storage heater/economy 7 queries

Tengsted

I recently bought an OWL electricity monitor, and have had my eyes opened at what electricity my flat is using. I'm happy enough during the day, running the flat at about 5p/hour, but when the storage heaters kick in, the price rockets.

I've lived in my flat for several years, (using Scottish Hydros Economy 7 tariff), and have 2 Dimplex storage heaters, one which is 3kW in the living room, and one about 1.5 kW in the hall, which also heats my bedroom. Using the OWL monitor, it's obvious that the thermostat Input controls have no effect on power consumption when the heaters start to charge. (I probably should have realised this, as they've not yet reached the right temperature).

So what would be more efficient? Leaving the 1.5kW heater off (until it gets really cold!), and fully charging the 3kW, using less power but taking longer, or running both at a lower input rate, using more power, over a lesser time?

The monitors estimate of £3 for a nights heat has really got me wondering!

llindsey

Wondering if anyone can help?
I have storage heaters in all rooms but my bedroom, I have a dimplex panel heater in there.
I want to change the panel heater for a storage heater.
How would i go about this? would it need to be wired into the right meter?
I have 2 meters, one being a radio teleswitch.
I have tried to see what is wired it, but its all a bit confusing!
If anyone could help, or even just explain to me how my electricity works, would be appriciated.
Thanks,
Lindsey

andyrpsmith

This is my experience of storage heaters vs separate Oil filled over a year


Storage heating used 13,382 units (Four heaters, two in 26ft lounge, one in a bed room one on a landing)
Oil filled heaters used 7961 units (Five oil and two convection, two in lounge, two in bed rooms and one on landing)
[FONT=&quot]When using electric heaters the thermostat and timers are key.

For example the five oil filled radiators (Delonghi Rapido 3KW with 7 heat settings) are used on the 2.5KW setting and thermostat level 3.

If they were on full 24/7 the total cost over a year would be:

5 x 2.5 x24 x 365 x 0.0861 = £9428

Of course not used in summer, mainly on from 4pm to 12pm in lounge and 6am - 8am and 9pm - 12pm in bed rooms 7961 units @8.61p = £685 over a year

Lindsay, Storage heaters are wired separately, in my case to a different meter and fuse box. The meter is timed by radio clock to come on at certain times. I have had the fuse removed from the storage meter. Do you really need the panel heater wired to the storage heaters you will have less control of when it comes on.

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Vibrant

llindsey:
Storage heaters are on a separate electric circuit. As you have storage heaters in your other rooms, I would expect there to be a storage heater connection point in your bedroom. Look at the connector on your current storage heaters, so you know what you are looking for.

If there is a connection point, installation is simple, (about as hard a wiring a plug) and any competent DIYer would be able to do it. The heaters themselves are very easy to put together.

If there isn't a connection point, you will need a qualified electrician.

morocha

hi guys, i am new to Economy 7, i know my question will sound a bit stupid but here it goes... My daughter goes to bed at 7 .. does this means i need to put her heater output setting back to 1 at that time? won't she be cold during the night ?

gredawarha

Hello all,

I have moved into a new house which appears to at one point had storage heaters but at some point the previous owner removed them. I am considering buying new storage heaters and having them fitted.

I have had trouble finding companies that will supply and fit them, I have googled but a lot of the results are for gas central heating fitters.
I have found this company who to date have been reasonably helpful: hwelectric (I am not allowed to post links but they are the first result on google) but there are so many different makes and models to choose from. Does anyone have any experience of certain makes or have any recommendations?

I appreciate any response

Katie-Kat-Kins

morocha wrote: »

hi guys, i am new to Economy 7, i know my question will sound a bit stupid but here it goes... My daughter goes to bed at 7 .. does this means i need to put her heater output setting back to 1 at that time? won't she be cold during the night ?

Your daughter has an output setting???? :eek:


Seriously, (assuming your daughter has a decent duvet on her bed and a warm nightie) if you have had the output up higher during the day to warm the room turning it down to one once she is in bed shouldn't leave her too cold. With output on one the heater will still leaak some heat, so she should actually be warmer than she would be in a house with gas central heating on a timer that goes off in the night.

If you try it and find she is waking up cold you could leave the output up when she goes to bed and sneak in to turn it down when you go to bed.

Or you could get a plug in electric heater (probably a panel heater or oil filled rad for safety) and put it in her room with the thermostat set very low so it will only come in if the room gets really cold.

But the most economical solution would be an extra blanket!

[Deleted User]

I have to say, when I first got storage heaters, I was not pleased with them as they were always cold in the evening, but when you learn how to use them, they can work out really cheap. We have a fairly big flat, with upstairs and 3 bedrooms. We have 7 heaters throughout the flat, but I only use 2 heaters, and this is enough to heat all the rooms. They are Dimplex, by the way. I use a large one in the lounge. This has only one control and I put it on number 1 till evening, this holds all the heat in and i turn it up in the evening to about 3 and then further later, back to 1 for overnight. I use a medium heater in the hall, with 2 control settings. I have the input set at maximum and the output at minimum. The bedroom doors are open all day, so the heat travels up and heats the rooms. They are warmish, but if we get really cold spells, I turn the output on the hall storage heater up over night and turn it down to minimum in the morning and it really heats everywhere up. We only have electric, cooker, heating and shower and our monthly electricity bill is only £75, put down from £80 per month. I have to say this is done over the year and we don't use the heaters till the cold sets in, but I think it quite cheap.

schubertdog

Katie-Kat-Kins wrote: »

Your daughter has an output setting???? :eek:


Seriously, (assuming your daughter has a decent duvet on her bed and a warm nightie) if you have had the output up higher during the day to warm the room turning it down to one once she is in bed shouldn't leave her too cold. With output on one the heater will still leaak some heat, so she should actually be warmer than she would be in a house with gas central heating on a timer that goes off in the night.

If you try it and find she is waking up cold you could leave the output up when she goes to bed and sneak in to turn it down when you go to bed.

Or you could get a plug in electric heater (probably a panel heater or oil filled rad for safety) and put it in her room with the thermostat set very low so it will only come in if the room gets really cold.

But the most economical solution would be an extra blanket!

One point that a lot of people on here seem to be missing is that as soon as the E7 or E10 comes on in the evening and the storage heaters start the process of warming up they will also start to give off some heat as well as storing it, the amount of heat will depend on what setting you have the output set to.
You need to be warm in bed but shouldn't have the heating set too high so that you are actually hot while trying to sleep.

If you find that all of the heat has gone from your storage heater before going to bed then using a thermostatically controlled portable oil filled radiator is the safest way to introduce some additional heat without breaking the bank. Try different settings to get a temp of 16C - 18C

Garethjones

I think thi might help you...


www dot youtube.com/user/CNMOnlineUK