electric central heating

Chrislincs

Hi, For 40yrs we have used storage radiators, and are ok with their idiosyncrasies, - you learn to live with them. We live in a gasless village. We have had solar water panels for over a decade, and they have paid for themselves over and over. Now we have a full set of solar PV panels, too, and love them, too. Now I am wondering about electric wet central heating systems. I am retired, my husband has a degenerative health issue, but are only in our mid 60s. Does anyone know where I can get unbiased advice? We live in a sprawling detached chalet bungalow. Would we get any grants or assistance to do this? Thanks guys. :think:

CashStrapped

Economy 7 with Storage Heaters, if you understand them and used them efficiently (as it seems like you do after having them for 40 years), can be the cheapest electric set-up you can get.

Wet Electric is probably the most expensive as it will use standard rate electricity tariffs. This would be similar to using normal panel heaters.

I have heard of E7 Thermal Store as an option but I do not know enough about this.

Then there are the heat pump options but this requires a lot remedial work to make your house as insulated and air tight as possible to make the system worthwhile and cost effective.

Martyn1981

Hiya Chrislincs, sorry to digress slightly from your original question, but since you heat with leccy anyway, and have PV, you may be interested in this thread:

Discussion ... ASHP(Air/Air) with Solar pv ....

Please note, this is not a solution for winter heating, and isn't aimed at heating a whole property, just a way (potentially) to maximise the benefits of PV by heating 1 (or 2) rooms when PV gen is good(ish) and heating needs are marginal.

The kit costs around £500 plus install, so expect a few hundred more. If you have any issues with over-heating in the summer then the air-con element is an additional benefit, but probably not huge.

Just a thought for top ups, especially on days when you may have underestimated your heating needs from the E7 storage.

Mart.

lstar337

I wouldn't touch wet electric with a barge pole, it's the worst of all worlds.

I would stick with night storage heaters and E7. You could look at modern night storage systems which are better insulated and have a feed in from PV solar meaning they can charge from your own surplus generation. But it is all cost, so if what you have is keeping you warm then maybe you should just stick with it.