Might get stuck with storage heating

bookmack

I might end up with storage heating within a couple of weeks, and it is worrying me a lot. We have to relocate to Edinburgh on very short notice. The only property we have found that is remotely suitable doesn't specify the type of heat, but other flats for sale in the block indicate white meter heating. I can't see pictures of the radiators in the photos, but am 97% certain it will be storage heating. I didn't even know what this was until this weekend (I am not originally from the UK), and it sounds terrible. The block definitely does not have a gas supply, and as we will be renting we will not have the option of changing to gas even if it does. This place is very nice other than this, and I was hoping we would want to stay for a long time. I'm in a panic now though. We will be out all day on most days, so storage heating sounds like a waste!

Now my question. A friend told me it is very easy to change the storage heaters to "normal electric radiators" by just taking them off the wall and putting the new ones on. I don't know exactly what she means by this, and she's away now. Is this true? If I end up here, is it more likely that I will be stuck with these heaters until we move?

bookmack

Thanks for the reply, but I don't agree with that. I have managed to convince landlords in the past to gas cookers from electric, better boilers, etc. So I think I could have a bit of a chance in changing the heating, but definitely not to gas. I can tell this would not be an option by looking at the surrounding flats. I'm more interested in whether it is true that it is relatively simple to change from storage to electric central heating (or whatever type of electric would be the lesser of two evils). That is, if storage heating is as horrible as it sounds.

alanq

Why worry now? Why not wait and see what you've got and then whether you like it.? If you are hardly ever going to be in then an occasional use of panel heaters may be better. Storage heaters may waste some heat by having the home warmer than required when you are not at home but then the electricity used will cost about half the price of heating on demand during daytime. There is some control when heat is released from storage heater whether with simple flaps or fans.

Unlike fan-heaters simple storage heaters are almost silent and need next to no maintenance.

If you simply take the storage heaters off the wall and replace with other electric heaters you will almost certainly find that you can only heat your house very late at night/early morning. The circuit will be on a time switch and only supply electricity overnight.

bookmack

Thanks. I am worrying now because of the evidence from the other flats in the building, and because I only have about ten days to arrange this move! We will see the place on Monday, but it is the only thing that has come up in the budget that will work for us. I doubt I will have time to research this too much between then and when we will need to make a final decision, so need to get the information now. I will ask the agents for information, but I am sure they will sugar coat everything.

Is it easy to switch to panels? My concerns about storage heating are: getting cold during waking hours at night (I stay up late, but have a health problem that means getting cold is more extreme for me than other people), and paying for heat I don't want to use. I currently live in a gas central heated home with a great new boiler, and only put the heat on when I get home from work until around an hour before bed. I turn it off completely when I am asleep and tend to wake up feeling sick when heat has been on overnight unless it has been very cold.

bookmack

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Best of luck with "convince landlords in the past to gas cookers from electric, better boilers, etc" especially in Scotland. Foir more info there's a button TRHS of the forum to 'search this forum' put theses two characters in > E7 < and hit the search button.

This was all in Scotland. In fact, my current place has a brand new, A rated boiler (apparently at the cost of £3000) because of me. But I am still learning about the E7 tariff so this could obviously make all the difference.

Owain_Moneysaver

bookmack wrote: »

Is it easy to switch to panels?

As explained, no, it will require the services of an electrician, and also probably a meter change. If the storage heaters are removed then the walls will also need redecorating.

bookmack wrote: »

My concerns about storage heating are: getting cold during waking hours at night (I stay up late, but have a health problem that means getting cold is more extreme for me than other people),

It is usual to provide panel heaters in the bedrooms as most heating in bedrooms is overnight and so at cheap rate anyway.

bookmack wrote: »

and paying for heat I don't want to use. I currently live in a gas central heated home with a great new boiler, and only put the heat on when I get home from work until around an hour before bed. I turn it off completely when I am asleep and tend to wake up feeling sick when heat has been on overnight unless it has been very cold.

Most panel heaters will have thermostats so you can leave the bedroom on low.

alanq

alanq wrote: »

Why worry now? Why not wait and see what you've got and then whether you like it.?

Sorry, I thought the decision had already been made that you were to move in. If you have yet to commit I understand why you want reassurance before making a decision.

bookmack

No need to be rude!

Thank you, Owain moneysaver. That's interesting to know about the bedrooms. I will make sure I check whether they are different there. This isn't something I would have thought to do. The decoration isn't necessarily an issue as I am very capable of doing that myself (to a very high standard), but it is good to know it isn't as straightforward as my friend suspected. It is starting to look as if I wouldn't necessarily want them changed if we learn to use them properly, but the opinions seems so varied on the internet that I guess I won't know until I am stuck with them.

bookmack

alanq wrote: »

Sorry, I thought the decision had already been made that you were to move in. If you have yet to commit I understand why you want reassurance before making a decision.

Oh, I see. No, it isn't set in stone, but it looks very likely since the other places around that will fit us are about twice the rent! It is possible something will pop up in that short time, but we will probably have to be very lucky for that to happen.

alanq

bookmack wrote: »

No need to be rude!

Who was that aimed at?

bookmack

alanq wrote: »

Who was that aimed at?

Mr "sniff sniff".