Electric heating system - does anyone have the answer??

yogajo

Hi all!


Well, I have sworn, kicked things and been close to screaming!
All the internet researching has just confused me further so I have come here to hopefully get straight answers.

I cannot seem get any sound advice about installing an electric boiler and storage heaters.

In a nutshell, I want to:

1) Replace my gas bolier with an electric one (just to heat water!)
2) Replace my gas radiators with energy efficient electric radiators/heaters
3) Lose the large ugly water cylinder in the airing cupboard.

I have a reasonably small 3 bed terrace house with one bathroom (overhead shower). There is a sink, washing machine and possible dishwasher in the kitchen and obviously a sink in the bathroom.

However, our water pressure is rubbish and we don't have the money to dig up the road and lay a new pipe (this is the only way as the road is privately own by us and our nieghbourss).

I am 100% resigned to changing to electric and just want some logical advice as to exactly what I need to buy.

Please, please, can anyone give me the solution?

With all my thanks in advance
Jo

sarah_elton

I hate my night storage heaters. But I live in a flat with no gas supply so they're a necessary evil.

Anyway, I had to replace mine earlier this year (the original 1980s ones packed up!). I struggled to find an electrician to do the job but managed in the end. They are easy to install yourself, I just didn't fancy lugging all the concrete bricks up two flights of stairs!

Dimplex are one of the biggest makers of electric heating. Have a look at their site for starters. You can get storage heaters, or electric radiators:

http://www.dimplex.co.uk/products/domestic_heating/installed_heating/index.htm

From the storage heater range, I got the XLS24 for my lounge (15' x 11'), and XLS12 (10' square) for my bedroom. If you want to buy these yourself online, you're looking at approx. £375 and £250 respectively.

When I was buying, I had two brochures to choose between; Dimplex and another brand. I forget the other one - I'm sure someone else will know who I'm talking about and advise. There wasn't much difference between two two in features or price, I just preferred the look of the Dimplex models.

Night storage heaters are cheaper to run than electric radiators, but you realise they run on a separate electric circuit that operates between midnight and 7am? To run night storage heaters, you need to be on an economy 7 tariff, whereby your meter has two readings; one of units used between 7am and midnight, and one from midnight to 7am. You have two electricity rates; the price per unit is cheaper from midnight to 7am. If you're not on economy 7, I'm not sure how you go about changing

matbe

I am an electrician but would not install storage heaters in my own house.
They are not worth a carrot totally inneficient coming on the night before and spewing heat out the next day

Have a look at the electric boilers have not much info on them but i have been told they are ok

also most electric water heating systems require a tank (mains pressure systems) try megaflo

personally i would rather have a gas combi fitted they are i believe more efficient than electric heating

kimosaaby

Avoid electric. Storage heaters never give out the heat when you want them to - by the cool evening there is no heat left to pump out.
Are you in a hard water area? If so, part of the problem may be your in-house pipes being furred up. Is there much difference between hot and cold pressure?
Most cold taps are served from the loft header tank but there should be 1 ( usually the kitchen ) where the cold comes straight off the mains.
BTW: Many hot water tanks have an immersion heater which is your 'electric boiler' already in situ.

JorgAlBear

We have been looking at putting in oil filled electric radiators rather than gas central heating, and my builder came up with an amazing product, which he has in his office / gym / granny flat, and they are very economical and work really well. Here is the site ... http://www.meaco.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Elnuroilwall

beer_tins

yogajo wrote: »

Hi all!


Well, I have sworn, kicked things and been close to screaming!
All the internet researching has just confused me further so I have come here to hopefully get straight answers.

I cannot seem get any sound advice about installing an electric boiler and storage heaters.

In a nutshell, I want to:

1) Replace my gas bolier with an electric one (just to heat water!)
2) Replace my gas radiators with energy efficient electric radiators/heaters
3) Lose the large ugly water cylinder in the airing cupboard.

I have a reasonably small 3 bed terrace house with one bathroom (overhead shower). There is a sink, washing machine and possible dishwasher in the kitchen and obviously a sink in the bathroom.

However, our water pressure is rubbish and we don't have the money to dig up the road and lay a new pipe (this is the only way as the road is privately own by us and our nieghbourss).

I am 100% resigned to changing to electric and just want some logical advice as to exactly what I need to buy.

Please, please, can anyone give me the solution?

With all my thanks in advance
Jo

Well, as you have made up your mind about going electric, the cheapest thing you can do is switch to an economy 7 tariff and use storage heaters and an immersion heater in your hot water cylinder that comes on at night. Of course that means you would still have the hot water cylinder. If you were to get an electric boiler I'm guessing it would take up a similar amount of space though. You could have a pump fitted to deal with your pressure problem. I've got storage heaters in my flat (electric only flat) and they are fine for me, as I don't have the "output" on during the day while I'm at work. If I were home all day I suspect they wouldn't have much heat left in them by the evening.

If you want an "on demand" heating and hot water solution i.e. without stored heat or stored hot water, I'm afraid it would be very expensive to run.

beer_tins

P.S. If you have a significant increase in electricity demand your supply might be inadequate, which might mean an additional power supply to your house, which is also likely to be expensive.

economiser

You refer to "energy efficient" electric heaters. Don't be misled by the blurb, all electric heaters have the same efficiency - 100%. What goes in as electricity comes out as heat. Storage heaters simply delay the output relative to the input.

yogajo

Thanks guys!

That has helped me out quite a bit.

Can't understand why so many plumbers and electricians have been unable to give, clear, understandible advise!

If anyone konws of some very 'minimalist' looking electric radiators, at trade prices - plase let m know.

Again, thanks for all the responses!

baldelectrician

Storage heaters are the only reliable way of storing enough heat for the following day.
A wet system can give upto 10 hours of low price electricity (see Economy 10), but you will pay for the convenience of having extra heat whern you want it.

I prefer dimplex, as they are good and reliable- spare parts are readily available for an extended period

If you want radiator like heaters dimplex ones look good, but don't store the heat.

The most economical option is to make sure your house is well insulated, including your hot water cylinder, and you use storage heater correctly- turn the output / boost down at night to keep heat in during the day when you are at work.

Get a good local registered electrician round (see link below); make sure they have experience of storage heating.

You should use a competent person for the work, links below
In Scotland:
Individuals regitered;
http://www.sbsa.gov.uk/register/ListAC.asp
Companies
http://www.sbsa.gov.uk/register/SearchCo.asp?T=Construction&ID=2
In England and Wales:
http://www.competentperson.co.uk

EliteHeat

yogajo wrote: »

Can't understand why so many plumbers and electricians have been unable to give, clear, understandible advise!

Probably because your original post was:-

• Somewhat unintelligible, to me anyway.
• You are basing your reasoning on flawed assumptions
• What you want to do makes no sense whatsoever

Hope that helps