Anyone used Rointe heaters?

Richie-from-the-Boro

penrhyn wrote: »

Cheaper than that if your search the interweb.
I suspect the quote refers to a older person who has been conned into spending a fortune on these or heaters by an unscrupulous salesman.

- I was quoting their original costings posted here by buyers / posters, they are indeed much cheaper now the truth is out
[text deleted by MSE Forum Team]
- to install a standard system into a typical 3 bed property it will cost between £5,000 to £6,000

druimbeag

I HAVE HAD ROINTE RADIATORS INSTALLED IN EVERY ROOM IN MY HOUSE BY MY LOCAL COUNCIL JUST IN THE LAST MONTH AND CAN HONESTLY SAY I`VE NEVER BEEN SO COLD IN MY LIFE.. I HAVE HAD TO TURN OFF THE RADIATORS IN MY BEDROOM, SPARE ROOM AND KITCHEN AS THE HEATING WAS COSTING ME ABOUT £10.00 A DAY AND I CANT AFFORD THAT. i NOW HAVE A LITTLE FAN HEATER WHICH I PUT ON AT NIGHT IN THE SITTING ROOM. WHEN I`M COLD DURING THE DAY I GO BACK TO BED TO KEEP WARM. BEING A PENSIONER I CAN DO THAT. GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW A MUM WITH YOUNG KIDS COPE. JIM:mad:

Littlemrs_3

Hi

Sorry if this has already been covered, this thread goes on for years! We are looking into having a conservatory built and one company who quoted has 'highly' recommended Rointe heaters which immediately made me suspicious and I presume they are on commission for no.of units sold! Found this thread whilst doing my homework on them, thankfully!

What would you recommend for heating a conservatory? This is a room we intend to use all year round. I understand the discussions about how they all cost the same to run etc... But which ones distribute and maintain the heat in the room better? I don't want to heat the walls and roof!

Hope this makes sense, any help greatly appreciated.

Owain_Moneysaver

For heating a conservatory, assuming you have gas central heating, you should have an additional circuit added to your existing heating system with separate controls (timer and stat) to radiators in the conservatory.

Gas is about a third the price of electricity so even if your boiler is a really old one with about 50% efficiency you'll still be better off.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Littlemrs wrote: »

Hi

Sorry if this has already been covered, this thread goes on for years! We are looking into having a conservatory built and one company who quoted has 'highly' recommended Rointe heaters which immediately made me suspicious and I presume they are on commission for no.of units sold! Found this thread whilst doing my homework on them, thankfully!

What would you recommend for heating a conservatory? This is a room we intend to use all year round. I understand the discussions about how they all cost the same to run etc... But which ones distribute and maintain the heat in the room better? I don't want to heat the walls and roof!

Hope this makes sense, any help greatly appreciated.

"use all year round"

- your starter for 10 is to tell us what you already have - what do you currently use for space heating ?
- eg gas / extend it / E7 E10 - extend it / oil - extend it / AGA water - extend it !

Cardew

Agree with the two posts above.

However another solution would be to fit a simple air-to-air ASHP(Air Source Heat Pump). The added advantage is the same unit will provide air-conditioning in the Summer - which is often needed in a conservatory.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Cardew wrote: »

Agree with the two posts above.

However another solution would be to fit a simple air-to-air ASHP(Air Source Heat Pump). The added advantage is the same unit will provide air-conditioning in the Summer - which is often needed in a conservatory.

- it might be a phanbouy plant !
- aka "I don't want to heat the walls and roof !"

Cavell123

Hi all. I found this site whilst investigating Rointe heaters but after the comments about them i will stay clear. However i would like some advise.

I am downsizing to a one bed house built in 1980, all electric (on E7) and no gas supply. It has one night storage heater in the lounge (looks like it's the original one at the time of the build) with a free standing panel heater
(don't know the type) in the bedroom, and a wall mounted fan heater in the bathroom. I haven't actually moved in yet so don't know the cost of running these devices but would like to make some enquiries before i do.

1) Would I be better off with the current set up?
2) If not what are my alternatives?
3) I have read there are different types of storage heater, radiation or convection. I understand the comments made about 1Kw of electric = 1Kw of heat, but are some more flexible in how they disperse the heat? Being retired i will be home during some of the day, but would like to save some of the heat for the evenings.
4) As a general guide, if i keep the heat output setting to a minimum, how many hours do these heaters emit heat for?
5) I guess i will need a form of additional heat for the evenings. I think a free standing panel radiator will be best as i can store it away during the summer, but which medium (oil, solid etc) are the most convenient to use, which ones have the most control flexibility?

Onto the water. There is an immersion tank and electric shower. I don't bathe, only shower, so
1) Is it cheaper for me to heat up a tank of water each night and run the shower from the tank, or use the electric one?
2) If the electric shower is cheaper and therefore i don't use the tank, how do i heat the water for kitchen and bathroom sinks? I have seen these instant hot water taps advertised, are they any good and would they be any cheaper to run?

Sorry for such a long winded post. The bottom line is i want the most economical system but also the most convenient, so if it costs me say an extra £20 a month that's OK. Any help or suggestions would be most welcome.
Thanks
Richard.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Cavell123 wrote: »

Hi all. I found this site whilst investigating Rointe heaters but after the comments about them i will stay clear. However i would like some advise.

I am downsizing to a one bed house built in 1980, all electric (on E7) and no gas supply. It has one night storage heater in the lounge (looks like it's the original one at the time of the build) with a free standing panel heater
(don't know the type) in the bedroom, and a wall mounted fan heater in the bathroom. I haven't actually moved in yet so don't know the cost of running these devices but would like to make some enquiries before i do.

1) Would I be better off with the current set up?
2) If not what are my alternatives?
3) I have read there are different types of storage heater, radiation or convection. I understand the comments made about 1Kw of electric = 1Kw of heat, but are some more flexible in how they disperse the heat? Being retired i will be home during some of the day, but would like to save some of the heat for the evenings.
4) As a general guide, if i keep the heat output setting to a minimum, how many hours do these heaters emit heat for?
5) I guess i will need a form of additional heat for the evenings. I think a free standing panel radiator will be best as i can store it away during the summer, but which medium (oil, solid etc) are the most convenient to use, which ones have the most control flexibility?

Onto the water. There is an immersion tank and electric shower. I don't bathe, only shower, so
1) Is it cheaper for me to heat up a tank of water each night and run the shower from the tank, or use the electric one?
2) If the electric shower is cheaper and therefore i don't use the tank, how do i heat the water for kitchen and bathroom sinks? I have seen these instant hot water taps advertised, are they any good and would they be any cheaper to run?

Sorry for such a long winded post. The bottom line is i want the most economical system but also the most convenient, so if it costs me say an extra £20 a month that's OK. Any help or suggestions would be most welcome.
Thanks
Richard.

This lady recently went through the same as yourself, her problems thoughts and eventual decisions are here. Her actual real-time 'hands on' personal experiences will I'm sure be of help. Have a read through then come back with your thoughts. Hope this helps - Cavell123.

Owain_Moneysaver

Cavell123 wrote: »

Hi all. I found this site whilst investigating Rointe heaters but after the comments about them i will stay clear. However i would like some advise.

I am downsizing to a one bed house built in 1980, all electric (on E7) and no gas supply. It has one night storage heater in the lounge (looks like it's the original one at the time of the build) with a free standing panel heater
(don't know the type) in the bedroom, and a wall mounted fan heater in the bathroom. I haven't actually moved in yet so don't know the cost of running these devices but would like to make some enquiries before i do.

1) Would I be better off with the current set up?
2) If not what are my alternatives?

The current setup is likely to be the most effective for you especially if you are at home during the day. Improvements you might like to consider are:
- second small storage heater in the hall for the hall/stairs/landing
- timer/thermostat on the bedroom heater

Cavell123 wrote: »

3) I have read there are different types of storage heater, radiation or convection. I understand the comments made about 1Kw of electric = 1Kw of heat, but are some more flexible in how they disperse the heat? Being retired i will be home during some of the day, but would like to save some of the heat for the evenings.

It is usual to have a decorative electric fire or other heater in the lounge, as an evening boost on colder evenings. A 1980s house should be fairly well insulated, but you can check the loft insulation after you've moved in.

Cavell123 wrote: »

4) As a general guide, if i keep the heat output setting to a minimum, how many hours do these heaters emit heat for?

depending on how high the Input is set for, and the ambient room temperature, up to about 12 hours.

Cavell123 wrote: »

5) I guess i will need a form of additional heat for the evenings. I think a free standing panel radiator will be best as i can store it away during the summer, but which medium (oil, solid etc) are the most convenient to use, which ones have the most control flexibility?

The type of heater makes no difference, you can get them with/without thermostats, timers, etc.

Cavell123 wrote: »

Onto the water. There is an immersion tank and electric shower. I don't bathe, only shower, so
1) Is it cheaper for me to heat up a tank of water each night and run the shower from the tank, or use the electric one?

Off-peak from the tank, significantly so. (Unless you shower in the middle of the night.) Worth checking that the cylinder and pipes are well insulated and if it isn't, add some extra jackets which cost a few £ from the DIY shops.

There is likely to be an immersion heater controller which will give you a 1 hour boost of hot water if you run out during the day, at expensive peak rate.

You can also use your washing machine overnight to take advantage of the cheap rate electricity. Some machines have a delayed start timer so you don't have to stay up till 1am to start the cycle.

Be careful about using a plug-in timeswitch with a washing machine; many aren't capable of handling the high heating load. If you use a tumble dryer overnight then make sure there is a smoke alarm working.

Cavell123 wrote: »

2) If the electric shower is cheaper and therefore i don't use the tank, how do i heat the water for kitchen and bathroom sinks? I have seen these instant hot water taps advertised, are they any good and would they be any cheaper to run?

Not cheaper to run, as they use peak rate electricity, and they are usually intended just for handwashing (or boiling water for culinary use). If you don't use the hot water in the tank it will just stay warm and you will use less electricity the following night. I think the cost of standing losses from a well insulated cylinder is about 15p a day.