Electric heating and hot water

tulipturnip

Hi


I've recently bought a studio flat for myself but it has no heating and a large, copper cylinder for the hot water. I want to install heating and update the hot water system to something more efficient but my options are limited as it's a Grade II listed building, so no gas or solar panels for example.


I'm not keen on storage heaters as I've had them before, so I'm thinking of going for a convection or radiant heater. It's a studio, so it's only for one room with one external wall, but I have fairly high ceilings (297 cm) and a large, single-glazed bay window stretching from floor to ceiling (which I can't afford to get double glazed). I can't seem to figure out whether convection or radiant heaters would be best - any suggestions?


I've been advised different things for the hot water. One plumber suggested getting an unvented cylinder; another said it would be more efficient to get an electric shower and 15 litre instantaneous water heater for the basin and kitchen sink (so no baths with that system). I'm not sure what to believe and can't seem to find the answer online.


Can anyone out there help?


Thanks!

macman

Your most economic choice by far should be to add NSH's to the existing(?) immersion heater (which is already 100% efficient, by the way). Convection or radiant heating makes no difference, it's all 100% efficient. But using either will mean that you will either need to come off E7 (if currently used) and switch to a single rate tariff. That means that your hot water will no longer be heated on cheap rate.
If you fit any form of heating on a single rate tariff, it will increase your heating costs by around 250% over NSH's. Modern NSH's are much more compact and controllable than the older style ones you may be used to.
I'd go with the elctric shower option as well as it gives you a backup option, and probably a stronger shower than one fed by gravity off a hot tank on the same floor.
Finally, it's completely daft to spend thousands on installing heating and then leave a large window without double glazing-the insulation should be the first thing to tackle.

tulipturnip

Thanks a lot for this. You made me reconsider storage heaters so I've had a look at them. But there are still some sites that say they lose heat during the day, when I'd be at work, so are they still worth it if I only have the heating on for 2-3 hours in the morning and then another 2-3 hours from around 7 pm?


I've read different things about convection and radiant heaters. Radiant heaters will warm up objects, but some websites say that will still increase the temperature of the room and others say they won't.


Even if I had a few £000 to double glaze the windows, I probably wouldn't get the necessary permission from the council. I live in a conservation area and I cannot see a single double glazed window. The local authority are notoriously strict on these things.

macman

Secondary glazing? I also live in a conservation area and they don't ban double glazed windows, they just have to be of traditional design appearance.
Yes, NSH's obviously output heat in the day, so are better for people at home all day, but if properly set up it will retain enough heat in the day so you can simply open up the damper when you come home to increase the evening output. It's either that or pay 250-300% more per kWh.
The efficiency of both convectors or radiant heaters is identical (100%): some people 'prefer' one to the other, but that is purely subjective. Neither heats 'better' in any scientifically measurable way.

Cardew

Agree with macman's points about storage heating, but would add that the difference in Economy 7 tariff prices between companies is huge. So it is imperative you choose the correct tariff.