storage heaters/electric central heating or gas?

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

btb

Hi All
New to the forum as I'm after advice as for the first time I am taking over a property that only has electicity for heating/cooking. Have tried to wade through this enormous and obviously knowledgable thread but am suffering from information overload. I have to confess that once it got on to technical numbers and figures I was beaten :doh: However, could I have some confirmation , or otherwise, if the summary below is about right?
1) E7 storage heaters are the most cost effective method of heating
2) modern storage heaters are more efficient than older storage heaters
3) any type of daytime/peak time heater is no more/less thermally efficient than any other type - i.e. all will throw out the same amount of heat for the same amount of electricity units used
4) no type of 'peak time' heater is going to have more economic running costs than any other type
5) given points 3&4 being correct, it is only personal preference as to which type of 'peak time' heater to install for 'top up', there being no advantage of any one type against another except for initial purchase cost
6)'wet' ECH systems are not as cost efficient (like output for like output) as SH's, but do give a more 'instant switch' on option.
7)ASHP are effective in some situations but are an expensive initial purchase option. Assuming you know what they are and how they work (which i'm not sure I do !)

The potential setup 2 bed smallish flat, living room/kitchen, bathroom and hall way. All rooms heated by SH's, at a guess approx 10 yrs old. Current occupant openly describes it as a 'cold flat'. North east coast and gets a lot of onshore wind.

Any input regarding the above appreciated, helpful suggestions as to alterations or improvements welcomed.

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

btb wrote: »

Hi All
New to the forum as I'm after advice as for the first time I am taking over a property that only has electicity for heating/cooking. Have tried to wade through this enormous and obviously knowledgable thread but am suffering from information overload. I have to confess that once it got on to technical numbers and figures I was beaten :doh: However, could I have some confirmation , or otherwise, if the summary below is about right?

1) E7 storage heaters are the most cost effective method of heating

Storage heaters cost less to produce heat only because the electricity they use is cheaper.That doesn't mean they are always more cost effective.

The problem is they 'leak' heat during the night and during the day, so often this heat is wasted.

Also when you have an Economy 7 tariff you pay more for the rest of your daytime electricity.

2) modern storage heaters are more efficient than older storage heaters

Only that they are reputed to leak less heat - they are no more efficient at producing heat
3) any type of daytime/peak time heater is no more/less thermally efficient than any other type - i.e. all will throw out the same amount of heat for the same amount of electricity units used

correct - excluding heat pumps of course.

4) no type of 'peak time' heater is going to have more economic running costs than any other type

The proponents of ECH will argue that a more controllable system will be more economic. IMO any advantage will be marginal.

5) given points 3&4 being correct, it is only personal preference as to which type of 'peak time' heater to install for 'top up', there being no advantage of any one type against another except for initial purchase cost

Agreed - a £30 fan heater or oil filled rad will top up.

6)'wet' ECH systems are not as cost efficient (like output for like output) as SH's, but do give a more 'instant switch' on option.

SH's can also supply a wet CH system(and is generally the prefered system) A SH with a heat store will produce 'instant heat' but SH's run at a lower temperature. A conventional ECH can run at much higher temperatures - albeit that a heat store can be boosted by an immersion heater.
7)ASHP are effective in some situations but are an expensive initial purchase option. Assuming you know what they are and how they work (which i'm not sure I do !)

ASHPs can blow warm air or heat water for radiators - the latter system being more expensive to install.

The potential setup 2 bed smallish flat, living room/kitchen, bathroom and hall way. All rooms heated by SH's, at a guess approx 10 yrs old. Current occupant openly describes it as a 'cold flat'. North east coast and gets a lot of onshore wind.

Any input regarding the above appreciated, helpful suggestions as to alterations or improvements welcomed.

My suggestion would be to initially try storage heating topped up with a cheap heater and see how you get on - some hate SHs, few love them, but some find them tolerable.

If you find them unsuitable, it is a compromise between cheap heaters with low installation costs and high running costs or high installation costs of a ASHP system with much lower running costs. The latter choice will enhance the value of your property.

The worst scenario is a ECH system with high installation costs and high running costs.

btb

Thanks Cardew for the prompt and helpful reply. I will look more closely at various points now. Cheers.
btb

Celinelj

Hi there,

I have been reading the threads but am getting quite confused - there seem to be quite a few experts out there but I'm still a bit confused.

I live in a two bedroom, well-insulated flat. We currently have hot air heaters, but they have broken down and are expensive to fix and noisy to use. Our electricity bill is very high (about 200 per month in the winter...), and I would say we are fairly frugal with electricity....although with a young baby, during the winter we left the air blowers on all night....We only have electricity (no gas). I wondered whether someone can advise me....can we install central heating when we only have electricity? And if so would that be a better option than storage heaters? We are looking mainly for morning and evening heat but I have a young child and sometimes work from home so now and then daytime heat would also be necessary.

Very grateful for any advise!

newhouse210709

Gas Central Heating, In My Opinion...

I've just completed the purchase of my first house, today. The place has no central heating. Just these storage heaters. I'm going in first thing tomorrow to pull them out - then all 5 of them will hit ebay / freecycle, assuming I haven't rippped them to shreds in the process...

I've looked into the whole debate, and I'm more than convinced by the gas CH argument - hopefully I'll be getting it installed within a week. As a single guy living on my own it'll be handy to have a combi-boiler as my hot water and heating usage will be sporadic (I'm a shift worker). My parents have a similar system in their place, and its great not worrying about the availability of hot water, as it is "on-demand"...

My only decisions now are -

a) who to get to fit it - British Gas have an offer on just now - £400 off a boiler, £250 odd worth of special rad valves and a years "home care" for free. I'll be getting a few quotes though.
b) can I afford to chuck in an ensuite in one of the bedrooms (could come in handy if i ever need to rent a room).

Also, the benefit of putting the gas CH in means I can get a decent shower put in too!

Yeah - its gonna cost £4-5k, but I reckon it'll add at least that to the property value anyway, especially if I can stretch to that 2nd bathroom...

theboy1263

hi have read your messages regarding electric heaters, ive converted my garage into a games room for my children, i asked my mains gas supplier about extending supply to the games room for a mini bolier but my meter/regulator is not up to it and the said im looking a t £1000's to upgrade it. so it looks like im stuck with electric heaters, i dont need the rooms heated constantly we can heat the room just befor/whilst the children use it. can you advise me on the type of electric heaters i should use, [the games room is very well insulated]there ar so many different types of heater i need the most energy efficient and cost effective ones i can find, many thanks paul

mutualcyclops

Hi all,

I've literally just moved into a house, 2 bed, with an unconventional heating system. It has a wood burning stove with a back boiler, that only runs 2/3 rads and the hot water (with optional immersion heater), the other sources of heating in the other rooms are oil filled panel rads (approx 600x600mm) 5 in total.

My actually question is, what do you think is the best supplier/tariff to go on? I know its basic but I've never moved out before and am totally green. I ve read the whole thread, but I like to see things in black and white. There are three of us well nearly (baby due in Nov) I'm at work 9-5 but she will be at home all day. I also like my electrical stuff i.e PC, PS3 and TV. The house is well insulated.

I thank you in advance.

amtrakuk

theboy1263 wrote: »

hi have read your messages regarding electric heaters, ive converted my garage into a games room for my children, i asked my mains gas supplier about extending supply to the games room for a mini bolier but my meter/regulator is not up to it and the said im looking a t £1000's to upgrade it. so it looks like im stuck with electric heaters, i dont need the rooms heated constantly we can heat the room just befor/whilst the children use it. can you advise me on the type of electric heaters i should use, [the games room is very well insulated]there ar so many different types of heater i need the most energy efficient and cost effective ones i can find, many thanks paul

If you want quick bursts of heat I'd look for a convection heater (cheap argos ones do well). They produce alot of heat and nearnough instantly. a £35, 2Kw one will prob do for most applications. Also for kids, they wont burn their hands like they may do with an oil filled radiator. Quite importantly look for one with a thermostat on it so it stops heating when the room is upto heat.

Oil filled radiators take an age in compraison to start to produce heat, however they produce a more cozy heat.

Maybe worth buying one from argos as if you dont like it you can return it, excuding ones marked with the excemption.

Just one thing to consider. Don't get drawn in by the "This is electric heater is more economical to run". All electric heating systems are 100% efficient. A fancy 2Kw designer oil filled radiator will produce exactly the same amount of heat as a 2Kw convector heater.