Little study - heating it this winter

knightsy

Hi All,

I'm in the fortunate position of running my own business (web design and mobile apps) from the small study in my home. I don't want to run the heating in the house just for the one room, and can 'man up' on trips to the bathroom etc.

My question is, how should I heat this room? The cost of the heater can go through the business so there's a tax and VAT saving there on the upfront cost. I don't mind paying more if there's an elec saving over the years? Lets assume warmth required for 100 days, 8 hours per day.


As a final note, the house is already insulated to the max and we are locked in on a good tariff.

HappyMJ

knightsy wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm in the fortunate position of running my own business (web design and mobile apps) from the small study in my home. I don't want to run the heating in the house just for the one room, and can 'man up' on trips to the bathroom etc.

My question is, how should I heat this room? The cost of the heater can go through the business so there's a tax and VAT saving there on the upfront cost. I don't mind paying more if there's an elec saving over the years? Lets assume warmth required for 100 days, 8 hours per day.


As a final note, the house is already insulated to the max and we are locked in on a good tariff.

Go around the house and turn all the radiators down except this one...it's a hassle but it'll be cheaper using gas than it will be using any electric heater. The boiler will cycle on/off and won't use as much gas keeping one room warm as it would keeping the entire house warm.

macman

Bit of a pain to have to carry out and reverse that process twice a day though?
A cheap £20 convector will be quite adequate to heat a small room like that. Yes, the cost per kWh will be higher than using your gas CH, but not hugely more overall.
Since all electric heaters cost the same to run for the same output, and have the same efficiency, just buy the cheapest.

saveallmymoney

I am in the same situation (mobile apps , home office).

I have an installed heat pump air conditioner, efficiency 4x normal electric heating and keeps me cool in summer.

More expensive capital outlay of course.

Andy_WSM

saveallmymoney wrote: »

I am in the same situation (mobile apps , home office).

I have an installed heat pump air conditioner, efficiency 4x normal electric heating and keeps me cool in summer.

More expensive capital outlay of course.

This is what I've done for my home office too.

Gas boilers really don't like having all the rads except 1 shut down - it makes them short cycle, affects their efficiency and probably causes undue wear & tear on the system. Not to mention the electronics & pump running probably amount to nearly 100W of electricity anyway, which just as well be employed directly in the small room towards heating it!

want_to_save

we have sam situation at home. and my oh works from home and he has bought a little heated mat to put under desk to keep his feet warm and wears a jumper

schrodie

I'm in a similar situation that our box room is my study. I use one of the halogen heaters and the 400W setting is more than adequate to keep the room warm to an extent that I don't need it on the 400W setting for any more than 30mins at a time.

knightsy

I like the idea of the halogen heater combined with the heated mat - do you have an example want_to_save?

macman

Halogen heaters cost no less (or more) to run than any other form of electric heater. 400kW of heat is 400kW, regardless of it's source.
Some people favour these heaters as they believe the heat is more 'directional', but there is no conclusive evidence for this.

HappyMJ

I tend to agree. 400W is the low setting. On a cold day I'd be turning it to the maximum 1200W setting to get any effect from it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Halogen-Heater-1200W-Settings-Affordable/dp/B001IHJ168