New flat-can only install electric heaters

spiritus

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

Electric heating is pretty much the most expensive way to heat a room, but if the OP is stuck with electricity then a panel heater is no more or less efficient than any other type of electric heater.

A point that seems to be lost on lstar


I am aware of storage heaters but there they are not necessarily more efficient and require a higher degree of "management".

ChumpusRex

spiritus wrote: »

A point that seems to be lost on lstar

LStar is correct.

All electric panel heaters/convector heaters have the same efficiency, and only marginal differences in efficacy and cost to operate.

Night storage heaters are dramatically cheaper on an E7 tariff - even if you take into account, a lower efficacy - you could expect to cut heating costs almost in half, compared to panel heaters. Moreover, you will also save on hot water costs with an E7 tariff, but an E7 tariff is unlikely to be satisfactory without NSH. In general, modern storage heaters need no real management. You just set the "background" and "temperature" settings.

Heat pumps are also vastly cheaper to fuel than panel heaters, as their coefficient of performance is typically 3-4. i.e. you get 3-4 kWh of heat for each kWh of electricity put in.

Panel/convector heaters/wet central heating on a single-rate tariff should be regarded as the worst possible option, and used only where no other heating system is suitable.

macman

OP has not given the most basic info, including what the existing metering arrangement is, or what the hot water system is (if any). Even if it's single rate metering, a one-off cost of about £60 for a switch to a dual rate meter would be recovered in a matter of months with the savings of being on an E7 tariff with NSH's and an immersion heater. Otherwise the cost of heating and hot water will be around 300% higher.

lstar337

spiritus wrote: »

A point that seems to be lost on lstar

Really?

spiritus wrote: »

I am aware of storage heaters but there they are not necessarily more efficient and require a higher degree of "management".

Not true.

They are 100% efficient, but they use electricity that costs a third of the price. They convert that cheaper electricity into heat and store it for the next day. They are not (always) as controllable (Some newer ones have good controls) as direct electric heating, but they do cost up to a third less to run.

I was trying to be helpful.

lstar337

ChumpusRex wrote: »

LStar is correct.

All electric panel heaters/convector heaters have the same efficiency, and only marginal differences in efficacy and cost to operate.

Night storage heaters are dramatically cheaper on an E7 tariff - even if you take into account, a lower efficacy - you could expect to cut heating costs almost in half, compared to panel heaters. Moreover, you will also save on hot water costs with an E7 tariff, but an E7 tariff is unlikely to be satisfactory without NSH. In general, modern storage heaters need no real management. You just set the "background" and "temperature" settings.

Heat pumps are also vastly cheaper to fuel than panel heaters, as their coefficient of performance is typically 3-4. i.e. you get 3-4 kWh of heat for each kWh of electricity put in.

Panel/convector heaters/wet central heating on a single-rate tariff should be regarded as the worst possible option, and used only where no other heating system is suitable.

Very good sum-up there. :T

stator

spiritus wrote: »

Do you mean electric, oil filled radiators or electric convector heaters ?

Personally I would go for oil filled, convector heaters and fan heaters give a nasty burnt dust smell and make it seem like the air is dried out. Oil filled is slower but gives a more comfortable feeling.

lstar337

macman wrote: »

OP has not given the most basic info, including what the existing metering arrangement is, or what the hot water system is (if any). Even if it's single rate metering, a one-off cost of about £60 for a switch to a dual rate meter would be recovered in a matter of months with the savings of being on an E7 tariff with NSH's and an immersion heater. Otherwise the cost of heating and hot water will be around 300% higher.

Not only lacking info, but dismissing perfectly good advice for no real reason.

What do we know eh? :rotfl:

lstar337

stator wrote: »

Personally I would go for oil filled, convector heaters and fan heaters give a nasty burnt dust smell and make it seem like the air is dried out. Oil filled is slower but gives a more comfortable feeling.

I agree. If you MUST have direct electric heating, I would choose oil filled every time. Make sure it has a timer and thermostat built in.

Cardew

ChumpusRex wrote: »

Heat pumps are also vastly cheaper to fuel than panel heaters, as their coefficient of performance is typically 3-4. i.e. you get 3-4 kWh of heat for each kWh of electricity put in.

As the OP lives in a flat the noise problem would probably preclude their use.

For a 'tiny' flat the capital cost of a heat pump system would take many years to recover.

lstar337

Cardew wrote: »

As the OP lives in a flat the noise problem would probably preclude their use.

I don't totally disagree with you, but the flat I used to live in was situated above a bank and had 5 units mounted on the back wall below the bedroom window. I'm not saying I liked it, but even with leaky old sash windows I cant say the noise was ever a problem and I am a very light sleeper.

Cardew wrote: »

For a 'tiny' flat the capital cost of a heat pump system would take many years to recover.

We have had systems fitted at work for £1500 quid (single indoor/outdoor) which for a small flat might be enough.

Storage heaters (depending on how many) would also be a big capitol cost.

The only 'cheap' install option is probably panel heaters, but then you are stuck with high running cost. If you are going to be there a while, higher capitol cost might be worth it.

Personally, I would avoid panel heaters like the plague!