Upgrading NSH heaters to smarter units.

Klendathu

I have a 1990s build ground floor one bedroom flat which has been heated by an ancient large Dimplex CXL24 (NSH + convector for boost) in the living room, an ancient smaller Dimplex XL12N (a small NSH) in the hall which serves the hall, the bathroom opposite and keeps the the bedroom and the kitchen at either ends of the hall getting too cold. There is also a Dimplex panel heater in the bedroom which gets an hour use on cold nights 3 months of the year and which is fine.

In terms of heat both of the NSHs have been fine for almost two decades but the convector has died on the living room until and as I've been looking for more controllable heating solutions, I asked my previous electrician for recommendations. He strongly recommended replacing my two NSHs with Rointe panel heaters. A quick google took me to Rointe's website (which is very shiny) then to here so I've discounted these as likely too expensive over the long term. This is also why he is my previous electrician.

My principle irritation with my current storage heaters is the common issue of having to manage them, particularly as the seasons are changing from autumn to winter then winter to spring, open vents, close vents, open vents, close vents etc.

The Dimplex Quantum looks exactly what I'm after given I can program it to heat the flat a little before I get up, then chill out while I'm at work, then heat the flat before I get home from work. I'm having a Quantum unit fitted in the living room in a couple of weeks but I'd also like something small and smart in the hall where I have a 50cm wide 15cm deep unit. My hall is thin at just 90cm wide and getting furniture through is already difficult and the thinnest Quantum is 19.5cm deep and 70cm wide.

So to cut to the chase.. has anybody any experience of a decent programmable smart NSH which is also thin, ~15cm deep??. I've looked at the Dimplex Duo but these units appear designed for a co-ordinated heating system running from a central control panel. My fallback would be a Dimplex XLS12N which is a slightly more automated version of my current hall NSH but I'd like something a little smarter.

modsandmockers

I’m sorry that I cannot answer your specific question, but I am interested in the pros and cons of electric heating, especially in small properties. You seem to be relaxed about switching your heaters on at any time of the day or night. Are you on an Economy 7 meter?

Klendathu

Yes, I moved here in 1996 and it was Economy 7 then and I've been happy with that tariff and the costs for ample heating and hot water ever since. My electricity bill has never exceeded £35/month (averaged annually as usual) which is what it is now with the relatively high industry energy costs.

I have zero tolerance for cold and would much prefer the NSHs take in a little too much heat and not need them than be cold I've just had the 25 year old single pane wooden windows replaced with A rated double glazed UPVC windows so along with smarter NSHs I think I can put a dent in my already low electricity bill. But it all mounts up over the years!

Richie-from-the-Boro

Rointe panel heaters

- Dimplex Quantum, excellent choice
- any thermostat & timer panel heater at £40+ will do as good as Rionte
- an underpowered 1.5W Rointe KRI1430RAD2 costs about £500 and needs to be left on 24/7 for the whole winter on the expensive rate
- a small Quantum QM070 700w storage heater will store 11kW of cheap electricity costs the same £500 and can link to your living room one
- and the small Quantum QM070 comes with a built in 630W panel heater as part of the deal and can link to your living room one

If you like many who come here want the slim thing - pay 6 times the price for the heater unit & installation costs and up to 3 times the price for the electricity to run it on 24 hours a day - best of luck.

Owain_Moneysaver

The smallest Elnur Ecombi is 18 cm deep (and quite a lot cheaper than Dimplex Quantum); the smallest Dimplex Duoheat is 14 cm deep.

(TLC prices exclude VAT and carriage)

Klendathu

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

The smallest Elnur Ecombi is 18 cm deep (and quite a lot cheaper than Dimplex Quantum); the smallest Dimplex Duoheat is 14 cm deep.

Thanks. As I mentioned in my original post, I'm trying to get a storage heater no deeper than 15cm because the hall in which it's locate is thin at 90cm.

I looked at the Dimplex Duoheat but could not, for the life of me, work out from Dimplex's sales blurb what setups it seemed geared for. It appears it's designed as part of a larger distributed network of Duoheat heaters controlled by a central controller.

Can an isolated Duoheat (no controller) be programmed (like the Quantum) to release heat at certain times? If so, that solves my problem. Or would a controller allow me to do this? Dimplex's website seems written for people who already understand storage heaters. Am I wrong?

lstar337

Klendathu wrote: »

Can an isolated Duoheat (no controller) be programmed (like the Quantum) to release heat at certain times? If so, that solves my problem. Or would a controller allow me to do this? Dimplex's website seems written for people who already understand storage heaters. Am I wrong?

No, a Duoheat is more like a basic NSH with a built in convector for use as a top up. It charges up to a preset amount and discharges through a damper.

Only the Quantum and other fan based systems allow a programmable release of heat.

Is there nowhere in the hall that would allow the extra depth?

Depending on your current hot water setup, you may want to look at the Quantum cylinder too. If your current setup is well insulated already then it may not be cost effective.

HappyMJ

Klendathu wrote: »

Thanks. As I mentioned in my original post, I'm trying to get a storage heater no deeper than 15cm because the hall in which it's locate is thin at 90cm.

I looked at the Dimplex Duoheat but could not, for the life of me, work out from Dimplex's sales blurb what setups it seemed geared for. It appears it's designed as part of a larger distributed network of Duoheat heaters controlled by a central controller.

Can an isolated Duoheat (no controller) be programmed (like the Quantum) to release heat at certain times? If so, that solves my problem. Or would a controller allow me to do this? Dimplex's website seems written for people who already understand storage heaters. Am I wrong?

Why heat the hall in any case? I'd put a larger heater in the living room.

Klendathu

lstar337 wrote: »

No, a Duoheat is more like a basic NSH with a built in convector for use as a top up. It charges up to a preset amount and discharges through a damper. ... ... Is there nowhere in the hall that would allow the extra depth? ... ... Depending on your current hot water setup, you may want to look at the Quantum cylinder too. If your current setup is well insulated already then it may not be cost effective

Thanks. I didn't think the Duo did what I wanted. I have an L shaped hall and the heater is centre relative to the adjacent rooms that it stops from getting too cold. If I move it I'll have to have an imbalance of heat in some rooms and less heat in others - in addition to the substantial rewiring work - but thanks for the suggestion.

I've looked at the Quantum heater. I have a five year old Gledhill which seems fine other than my water destroying elements on regular basis. If the whole Quantum tariff thing takes off I'll definitely give it a look. D

Klendathu

HappyMJ wrote: »

Why heat the hall in any case? I'd put a larger heater in the living room.

As I mentioned in my first post, the heater in the hall also heats the bathroom and keeps the kitchen and bedroom from getting too cold. Because hot air does not disperse evenly it would take a massive amount of heat in the living room to permeate the hall then the other rooms and this would likely be incredibly expensive and mean my living was uncomfortably hot.

The two existing heaters seem well placed for heat dispersal given the shape of my flat, it's just my awkward desire to have a more efficient and smart hall unit that is proving difficult.

I may well just have to settle for a Dimplex XLS12N. I'm not married to Dimplex heaters but they've been reliable for me.

Owain_Moneysaver

Klendathu wrote: »

I have a five year old Gledhill which seems fine other than my water destroying elements on regular basis.

You can get elements intended for aggressive water.