Electric heating

Pyrok

Hi all,
just joined here, after some pointers - i own a flat with no CH over the past two winters i just made do with oiled filled pannel heaters and a few other heaters, the leccy bill has not been that heavy, i mean it was steep but not that that i was tearing my hear out.

Anyways - enquired about installing CH but £3,500K its a little steep - i'm based in London so i guess thats why its a but pricy.

Right lets get to the point - mixed revirew on this forum about the electric rads and all the clay and so on and so forth.

After some reserch (i've only started in mid Aug to look) i came across this dimplex.co.uk - duoheat rads - i woild post the link but as a new joiner links are a no-no.

it looks genuine, and dimplex seem like respectful comapany.

Anyhow, just wanted some thoughts on the whole Electric rads vs the conventional wet system (which is currently out of may price range) also i have had mates of mine complaing of massive gas bills in the past some looking at 480 per Q to heat a 2 bed flat.

I'm looking at this as possibly spending 1000/1200 and get some of these heaters by dimplex just interested to hear views if anyine has taken the pluge and regrets it.

Cheers - Pyrok

Cardew

Welcome to the Forum.

This is the Dimplex link:

http://www.dimplex.co.uk/products/domestic_heating/installed_heating/duoheat_radiator.htm

On your first point about £3,500 to install gas CH.

With a modern combi gas boiler for the same amount of heat, your running costs, for CH and hot water will be between a third to a half that of using single rate electricity(i.e. not Economy 7). The downside is it should be serviced annually - mandatory if you ever let the flat.

However it will certainly increase the value of your property.

If you do a search on MSE you will find some mention of Dimplex Duoheat. Essentially it combines storage heaters and panel heating all in the one radiator.

The main issue with all storage heaters, is they tend to leak heat during the day and run out of heat in the evening; which if you work means heat is wasted.

Also you need to plan ahead for your heating load the next day.

You are also aware that going onto an Economy 7 tariff means you pay a premium for the other 17 hours of daytime electricity??

Owain_Moneysaver

Duoheats are nice heaters but because the peak rate convector is combined with the storage heater there can be a temptation to use too much peak rate top-up heat at the higher price.

They're also more expensive than ordinary storage heaters. A quick check on TLC Direct shows:

Dimplex Duoheat 2.6kW - £362 + VAT
Elnur Automatic (Storage-only) 2.55kW - £242 + VAT

Gas will always be cheaper than electricity (for as long as electricity generation relies on gas, which is the foreseeable future) and installing gas CH is fairly likely to pay for itself in terms of adding value to the flat. You can also have a combi boiler which takes up less space than a hot water cylinder, which is an important factor in a small flat.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Expensive, and in the luxury end menu of E7 product its STRIKE]opinion[/STRIKE much the best around because you get the best of both worlds. Four considerations :

.1. - it really only pays if you have an E7 / E10 meter and an E7 / E10 tariff
.2. - it really only pays if you have E7 / E10 meter and tariff and an E7 water cylinder
.3. - it needs a decent controller to get the best out of the zones
.4. - each Duo should have a 'pilot' wire back to the controller for individual tailored comfort levels

Essentially you have an E7 system that stores cheap heat & water that comes in overnight and a panel stuck on the front that consumes non-cheap heat available any-time you need it. However a kWh is a kWh for the use of the panel.

Best of luck.

seven-day-weekend

http://www.economy-radiators.com/?gclid=CL3egsvG2rICFaTKtAodalEAdQ

My son has just had these installed. They are programmable and thermostatically controlled. Very adaptable. Recommended.

He has no gas supply, so it was either the ancient storage heaters or these - no contest really!

Cardew

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

http://www.economy-radiators.com/?gclid=CL3egsvG2rICFaTKtAodalEAdQ

My son has just had these installed. They are programmable and thermostatically controlled. Very adaptable. Recommended.

He has no gas supply, so it was either the ancient storage heaters or these - no contest really!

Plenty to contest!

Firstly there is plenty of choice, without going for these over priced and over hyped heaters.

Do a search and read the thread on MSE about this firm.

seven-day-weekend

Cardew wrote: »

Plenty to contest!

Firstly there is plenty of choice, without going for these over priced and over hyped heaters.

Do a search and read the thread on MSE about this firm.

Just read it thanks.

I agree about all electric heating giving out the same heat and these are expensive to buy. But he was replacing ancient (40 year old) storage heaters and wanted something programmable and versatile, so not much choice really The only other opton would be new storage heaters which would have cost the same as these electric radiators by the time you've had them installed and are just as un-versatile as the old ones. He's had three, of varying power outputs - one in his living room and one in each of the bedrooms. Cheap electric towel rail in the bathroom.

I suppose he could have just got convector heaters from Argos then? But these would not have been as efficient in the terms of their programmability, would they?

Anyway it's done now and her is very pleased with them. Instant heat, where and when he wants it.

grahamc2003

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Just read it thanks.

I agree about all electric heating giving out the same heat and these are expensive to buy. But he was replacing ancient (40 year old) storage heaters and wanted something programmable and versatile, so not much choice really The only other opton would be new storage heaters which would have cost the same as these electric radiators by the time you've had them installed and are just as un-versatile as the old ones. He's had three, of varying power outputs - one in his living room and one in each of the bedrooms. Cheap electric towel rail in the bathroom.

I suppose he could have just got convector heaters from Argos then? But these would not have been as efficient in the terms of their programmability, would they?

Anyway it's done now and her is very pleased with them. Instant heat, where and when he wants it.

The main thing is that he is pleased with them. Yes, they are versatile, and you can get heat when you want from them. But if he starts using the 'daytime' elements much, then he'll sure pay lots for his heat.

Has he had a bill yet? The real test is whether he's still happy after his winter's bill, which could range from reasonable (with only off peak use) to very high (with lots of daytime 'topups'). So, imo, he has to use his versatility with care!

seven-day-weekend

No, he has not had a bill yet. But surely they will be better than the inefficient storage heaters, as long as he uses them on the timer and thermostat? He will only be using one at a time in whichever room he is in.

I understand they are not run on Economy 7. But that was a bit of a con anyway, as the day rate was so high, so any electricity you used in the day was very expensive. He's on a tarrif now where the daytime rate is cheaper than it was when it was on E7.

Cardew

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

No, he has not had a bill yet. But surely they will be better than the inefficient storage heaters, as long as he uses them on the timer and thermostat? He will only be using one at a time in whichever room he is in.

I understand they are not run on Economy 7. But that was a bit of a con anyway, as the day rate was so high, so any electricity you used in the day was very expensive. He's on a tarrif now where the daytime rate is cheaper than it was when it was on E7.

There is a case to be made out for 'normal' electrical heating, depending on your lifestyle.

However many people will find E7 cheaper when you take into account water heated at off-peak rates.

What I find difficult is any justification for paying the sort of prices these heaters cost from this company. You can 'automate' any electrical heating system very cheaply - timers, thermostats, remotes etc. If he is using them 'one room at a time' he doesn't need fancy controls.

Richie-from-the-Boro

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

No, he has not had a bill yet. But surely they will be better than the inefficient storage heaters, as long as he uses them on the timer and thermostat? He will only be using one at a time in whichever room he is in.

I understand they are not run on Economy 7. But that was a bit of a con anyway, as the day rate was so high, so any electricity you used in the day was very expensive. He's on a tarrif now where the daytime rate is cheaper than it was when it was on E7.

- why is E7 a con ? E7 day is about 3 times the price of E7 night and has been for 40 + years - common knowledge - not a con
- E7 will give you most if not all of your water & heat 60% cheaper for most if not all of the year - hardly insignificant
- UK dwellings regardless ov overheated London or the wilds of the Hebrides need heating most of the year
- an extremely well insulated new build / renovated property empty of people all day could be a candidate for this heating choice
- lifestyle as Cardew says is relevant - I'd use the word critical - these heaters for the retired are suicidal in cost terms
- similarly a household [4HU] that arrives home about 7pm, shower's never the bath, and is in bed by 11pm is a perfect candidate
- put more strongly anyone hoping to economically 'graft' the system you refer to into the UK home insulation standards is going to lose

If your son is still happy with the cost / benefit after one or more winters and lives in a standard UK spec non-super insulated dwelling he must be 4HU in which case the very best of luck to him, he would indeed be part of the small cohort with a lifestyle that fits.

To anyone else reading this if you think you can 'graft' a non storage system designed for airtight dwellings [German insulation standards] into a standard leaky UK home - and have it warm your home like the E7 storage system at the same [ they claim 30-50% cheaper ] or cheaper cost - beware of alchemists and snake~oil~salesmen !