How off-grid is the South West?

Very. Rural Devon, Cornwall and Somerset sit well above the roughly 15% national average for homes without mains gas. Our regional dataset gives estimated figures and sources by area.

Is infrared good for holiday lets?

It is one of the best fits: fast warm-up before arrival, no heating of empty rooms, no boiler to service between lets, and remote control. It also avoids the maintenance callouts that wet systems generate.

Can it heat a stone or cob building?

Yes — radiant heating warms surfaces and people rather than air, which suits solid-walled buildings that lose heated air quickly. Sizing must be honest, and we assess that before quoting.

Do you cover the whole South West?

We match enquiries to installers with coverage across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire, and confirm coverage before anything else.

Infrared heating in the South West

Devon, Cornwall and Somerset have some of the highest off-gas-grid rates in England, a huge stock of stone and cob buildings, and an economy full of holiday lets, farm buildings and hospitality venues. This page covers the regional picture and what to check before specifying.

Quick answer

Is infrared heating a good option in the South West?

Often, yes — the region combines no mains gas in rural areas, solid-walled older buildings, and a large share of properties occupied part-time. Those are the three conditions where zoned radiant electric heating competes best. For a well-insulated building heated all day, a heat pump is usually the better answer and we will say so.

Why the South West suits radiant heating

Rural Devon, Cornwall and Somerset are among the least gas-connected parts of England. Oil and LPG dominate, with the tank, delivery, servicing and price-exposure baggage that brings. Housing stock skews old: granite cottages, cob walls, converted barns — buildings that respond slowly to air-based heating.

Add the region's holiday-let economy — properties that need fast warm-up before guests arrive and nothing for the rest of the week — and the case for zoned, room-by-room radiant heating is stronger here than almost anywhere in the country.

Commercial demand in the region

We see consistent demand from hospitality venues needing outdoor terrace heating to extend the season, farm workshops and agricultural buildings with no gas, village halls and churches used a few hours a week, and holiday parks replacing night storage heaters.

For commercial projects the first questions are always electrical supply capacity and zoning plan — get those two answers before comparing quotes.

Running costs and what to include

The South West is mild but damp and windy, and exposed coastal properties lose more heat than their floor area suggests. Model your own town in our running-cost calculator rather than relying on a national figure.

When comparing against oil or LPG, include tank maintenance and replacement, delivery minimums, boiler servicing and price volatility. Electric radiant heating has none of these standing costs.

A sensible shortlist

Confirm electrical supply capacity before comparing quotes.
Model running costs for your own town — coastal exposure matters.
For holiday lets, specify fast warm-up and remote/programmable control.
Include oil or LPG standing costs in any comparison.
Confirm the installer is NICEIC or NAPIT registered.

Frequently asked questions

Reviewed by the Infrared Heat Solutions technical team · Last updated July 2026 · Data sources: Ofgem price cap, Energy Saving Trust, first-party running-cost model

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