Are storage heaters expensive to run??

timberflake

We have a number of storage heaters in our apartment and I'm thinking about turning one on now the weather is getting colder. My question is, are they generally expensive to run? If I do turn it on, I would only be turning on one to the lowest setting, and prbably the bathroom one too for half an our or so in the morning.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

bluebag

Storage heaters work by storing heat overnight( using economy 7 or similar cheaper plan) in heat retaining bricks inside the heater, the heat is then released slowly through the day to keep a background heat all the time.

Some heaters in modern flats are on demand (not storage)convection or panel heaters and use electricity at the rate per kwh your electric company charges. So if you had a 1kw heater with electricity at 10p per kwh it would cost 10p per hour or a little less if it has a thermostat on it. Most heaters of this types are between 1kw and 3kw, hope that helps.
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property.advert

Yeah, storage heaters are expensive and rubbish. They are used when developers want to save costs and not install gas.

The problem for people who work is that they heat up overnight but cannot retain heat over long time periods so they let the heat out when you are out at work. When you come home you need to fire up the convector heaters and that is using daytime electricity costs.

Best heat in a bathroom is a heated towel rail. Heats the room and dries the towels.

Economy 7 is 7 hours of electric overnight. What you have to do is work out what sort of plan you should be on and for that, you need to understand your base electric usage and your winter overnight and daytime usage, in units consumed. Then you can work out whether it is still better to have a very cheap nightime rate or whether your usage pattern suggests you would be better off with a lower flat rate.

timberflake

Wow, that sounds like it could work out expensive! I think I need to read up and find out what kwh the heaters are and then see how much my supplier is charging me!

Any idea's of other ways to heat a house cheaper?? I'm toying with getting a Callorgas heater??

jimexbox

timberflake wrote: »

I'm toying with getting a Callorgas heater??

You do get instant heat, but they do create a lot of moisture which can lead to condensation issues.

timberflake

jimexbox wrote: »

You do get instant heat, but they do create a lot of moisture which can lead to condensation issues.

Haha, is there no cheaper way to heat my apartment other than use the storage heaters!!?

jimexbox

timberflake wrote: »

Haha, is there no cheaper way to heat my apartment other than use the storage heaters!!?

You could buy a thick woolly cardigan, works for sheep and humans.:D

ariba10

If you want a quick surge of heat for a short while an electric fan heater might be of use.

penrhyn

jimexbox wrote: »

You could buy a thick woolly cardigan, works for sheep and humans.:D

Excellent advice, to that I'd add a good old fashioned hot water bottle, and thick curtains.

Check what tariff you are on with you present electricity supplier and use one of the comparison sites to see you can get a cheaper one.
Ensure that the storage heaters are on a separate circuit ( usually a radio teleswitch)and only operate during the cheap rate period.

I've seen a number of developments that don't even fit storage heaters, rather panel heaters which are incredibly expensive to run.

PS Pesonally I don't like the idea of gas in flats, remember Ronan Point.

Premier_2

timberflake wrote: »

We have a number of storage heaters in our apartment and I'm thinking about turning one on now the weather is getting colder. My question is, are they generally expensive to run? If I do turn it on, I would only be turning on one to the lowest setting, and prbably the bathroom one too for half an our or so in the morning.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Assuming you use the bathroom heater after the cheap rate electricity period, then each 1kW of heat you produce using the bathroom heater will cost about twice as much as 1kW of heat you produce from a storage heater.

Fire_Fox

Calorgas heaters are not a good move, flats tend to have condensation issues anyway as the kitchen, bathroom and hall often don't have a window. I find I need to open my windows daily year round to keep on top of damp air which will make the room feel much cooler. The alternative is to use a dehumidifier.

Think carefully before you use an electric fan heater with an E7 tariff as you will be heating the house on the expensive day rate. We have E7, radiant panel heaters and a tight budget so I have a spare duvet that lives on the sofa in winter, lots of fleeces and thick socks and an electric underblanket on the bed. I didn't use the heating at all for two winters, and only heated the living area this last year: my DD is just £34 a month.