Coal or Storage heaters?

Phil3822

Current property has a coal fire with boiler which heats hot water and pumps water around radiators in each room. Problem I'm finding is coal is pretty expensive. Costing in between £10 and £20 per week. I'm thinking this more per week than cost of say E7 heaters or some other alternative.

I really know very little about this and looking for some advice. I cant see my electricity bill costing an extra £20 per week with storage heaters fitted. Plus I'll have a little more control over the heat with any luck.

Final question, how much roughly for storage heaters to be fitted. The property is already on an E7 tarriff.

All help greatly recieved!

Thanks in advance!

paul_h

It depends how much you are paying for coal - our last load was £110 for a tonne. It can cost much more than this, depending where you live.

Is your fire a closed Parkray/Charnwood type, or an open Dunsley type? The Dunsleys are hopeless - a closed roomheater/boiler or multifuel stove is 65-70% efficient, as opposed to 30% for an open fire.

As for running costs, it obviously depends upon the size of your house. The average house uses around 15-20,000kWh per annum for heating, so budget for this at your economy7 rate - currently about 3-4p per kWh.

Installation costs for contract storage heaters should be no more than £300 per heater, including heater and cabling, plus the cost for fitting a new consumer unit if required.

Phil3822

Thanks for your reply, coal is £9.80 per 50KG delivered. I have a dunsley type fire. Problem is it's a council property so hands are a little tied I guess?

paul_h

We've just ordered a tonne of house coal this morning for delivery next week and the price has gone up this year to £130 - equivalent to £6.50 per bag. Still, not too bad...:rolleyes:

If you are considering changing the open fire, I would speak to the council - I don't think they will refuse permission so long as you has a reason for doing it, and you don't expect them to maintain the new installation.

Even storage heaters will need permission, anyway. I know of quite a few people who have made improvements to their council homes without council objection.

Note that changing a boiler or fireplace will need Building Control approval from the council too.

Hope this helps