Dimplex Monterey or Girona panel heaters or...

Snoopy77

Hi. First post so hope I get it right!

Am replacing old electric panel heaters in my one bed flat (double glazed with insulation in loft but not in wall cavities).

I have Economy 7 electricity although only my water heater is actually running in the night. Current panel heaters are manually controlled via an on/off switch next to each one and each room has its own thermostat. I usually only use them for a few hours in the evenings when the weather is cold. Have lived there for 3 yrs and my quarterly electricity bills average about £80 in summer, and up to £120 in winter - which is quite reasonable, I think.

I have already decided against Kalirel/Intelliheat-style electric radiators as there has been quite a lot of negative commentary about how misleading their sales blurb is (thanks everyone!), and they're certainly not the cheapest option.

Dimplex Duoheat storage heaters have been recommended, but my concerns are that they are relatively expensive, they will be releasing heat all day when I am not there and likely need topping up in the evening, plus they are HUGE ! I think that running them all night plus topping up at peak rates will likely work out more expensive for me.

I much prefer the look of the Dimplex Monterey or Girona panel heaters which are reasonably priced and will fit in my rooms better. They seem to have a timing option (via pilot wire or mains borne signal) so that it can be warm when I get up/get home from work. Will be able to use them in a v. similar fashion to my current heaters so would anticipate similar bills. Does anyone have any experience with/useful comments regarding these models? My old heaters also burn a lot of dust when I first start using them again in the autumn/winter and the smell is horrible - are these modern panel heaters likely to do the same?

Finally, bathroom-wise (which is currently without any heating, brrr), I am not keen on a "blowy" fan heater, and ideally want a towel rail/radiator - I like the look of the Dimplex Metro range. The room is approx 4.3m2 with one outside wall and a small window. Would a 480w towel rail be enough to warm the room (I don't need it tropical)?

Thanks in advance for any comments...

Cardew

If you are going with normal heaters(i.e. not storage heaters) then you almost certainly shouldn't be on Economy 7. The savings on off-peak - even with water heating - will not compensate for the extra you pay during the other 17 hours.

The efficiency of the non-storage heaters you mention will all be the same(100%) so it all really comes down to looks, price and ability to control them(timers, remotes etc)

Owain_Moneysaver

Compare the prices of the remote control gubbins for the Dimplex heaters - you might find an ordinary timeswitch next to each heater just as useful, especially if you don't need to change the programme frequently.