hour if you use it when the October 2025 price cap is set. This is with electricity at 28p per kWh.

Fan Heaters

The fan heater is a good choice if you need it for occasional use. Many people pick this heater when they want quick heating in an emergency. It is always ready to use, so you can get warm fast.

• This heater is compact, lightweight, and does not cost much (£20–£40).
• It can quickly warm up a side of the room with warm air moving around.
• You can move it easily from a home office to the living room.
• The downsides are that it makes noise, costs more to run, and it is not good for use over long periods of time.

Running costs (2025 average): A 2kW fan heater costs about 56 pence each hour.

Convection Heaters

Convection models use natural ways to heat the air and be great for large rooms.

• You can get this heater as a portable electric heater or as wall-mounted panels.
• The heat from the electric heater spreads across the whole room.
• Some models have thermostats, timers, and you can even use an app to control the heater.

Infrared or Halogen Heaters

Best to use for temporary heating in winter when you want enough heat on people instead of heating the whole house. This way, you can feel warm right where you need it and do not have to heat every room. It’s a good choice if you need extra heating just for a short time or in one spot.

• These give off radiant heat. They warm people and things, not the air.
• They are cheap to buy. The price is between £15 and £50.
• You can use them to warm spots in garages or conservatories.
• They are not as good for heating a large room or giving comfort in a whole room.

Electric Blankets

When the central heating stops working, the best electric blankets can help. It is also one of the cheapest ways to stay warm for the night.

• The running costs can be as low as 3 to 5 pence for each hour that you use it.
• You can get warmth right where you want it.
• The models now have safety features, along with things like a timer and automatic shut-off.

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Comparing Running Costs of Temporary Heating Equipment

Electric heaters cost a lot more to use than a boiler that works well. The table below shows what you may pay to run each one in 2025, using an average unit rate of 28p for every kwh. This price comes from the Ofgem price cap.

Tip: If the power is out for a long time, it is better to use oil-filled radiators or a convection heater. These heaters use less money for heat than a fan heater. A fan heater works well for short times when you just want heat and then turn it off.

Smart Portable Heaters With App Control

Many new heaters let you use your smartphone for easy control. This update gives you more ease of use. It can also help with energy efficiency, so you save power. A heater like this can be good for you and your home.

• Duux Threesixty – This is a smart Dutch electric heater. It gives out warm air all around with 360° coverage. You can control it with the Duux app or a remote control. The usual price is about £120.
• Everhot Electric Heater – This electric heater is made to look good in old-style kitchens. You can use it as an appliance or as a room heater. It starts at £595.
• Other smart electric heaters range – A lot of new electric heaters now come with Wi-Fi, a timer, and ways to set the temperature.

Smart controls let you set times and rooms for heating. This helps you limit how much electricity you use. You can choose when and where to heat your home, so you only use the power you need.

Are Electric Heaters Energy Efficient?

Many people think that some electric heaters range work better or save more energy than others. But in truth, all electric heaters will always turn all their electricity into heat. So, if you put 1 kWh of power into any heater, you get 1 kWh of heat out every time.

The real difference is in how the heat is given out and kept in the room you want to warm. Some heaters blow a lot of warm air at once, but that warm air spreads out fast. Other heaters send out slower, steady heat. This type of heat stays in the room for a longer time. Because of this, these heaters may feel more useful.

Fan Heaters

Fan heaters are picked by many people because they are compact and easy to move around. They also have a low upfront cost, which is good for your wallet. These heaters work by blowing warm air over a heating part. The room gets warm fast, but the heat goes away quickly when you turn the fan off. So, fan heaters work well for occasional use in places like a home office or if you just need some heat for a short time in your living room. But they are not the best heating system for long periods of time. If you use them as your main way of heating, they can end up using a lot of electricity.

Oil Heaters

Oil-filled radiators are seen as some of the most energy efficient heaters UK homes can have when the boiler does not work. The oil in the radiator gets hot with electricity. Then it keeps giving off warmth slowly, even after you turn it off. This means the radiator does not have to keep turning on and off, so you get more even heat for the whole room. They are good for large rooms and help people who want steady warmth through the night.

Convection Heaters

Convection heaters warm up the air in a room. The air then goes up and moves around on its own. Because of this, the heat fills the whole room and there is no sound from a fan. A lot of models today have thermostats and timers. Some also let you control the heat with an app on your smartphone. You can set the temperature you want. This helps you save electricity. People like convection heaters because of their ease of use. They give fast heat and also work well over time.

Electric Blankets

The best electric blankets work in a special way. They do not warm up the air or heat the whole room. These blankets only warm the bed or the sofa that you sit or lay on. This direct heat uses just 50 to 100 watts. So, the running cost is just a few pence for each hour. For people worried about higher energy bills, electric blankets are the cheapest way to feel warm. You do not have to switch on a portable electric heater or any other type of heater to keep warm.

The Bigger Picture

So, even though the efficiency of the appliance is always 100%, what we feel as efficiency can depend on:

• Room size – the way heat be lost depends on room size. A large room can lose heat faster than a home office.
• Insulation quality – homes with good insulation keep in more heat from a heater.
• Usage habits – if you use a fan heater all night, it can use more power. Using an oil heater with a timer can help you save energy.
• Controls – smart heaters come with apps, remote controls, and programmable thermostats. These features help stop overheating and save money.

In the end, you do not need to only pick the right type of heater. What matters is how you use the heater in your home each day. A heater that works well should be used with good home insulation. It is smart to use the heater in ways that save power. If you compare energy prices, you can switch when the rates are better. All these things together will help cut your energy costs much more than just getting a heater.

Can an Air Purifier or Ventilation System Help?

When it gets cold in the UK, people often use temporary heating in their homes. But sometimes, they do not think about the air they breathe. A heater can warm the room. Adding an air purifier or a ventilation unit at the same time can help make the air better. This way, the home can feel more comfortable and the air can be healthier, too.

Managing Allergens and Dust

Portable heaters, like fan heaters, can move dust, pollen, and other tiny things around in the air. This may make it hard for people with allergies or asthma. An air purifier with a HEPA filter can catch up to 99.97% of these things, so the air you breathe is much cleaner while you keep warm.

Adding Cooling and Ventilation

Many new purifiers come with a cooling and ventilation option. This makes the appliance useful all year. In winter, these can move warm air to spread it more evenly to the side of the room. In summer, they work like fans for you. Some of the best models also have sensors. These sensors notice changes in air quality and adjust the settings by themselves.

Cost and Energy Use

Prices start at £100 for basic purifiers. If you want one with more features, like a humidifier or app control, you can pay £400 or more. These machines do not use a lot of energy. Most of them need only 30 to 60 watts, so they cost about 1 to 2 pence each hour to run. This is much less than what you pay to use electric heaters, so the running cost is not a big deal.

Practical Benefits

• Healthier environment – helps to cut down problems with breathing or irritation.
• Comfort – works with the energy efficiency of heaters. It moves the air around so the warmth spreads out better.
• All-in-one appliance – now, some appliances come with a heater, purifier, and humidifier in one. This gives you more portability and ease of use.

Who Benefits Most?

• Households that have pets need to clear pet dander from the living room.
• Families with children should keep the air inside clean because it is important for them.
• People who have asthma or hay fever must look after the air they breathe.
• Homes that use fan heaters or convection heaters a lot can stir up dust in the air.

Using an air purifier with a portable heater is not just for adding more heat. It helps to make your temporary heating feel better and be healthier for you. A heater on its own can only keep you warm. When you use an air purifier with it, you also get cleaner air. This can make a long power outage feel a bit more comfortable. A portable heater and an air purifier together work well to make your room feel safe and pleasant during those times when you need temporary heating.

How to Stay Warm Without a Boiler: Heating Hacks

When your boiler breaks, you can put other appliances together with easy tricks.

• Close doors to keep warm air on one side of the room.
• Wear layers of clothing and use the best electric blankets at night.
• Dry your clothes with the best heated clothes airers instead of using tumble dryers, because tumble dryers use 3–4 kWh for each load.
• Shut your curtains at night to keep the heat in.

Cost of Electric Heaters vs Boiler Heating

Boilers cost less when you use them for heating the whole room rather than your entire house.

• A new condensing gas boiler will be about 10p for each kWh when you use it for heat.
• In 2025, electric heaters will cost you close to 28p for each kWh.

This means that if you use a fan heater for five hours, it can cost about the same as heating your whole house with a boiler for one day.

Safe Temporary Heating Options

Safety should be a top priority:

• The heater needs to be on a flat area. Keep it far from things that can burn.
• Have the heater at least 1m away from any covers, curtains, or things like furniture.
• Using heaters with thermostats, timers, and tip-over cut-offs is important.
• For heaters that use a lot of power, do not use extension leads with the appliance.

What Options Are Available for Hiring Temporary Heating Equipment for Events?

Not every time you need heating is for your home. There are weddings, marquees, big expos for business, and the other outdoor events where people need temporary heating equipment. The main reason is to keep guests feel good. In those times, to hire temporary heating may work better than to buy heating for yourself.

• Marquee Heaters: These are usually oil heaters or infrared units. They have high heating power. They are made for large spaces like tents or big rooms.
• Industrial Fan Heaters: These heaters send out strong bursts of warm air. They are good for big places, such as warehouses or events.
• Portable Radiators: These heaters are quiet and give a steady kind of heating. They work well in smaller spaces, like VIP lounges or areas that feel like a home office.
• Hire Periods: In the UK, most rental suppliers offer them for a day, weekend, or a week. The price starts at £40–£100 per day. It depends on the type of heater and the kWh level.
• Delivery & Set-Up: UK rental companies bring the heater to you. They will set it up, give you fuel if you need it, and show the ease of use and any safety steps you should know.

Hiring lets you have the right temporary heating solutions UK events need. You do not have to buy costly heating kit when you only need it for occasional use.

When Should You Compare Boiler Cover?

Using temporary heating solutions UK in the winter can be costly. If the boiler in your home is not reliable, it can sometimes cost less to compare boiler cover than to keep using temporary heating.

• A lot of policies have helplines you can call at any time, day or night.
• Some companies will do an obligation site survey before the cover starts.
• The cover pays for call-outs, parts, and work done.

By getting boiler cover, you can lower the chance of needing emergency heating in the UK later. This means there will be less worry about the boiler not working at the wrong time. It helps keep the heat in your home so you feel good all year. A boiler cover plan is a smart way to look after the heating in your UK house.

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Why Compare Energy Prices if Your Boiler Breaks?

Even if you fix your boiler, the cost to use energy can still be high. Free Price Compare helps people save money each year.

• Gas and electricity unit rates are not the same with every supplier.
• If you switch to a tariff that costs less, you can lower your energy bills. Some people save hundreds each year this way.
• A broken boiler can remind you to look at energy prices. This can help you find a better deal for your next tariff.

FAQ’s About Temporary Heating Solutions UK