Night Storage Heaters help needed!

snoopkat

Hello
My parents are about to purchase a retirement flat in Brighton, the heating in the place is all with Night Storage Heaters. We asked if they could be replaced, which they can, but only with newer Night Storage Heaters.

My parents are going to be on a pretty tight budget, but these heaters do probably need to be replaced. At the moment they are huge old things which are in really terrible places meaning it makes it impossible to place furniture!

Is it worth replacing the heaters? How much would we be looking at to replace them? I think there are 5. Ideally we want the smallest slimmest (but more efficient) ones available.

I looked online and it seemed like a basic one would cost about £300! Seems a lot? Would an electrician be able to replace them easily?

Sorry- we have no idea! There is room in the budget for some renovations but it has to be used very wisely!

Thanks!

Kathy

Cardew

New storage heaters will not be more efficient, than the old storage heaters, in that they won't produce more heat for the same running costs.

The only way that newer storage heaters will be more efficient is that they will 'leak' less heat during the day. However as your parents are not out at work all day, that isn't so important.

snoopkat

Thanks very much for replying...

Does the positioning of the heater make a lot of difference? Is it possible to reposition the old ones and would that be a lot cheaper than replacing them?

The main problem is the size of them and the worry that they will be left in the cold in the evening. I was wondering if newer heaters would stay warmer longer? Or could be controlled more effectively?

Its not SO much about the running cost, more about them working for my parents in the way they need to. I.e not being massively in the way of furniture and staying warm for long enough!

Sorry for all the questions. Its all a bit new to us!

Kat

snoopkat

Sorry, I think that possibly sounded wrong. When I say its not so much about the running cost, I meant it is more about keeping initial costs to a minimum, but with maximum effect!

Cardew

It might be an idea to let them move in and try things out with the old heaters, and replace later if desired. If they have not used storage heaters before, they take some getting used to, as you have to 'plan ahead' with your heating requirements.

Also they need to appreciate that the hot water should be heated on the cheap rate electricity overnight(assuming they have a hot water tank and immersion heaters.

Be very careful when buying new storage heaters as there are a lot of cowboys operating in this field.

Above all don't let salesmen convince them that they have a new product, radiators filled with a special substance that lowers running costs.