Recommendation for Flat Heating

C4Tim

Hi All,

I live in a one-bedroom flat with my wife, on the ground floor of an 'upmarket' apartment-block. The only power source in the flat is electric.

We moved in March this year and only ever put the bathroom radiator on for an hour per day, as in my eyes, it was the only actual radiator in the flat. It is a metal, wall-mounted, towel rack and the other 3 in the flat are small, thin boxes that contain "straw-wielding asthmatics" blowing out warm-air. :rotfl:

Needless to say, we were cold for many periods during the winter-like spring. So now,we are looking for something to heat the flat that is efficient and effective. We've looked at the usual suspects, such as oil-filled radiators, halogen heaters and heating fans but can't make a decision on which would be the best choice.

So, MSE Community, what are your thoughts on the best electric powered heating unit?

Thank you in advance.

lstar337

Switch to E7 and get modern storage heaters fitted. These are the most economical form of electric heating.

C4Tim

lstar337 wrote: »

Switch to E7 and get modern storage heaters fitted. These are the most economical form of electric heating.

We will look into it, thank you

C4Tim

I've just spoken with the landlord and it looks like we will have to stay with the current heating method we have (Electrical Convectors)

Are there any portable heating methods worth considering?

lstar337

C4Tim wrote: »

I've just spoken with the landlord and it looks like we will have to stay with the current heating method we have (Electrical Convectors)

Is this because they are unwilling to fund it?

C4Tim wrote: »

Are there any portable heating methods worth considering?

Yes plenty, but they will not offer any significant improvement over your current convectors. All you can do is supplement your convectors, which must be under rated for your space if you are always cold. This is going to be very expensive on flat rate electric.

Could you post a little more information on the current heating and what you are actually allowed to do?

How is your water heated?

C4Tim

That's a fair bit to think about!

The apartment block was originally designed as a Retirement residential building and as such was fitted out ASAP. There are issues with the apartment that haven't been sorted since the day we moved in. I can't see them putting storage heaters in.

Our water is heated on a timer, once per day, via an immersion heater type-thing. A little vague, I apologise for such

I think the main issue was that when moved in, the flat had been vacant for a period of 6 weeks and was generally very cold. It could have just needed some 'human-heating' and maybe this winter it'll be better.

lstar337

So are you on a single rate service?

Your water heating will be expensive too if that is the case. Have you thought about funding storage heaters yourself?

TBH, you are probably stuck with what you have, and supplementing it with portable heaters. This is going to cost more, butt you'll have to balance that against your personal comfort level.

£30 oil rads from places like Argos or Screwfix will be your best bet.

Think about some heat/power saving measures too.

• Sort out any draughts
• Get thick curtains, or double curtain your windows
• Add thermal blinds
• Check your hot water tank is properly insulated
• Ditch bedroom heaters, and switch to an electric blanket
• Use an electric overblanket when sat in your living area
• Switch to CFL or LED lighting
• Turn off items in standby (I use a remote controlled socket)

Richie-from-the-Boro

Dimplex

- be aware the B,C,D,and E range of the Mk1 are ugly pug ugly,
- the Ti 's are the ones you would expect to see in today's modern homes.

The prefixes are 'T' for timer and 'i' for thermostat, a 'Ti' has both the (1) room temperature thermostat and the (2) 24 hour timer [On / Off in any 15 minute periods] and vary in length from 29 for the 0.75 kWTi to 43 inches for the 1.5 kWTi. The room temperature stat [fitted to each Ti] automatically responds to the air temperature of the room, and provides finer tuned control and comfort than a panel-stat.

Two of these will warm even a big room very quickly, the stat will then kick in and maintain your preffered °C / °F at an economic rate, and switch on and off automatically for you at times that suit you. Example 10 minutes before you get up in the AM or 10 minutes before you get home in the evening etc. Additionally you can see the stat temps and setings etc from across the room and make changes by remote from your armchair. Wall hung or [take with you if you change address] move / wheel from room to room £60 each from here, two tiny supplied wall brackets to mount. I tried this product in its old non-glass form more than a decade ago and can confirm it works as stated. If the property is rented - take them with you. To yourself and others a very good starting point for electric heating type and price is here, scroll down the left from loo to whole house .. .. and Halogen through to ceramic to oil types, the whole menu of alternative type & price.

Radiated is better than convected, convected heat tends to go straight up to the ceiling. Radiated heat is omni-directional, the distribution is linear to surface size. That sounds a dramatic difference, but it isn't, the difference between the floor and ceiling with convected is only an [ish] of 3% unless you live in a completely open plan dwelling, still is better to have that 3% warming your knees than the ceiling rose.