Electric heating or gas central heating?

pinklady21

If you go to view a flat, and the owner is there, why not ask how much they pay for electricity? Ask to see a bill?
Ask them how much they use the heating etc etc etc.

Bottom line is, if you like the property, and it works for you in all other respects - area, layout, size, price is right etc etc, you can probably change the heating later on, either replacing any storage heaters with either more modern ones, or panel heaters with timers, or if there is a gas supply installing gas central heating.

You may also be able to boost the insulation, depending on what type of construction. As a builder once told me, "the cheapest way to heat your house is to insulate it properly!"

It is impossible to say what would be the best option, as so much depends on the property and what your needs are. It really is up to you!

Best of luck!

kirstym100

I live in a 2 bed ground floor flat, with all electricity, including underfloor heating in the bathroom, some slim panel radiators, an electric radiator in the lounge and an oil-filled portable radiator to top-up with when really cold. I have economy 7, and heat water early in the morning and put the washing machine on at 6.30am. My annual bill is around £900 all in.

DepositSaver

HappyMJ wrote: »

No you'll get it much less than that. There is no way a 1 bedroom flat would use that much electricity...unless you leave the heating on all day and all night when you aren't in. How many hours are you home and awake? How warm do you like it? You can install timers on electric heaters so that can turn them on a half hour before you get home so the place isn't freezing on your return home. You don't need much heat at night. An oil filled heater on low will prevent your bedroom from getting too cold and an electric blanket will keep you warm all night.

Thanks for the reassurance! Monday to Friday I'm awake from 6.45am and leave for work at 8am, I get home at about 6pm and in bed 11ish. Some weekends I'm around during the day, others I'm out, and I'm away for the whole weekend every couple of months, so I certainly wouldn't have the heating on an excessive amount. I don't want to freeze but don't like it too warm, thermostat in my current house is on 22 as I have 2 housemates who like being warm, and by the time I go to bed I'm too warm. So it seems as if electric heating, while not the cheapest also wouldn't bankrupt me!

DepositSaver

pinklady21 wrote: »

If you go to view a flat, and the owner is there, why not ask how much they pay for electricity? Ask to see a bill?
Ask them how much they use the heating etc etc etc.

Bottom line is, if you like the property, and it works for you in all other respects - area, layout, size, price is right etc etc, you can probably change the heating later on, either replacing any storage heaters with either more modern ones, or panel heaters with timers, or if there is a gas supply installing gas central heating.

You may also be able to boost the insulation, depending on what type of construction. As a builder once told me, "the cheapest way to heat your house is to insulate it properly!"

It is impossible to say what would be the best option, as so much depends on the property and what your needs are. It really is up to you!

Best of luck!

I plan to ask them how much they pay and about their heating habits, and you're right that heating can probably be changed later. I need to remember that when viewing and not get too hung up on the heating!

Thank you for the luck!

Swizzle1066

I've just recently moved out of my 1 bed flat, but my heating was probably £65 per month on average. This was for underfloor heating downstairs (about 40m2) and in the bathroom, plus a panel heater in the bedroom.

When I got the underfloor heating I made sure I put good quality insulation in though to get my moneys worth.

hootie10

Hello,

I'm a first time user to this forum and realise that this thread was active last year, but I still hoped that someone here may be able to help me.

My daughter is about to purchase her first house, one-bedroom, which currently has storage heaters. I've suggested that she upgrades to GCH which would also mean paying the cost of getting gas into the property, around £600. I then came across a website that sells Haverland Designer RCWave electric radiators, which appear to receive good reviews, but wondered if anyone here has had any experience of using them. Any comments/feedback would be welcome.