want to get rid of my immersion heater

nanamal

Hi I have warm air central heating and am looking for best and cheapest way of heating water. I have immersion at present but our power shower uses most of the hot water heated on economy 7 overnight. I cannot change to an electric shower as bathroom 2 flights of stairs away from electric board. Is there a gas heater that I can use to heat the hot water cylinder? or has anyone any other ideas. Thank you for your time reading this.

Cardew

As you are on Economy 7, by warm air central heating I assume you mean electrical storage heating?

Do you have gas supplied to the property? if so what is it used for?

Unless you have gas CH, the cheapest way to heat water is on E7. If your power shower is draining the tank too quickly, you can turn off/turn down the pump.

nanamal

Thanks for your reply. I do not have electric storage heaters but gas warm air heating which is very good. I do have gas and think there is a supply upstairs which was capped off a long time ago. Is there a gas boiler I could have installed which does not need to supply central heating. The instruction manual doesn't give any indication on how to turn down the pump on the power shower.

spiro

I dont know what they are called now but there was a gas water heater called a 'multipoint ascot'. Basically it doesn't turn on until you turn on a hot tap and then heats the water as you use it. They are the modern day version of the ones you used to see about kitchen sinks back in the 50s. If you do get one fitted I would retain the immersion just in case of emergencies.

Sunnyday

Hi

in our previous house we had the same set up, warm air heating which was marvellous (wish we had it now) and an immersion heater for the hot water.

We did have an electric shower fitted although it was difficult and expensive to do it saved a fortune in the long run..
Speak to an electrician about it as i`m sure that there will be a way of doing it.
Good luck!
SD

Edit - Is there another room in the house that could be converted to a shower room? our next door neighbours did this with the cloakroom, they had a shower cubicle fitted and a sink.

Pssst

nanamal wrote: »

Hi I have warm air central heating and am looking for best and cheapest way of heating water. I have immersion at present but our power shower uses most of the hot water heated on economy 7 overnight. I cannot change to an electric shower as bathroom 2 flights of stairs away from electric board. Is there a gas heater that I can use to heat the hot water cylinder? or has anyone any other ideas. Thank you for your time reading this.

What make and model is your warm air heater and is it gas fired?

Some models can have a circulator heater for hot water fitted to them.

For example see here
http://www.johnsonandstarleyltd.co.uk/ammend/prod_water.asp?p=circulators

moonrakerz

nanamal wrote: »

but gas warm air heating which is very good. I do have gas and think there is a supply upstairs which was capped off a long time ago.

It is likely that your warm air central heating unit was made by a firm called Johnson and Starley. I have one of these units and it has a hot water "boiler" built in which heats my domestic hot water supply.
See:

http://www.johnsonandstarleyltd.co.uk/ammend/prod_water.asp?p=circulators

PS: agree with the comments about how good warm air systems are !

nanamal

Thanks for your help guys. When my boiler gives up I'll make sure the new one has a water heater incorporated (I love my warm air heating) in the meantime I think the best option is to get a larger immersion heater.

ic

A friend recently moved into a house with warm air heating. He ripped it out and had a combi boiler installed. It was unbelievable how inefficient the warm air heater was - most of it just went straight up the flue!

moonrakerz

ic wrote: »

A friend recently moved into a house with warm air heating. He ripped it out and had a combi boiler installed. It was unbelievable how inefficient the warm air heater was - most of it just went straight up the flue!

I presume that your friend who told you that, is an "expert" in that field - warm air systems are actually more efficient that the majority of wet systems. (And you don't lose all that wall space for radiators). This is because there is only one transfer of heat, in a wet system there are two - each transfer will involve losses.
Some quotes, there are plenty more on the web:

"Warm air units are central heating systems that do not contain any water (i.e. a dry system). Air is warmed directly by the gas as it passes through a simple heat exchanger and then circulated through ducts within the property. They are extremely economical to run and quick to warm up from cold."

"The principle of heating by warm air circulation is as 'old as the hills' and is undoubtedly one of the most effective methods of heating"

"It's not widely appreciated, but Gas Warm Air Systems are amongst the most efficient forms of heating available."

Oh yes, the other old "chestnut" - they don't spread germs either !