Electric heating on the Costa del Sol: options and how to choose
In the Mediterranean zone, electric heating equipment predominates. This guide reviews the usual options, what IDAE says about their use and what to consider before installing or replacing a system.
Reviewed on 5 October 2026. Informational guide: it does not replace a professional assessment or the official text of the rules cited.
What options are there
- Reversible heat pump (split with heating): the same unit cools in summer and heats in winter.
- Electric radiators and convectors: room-by-room units that are simple to install.
- Heat accumulators: radiators with a storage core that keep heat and release it later.
- Electric boiler with a tank: heats the water of a radiator circuit with electricity; the buffer tank stores hot water to stabilise the system.
- Underfloor heating, electric or water-based: heats from the floor. See our dedicated guide.
- Aerothermal heating: an air-to-water heat pump that feeds radiators, underfloor heating or hot water.
What homes use (IDAE data)
The results report of IDAE's SECH-SPAHOUSEC project says heating is individual in 82% of the homes that have it. Among the equipment present: standard boiler 50%, electric radiator, convector or accumulator 23%, portable electric heater 23% and reversible heat pump 21%.
According to that report, in the Mediterranean zone electric heating equipment is preferred, such as reversible heat pumps, heaters and radiators. Note: the fieldwork is more than a decade old and the data is by zones of Spain; it gives an idea but does not replace an assessment of your home.
What to consider before deciding
- Use: all year or just a few weeks, the whole house or only some rooms.
- The home: whether there is building work, where an outdoor unit or a tank can go, and how well it is insulated.
- The electrical installation: if you add high-power equipment, the fuse box and circuits may need checking.
- What you already have: if your air conditioning is a reversible heat pump, it may already heat.
Which rules apply
The RITE regulates thermal installations for heating, climate control and hot water in buildings and refers to authorised companies. The electrical part is governed by the REBT.
If the equipment contains refrigerant (heat pump, aerothermal), handling it requires certification under Royal Decree 115/2017.
When to call a professional
- You are installing or replacing a system and do not know which one suits your home.
- An electric unit smells of burning, a cable is hot or the RCD trips: disconnect it and let us know.
- The heating does not heat or barely heats and you cannot find the cause.
- You are adding high-power equipment and want to know whether your fuse box can take it.
Send us a photo and your area on WhatsApp: we will advise you and give you a quote. We reply during working hours (Monday to Saturday, 8:00 to 19:00, excluding public holidays).
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest electric heating?
It depends on use, the home and the tariff; there is no single answer. An assessment of your case avoids comparing blindly.
Can I use my air conditioning as heating?
If it is a reversible heat pump, yes: it provides cooling and heating. Send us a photo of the model label and we will tell you.
Do I need to change my fuse box?
If high-power equipment is added, the fuse box and circuits may need checking. It is assessed during the visit.
Sources and rules cited
- IDAE, SECH-SPAHOUSEC project (results report, in Spanish)
- MITECO: RITE, Regulation on thermal installations in buildings (in Spanish)
- REBT, Royal Decree 842/2002, BOE (in Spanish)
- Royal Decree 115/2017 (fluorinated gases), BOE (in Spanish)