Storage Heater V. Gas CH

Hourglass

Hi

I will soon be moving into a studio flat which has economy 7 heating. My Dad has advised me to get a storage heater with convector as this will be cheaper however after looking at some of the posts on here, many people seem to be complaining that they are more expensive!

Fitting a boiler and Gas CH would be expensive but how would this compare to the cost of buying a new storage heater and the (apparently) more expenive bills? As it is only a studio flat I had presumed that it would not take much to heat it but I don't want to make a costly (and cold) mistake.

Anybody with any experience on this? I would appreciate any help.

Thanks!

Cardew

Always listen to your Dad!

If the flat has economy 7 heating, what sort of heater does it have?

Your heating bills will be low anyway and it will take a long time to recover the cost of installing gas CH and indeed there might be little difference in the running costs. Also with gas you should get it checked for safety at least once a year and that will cost upwards of £50.

The main disadvantage of storage heating is the lack of flexibility and you need to plan ahead for your heating requirements. You can 'run out' of heat late in the evening.

Hourglass

Thanks Cardew - I do normally listen to my Dad!

At the moment there is no heating All the previous occupier seems to have used was one of the old oil plug in the wall jobbies.

However since discussing the cost of a storage heater, my Dad has now changed his mind and thinks I should get one of the gas wall mounted flueless fires as gas is cheaper than electricity and it will look a lot better and will add value to the flat.

Cardew

How will you heat water then?

You will need to check if it is worth staying on an Economy 7 tariff. I assume you appreciate that on Economy 7 you pay considerably more for your daytime electricity? The 'break even' point is normally between 20-40% used on E7 rates depending on area and company.

Hourglass

Hi Cardew

There is some kind of system under the sink called a PowerStream that heats the water.

I will be out during the day at work most days so the daytime rate shouldn't affect me too much. I'm a bit new to utilities and tarrifs etc so that is something I will need to look into but I was advsied by most people to make sure I got economy 7. My Dad was looking at the flueless gas fire as he says gas is cheaper and the fire will look more attractive than a huge storage heater in a small flat.

Cardew

'Daytime rates' is a bit misleading. It is for a period of 17 hours a day - from approx 7:30am to 12:30am.

Generally there is not any advantage for most people in getting Economy 7 electricity(if they have gas) unless they use storage heating.

Hourglass

That long? I didn't realise. I think if I decide to go with the flueless gas fire then I will go onto a normal tarrif.

Thanks for the advice Cardew. I have all this ahead of me! At the moment I haven't exchanged contracts and so am doing the preliminary research now. And there seems to be so much.....

surfsister

Hourglass wrote:

Thanks Cardew - I do normally listen to my Dad!

At the moment there is no heating All the previous occupier seems to have used was one of the old oil plug in the wall jobbies.

However since discussing the cost of a storage heater, my Dad has now changed his mind and thinks I should get one of the gas wall mounted flueless fires as gas is cheaper than electricity and it will look a lot better and will add value to the flat.

had one of these at a previous house and it was very cost effective now I hjave storage heaters and they are ok as I got old free second hand ones which hold the heat much better than the new slimline ones and they have a lovely wide top for clothes drying. Storage heaters are ok if you are well insulated but quite dear, we are all elec so have little choice now.