storage heaters/electric central heating or gas?

robbie_boy

We have just replaced our storage heaters with a new on the market energy efficient electric central heating system its saved us on average 35% on our quarterly heating bill.Not sure if I'm allowed to mention the company that fitted it for us but their web site is rcs-energyefficiency.co.uk

Cardew

robbie_boy wrote: »

We have just replaced our storage heaters with a new on the market energy efficient electric central heating system its saved us on average 35% on our quarterly heating bill.Not sure if I'm allowed to mention the company that fitted it for us but their web site is rcs-energyefficiency.co.uk

Welcome to the forum.

All electrical heating(other than heat pumps) has the same efficiency, it doesn't matter if it is a 2 bar fire or a system costing £thousands.

So unless your electric central heating system is a heat pump system it will give out exactly the same heat as any other system.

anne99

Cardew wrote: »

All electrical heating(other than heat pumps) has the same efficiency, it doesn't matter if it is a 2 bar fire or a system costing £thousands.

So unless your electric central heating system is a heat pump system it will give out exactly the same heat as any other system.

The above is true, but not the whole story. A heating system that is well-controlled so it only heats what you want, when you want it, to the temperature you want, will use less power, and cost less to run, than one where the heaters are on all the time, regardless of whether the house is occupied or whether the weather has become warmer.

Cardew

anne99 wrote: »

The above is true, but not the whole story. A heating system that is well-controlled so it only heats what you want, when you want it, to the temperature you want, will use less power, and cost less to run, than one where the heaters are on all the time, regardless of whether the house is occupied or whether the weather has become warmer.

Virtually every £30 fan heater or oil filled heater has a thermostat. They all can be plugged in via timers(remote control if required) that cost a few pounds.

These electrical CH systems(Kalirel etc) that cost £thousands are marketed as if they have some special qualities('special filling that retains heat' etc) that somehow enable them to produce more heat for your money e.g.

We have just replaced our storage heaters with a new on the market energy efficient electric central heating system its saved us on average 35% on our quarterly heating bill

Their advertising is a disgrace!

robbie_boy

Thanks for your support ann all I wanted to do was try and help others by telling it as it is. I know there are lots of people out there with massive bills from storage heaters like I had. Also looking ahead having done some research I am of the opinion that electricity in this country will be as competitively priced as in France for instance, when we are firmly on the renewable energy trail soon. Therebye creating a huge gulf between fossil fuel prices and renewable energy prices. That is when my newly installed system will come to the fore for me and anyone else considering electrical central heating. France and other european countries have a much larger percentage of elctrical central heating. We in this country still wrongly consider it to be the devil in disguise.

Cardew

robbie_boy wrote: »

Thanks for your support ann all I wanted to do was try and help others by telling it as it is. I know there are lots of people out there with massive bills from storage heaters like I had. Also looking ahead having done some research I am of the opinion that electricity in this country will be as competitively priced as in France for instance, when we are firmly on the renewable energy trail soon. Therebye creating a huge gulf between fossil fuel prices and renewable energy prices. That is when my newly installed system will come to the fore for me and anyone else considering electrical central heating. France and other european countries have a much larger percentage of elctrical central heating. We in this country still wrongly consider it to be the devil in disguise.

If your prediction, that this country will have electricity tariffs like France, come to pass then you will regret having got rid of storage heating.

Have a look at the Tariffs in France:

http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/utilities/electricity/tariff/

In the meanwhile electrical heating in UK by any means(except heat pumps) on a 'daytime' tariff is the most expensive way of heating available.

If you have "just replaced our storage heaters with a new on the market energy efficient electric central heating system its saved us on average 35% on our quarterly heating bill."

How do you know it has saved 35%? let us have some statistics.

The advertising blurb can say anything - absolutely meaningless!

robbie_boy

I know the savings have amounted to 35 % having compared my last quarterly bill with the same period last year. Oh and this year was colder too. It was easy to compare. I just looked at the KWhrs used, oh and the amount debited from my account was different too. How many more statistics would you like.

samtheman1k

robbie_boy wrote: »

I know the savings have amounted to 35 % having compared my last quarterly bill with the same period last year. Oh and this year was colder too. It was easy to compare. I just looked at the KWhrs used, oh and the amount debited from my account was different too. How many more statistics would you like.

Given that electricity is cheaper than this time last year...

KimYe0vil

Cheap electricity?

Proposterous!

Blasted common folk. I shall have to talk to the Chief Executive of Npower!

Cardew

samtheman1k wrote: »

Given that electricity is cheaper than this time last year...

I don't think they are. There was a huge round of price rises for both gas and electricity last July/August/September