Electric panel heaters

ch5

Hi all.

I am interested to know who uses these and I have a few questions about them.

I have them in my flat, I haven't used them yet as I moved in only a few months ago. Now the cold weather is setting in I want to start using them to increase the ambient temperature in the living room.

I am on an Economy7 type tariff so I dont want to use these during the daytime unless I really have to.

Can they be used in the same way you would use a storage heater and leave them on over night? Is this beneficial/economical?

I generally want to know how to get the most out of these heaters as I am new to them.

Big thanks in advance.

Richie-from-the-Boro

ch5 wrote: »

Hi all.

I am interested to know who uses these and I have a few questions about them.

I have them in my flat, I haven't used them yet as I moved in only a few months ago. Now the cold weather is setting in I want to start using them to increase the ambient temperature in the living room.

I am on an Economy 7 type tariff so I don't want to use these during the daytime unless I really have to.

Can they be used in the same way you would use a storage heater and leave them on over night? Is this beneficial/economical?

I generally want to know how to get the most out of these heaters as I am new to them.

Big thanks in advance.

You need to be sure you are on an E7 dual rate tariff.

E7 if you are on a decent tariff will cost about 40% at night and 100% during the day. Leaving them URL="http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?client=opera&rls=en&q=panel+heater&oe=utf-8&channel=suggest&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=1182944021056981667&sa=X&ei=UMtgUKndOIOIhQftpYD4Cg&ved=0CEAQ8wIwAA"]panels[/URL on overnight even at 60% cheaper is pointless as they don't store heat, all you will do is warm your dwelling when you don't need it because you are sleeping.

E7 should be giving you a tank full of cheap almost boiling water but will do nothing whatsoever for your heating. Only storage heaters, not panel heaters can store heat during the night and release that stored heat later when you need it.

You use a panel heater like a convector or a fan heater.

Best of luck

[Deleted User]

Hi,

do you also have storage heaters?

If the panel heaters are going to be your main source of heat I think you will find them expensive to run, as methinks you will probably be using them on the dearer daytime rate. (E7 cheap rate 11/12-7/8)

Wywth

ch5 wrote: »

Hi all.

I am interested to know who uses these and I have a few questions about them.

I have them in my flat, I haven't used them yet as I moved in only a few months ago. Now the cold weather is setting in I want to start using them to increase the ambient temperature in the living room.

I am on an Economy7 type tariff so I dont want to use these during the daytime unless I really have to.

Can they be used in the same way you would use a storage heater and leave them on over night? Is this beneficial/economical?

I generally want to know how to get the most out of these heaters as I am new to them.

Big thanks in advance.

Panel heaters, unlike storage heaters, do not store heat.

As you are on an E7 tariff, the use of the heaters during the off peak period will be charged at your off peak rates.

But most people find they do not need much in the way of heating whilst they are in bed.

Use the heaters as and when required to provide suitable room heating, but keep a close eye on your consumption/cost.

Man_Overboard_2

I have several portable low-wattage panel heaters which I use very selectively according to what I am doing

When I am watching TV, I have a 400W panel close to my legs, and another close to my shoulder. Last winter, I needed no more than that on any occasion - it was almost as good as 'sitting by the fire' used to be in the good ole days

In my (very small) bathroom, I have an 800W heater on the window sill, and so long as I switch it on in good time, it takes the chill off sufficiently to allow a comfortable shower - it also demists the shaving mirror

If I wish to read in bed, or drink an early morning cup of tea, I use the 400W panel heater which sits on my bedside table

In my (very small) kitchen, I have a 2KW oil-free radiator which heats up very quickly, plus a fan heater if I need it - if I am only going to boil a kettle, I put my dressing gown on

To me, the idea of heating my entire flat for many hours in the day seems ridiculous

ch5

Thanks for all of the replies.

I am a little baffled as to why my flat has these heaters (designed for use during the day) when I am on an Economy 7 type tariff.

My flat is about 5yrs old, so I'd hoped it was geared up for economy.

My main heater in the living room is 2KW. This could get ridiculously expensive.

Cardew

Man_Overboard wrote: »

In my (very small) bathroom, I have an 800W heater on the window sill, and so long as I switch it on in good time, it takes the chill off sufficiently to allow a comfortable shower - it also demists the shaving mirror

That sounds dangerous and possibly illegal.

http://www.esc.org.uk/public/safety-in-the-home/bathroom-safety/

A common issue when it comes to bathroom safety is the position of electrical sockets. Make sure electrical sockets (apart from shaver-supply units) are at least three metres from the bath or shower. Even better, keep them out of the bathroom altogether.

• Central heating is the safest way to keep a bathroom warm. But if you do have an electric heater, it must be fixed at a safe distance from the bath or shower.
• Electric and gas water heaters in a bathroom must be fixed and permanently wired, unless they are powered by a socket fitted three metres from a bath or shower.
• A pull-cord or switch outside the bathroom is the ideal way to control electric heaters.

Man_Overboard_2

Cardew wrote: »

That sounds dangerous and possibly illegal.

http://www.esc.org.uk/public/safety-in-the-home/bathroom-safety/

Trust me - I am not as silly as you think

tommy-g_3

Are you sure its not panel heaters in the bedrooms and storage in the living rooms. Panel heaters are normally a few inch thick storage heaters about 6 inchs with feet on the floor.

Not_so_smarti_marti

I have a bedroom above the garage. I am currently insulating the garage door, however, I would like to buy a portable heater for the room to take the edge off the freeze! Can anyone recommend one which I can use on a timer, and will not push my electricity bill through the roof?
Thanks for any advice!!

grahamc2003

Not_so_smarti_marti wrote: »

I have a bedroom above the garage. I am currently insulating the garage door, however, I would like to buy a portable heater for the room to take the edge off the freeze! Can anyone recommend one which I can use on a timer, and will not push my electricity bill through the roof?
Thanks for any advice!!

All energy ends up as heat, and it all costs the same when the source is electricity. The heat will cost you your elecrricity tariff, i.e. about 11p/kWh - so use a 500w heater for 2 hours costs 11p, as does a 1kW heater for 1 hour or a 2kW heater for half an hour - it doesn't matter why type of heayer you get from the cost pov for the same heat.

But heaters are a blunt tool for heating. Instead of using say an 800W heater, you'll get the same heating from an 800W dehumidifier, or an 800W TV setup. Of course, heating indirectly via these methods give you a 'free' service as well as the heat (that of dehumidifying or a big (extremely big if 800W!) TV picture and sound. I'd say before you use any electric heating, see if there's some other electric powered device you could use first.

Having said all that, my personal preference for smallish 'spot' heating is a halogen heater, with three elements (or rather bulbs) of 400W each. I like the glow they give, and the fact that if you are cold you can move closer to it to get a bit warmer. They're also very light if you want to move them around.