electric storage heater alternatives

muntarmadness

Hi,

We have just moved into a second floor flat inside a brand new 4 floor building (5 incl the basement). The flat is heated by electric storage heaters which we are not keen on using as from past experience and in general, are are expensive to run.

I was wondering if anyone could advise me on alternative sources of heating. Currently we are looking at Calor portable gas heaters which seem good value for money (£100 will get you a 15kg gas heater, which I imagine, on a low setting will last quite a long time) Are they actually worth it and how safe are they?
I've read our tenancy agreement which doesn't state we cant use them, only ensure they are safe to use by a qualified engineer.

Are there any other efficient alternatives, apart from putting on an extra jumper? paraffin heater/ oil filled radiators?

apologies if this has been asked elsewhere but i couldnt find anything

Richie-from-the-Boro

muntarmadness wrote: »

Hi,

We have just moved into a second floor flat inside a brand new 4 floor building (5 incl the basement). The flat is heated by electric storage heaters which we are not keen on using as from past experience and in general, are are expensive to run.

I was wondering if anyone could advise me on alternative sources of heating. Currently we are looking at Calor portable gas heaters which seem good value for money (£100 will get you a 15kg gas heater, which I imagine, on a low setting will last quite a long time) Are they actually worth it and how safe are they?
I've read our tenancy agreement which doesn't state we cant use them, only ensure they are safe to use by a qualified engineer.

Are there any other efficient alternatives, apart from putting on an extra jumper? paraffin heater/ oil filled radiators?

apologies if this has been asked elsewhere but i couldnt find anything

Gas fired central heating about £4-6k if its allowed, or stay with an E7 tariff & night store space & water heating.

lstar337

muntarmadness wrote: »

Hi,

We have just moved into a second floor flat inside a brand new 4 floor building (5 incl the basement). The flat is heated by electric storage heaters which we are not keen on using as from past experience and in general, are are expensive to run.

Not really, almost as cheap as Gas. Unless you get gas, there isn't anything cheaper.

muntarmadness wrote: »

Currently we are looking at Calor portable gas heaters which seem good value for money (£100 will get you a 15kg gas heater, which I imagine, on a low setting will last quite a long time) Are they actually worth it and how safe are they?

Bottled gas will be very expensive compared to night storage, plus what is going to heat your water?

muntarmadness wrote: »

Are there any other efficient alternatives, apart from putting on an extra jumper?

This is very cheap, and good MSE!

muntarmadness wrote: »

paraffin heater

Expensive, like bottled gas.

muntarmadness wrote: »

oil filled radiators?

Roughly 3x the cost of night storage unless you drop E7, then it'll be around 2x, but how will you heat your water?

muntarmadness wrote: »

apologies if this has been asked elsewhere but i couldnt find anything

Really? Shows how much this forum needs a Sticky!!

Seriously, stick with the night storage. So long as it has been specified correctly and you know how to use it, it will be cheap and warm all through winter.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I wouldn't have calor gas portable heater nor paraffin, potential condensation problems.

Oil filled heaters would have to be run on the more expensive day rate.

If it's a brand new flat it should be pretty well insulated, with modern storage heaters.

Folks complain about the cost of electric storage heaters because they don't know how to use them properly.

I put mine on at 1 the first night when weather gets chilly, to get the feel of things the next day, and up to 2 the next night if needing more heat.

I adjust up and down as winter really sets in, depending on weather forecast for next day.

I'm usually up about 5ish in the morning, so if I think I'll need more heat for the day I will turn them up then as there is still about two hours of cheap rate still to go.

I never open the output flap, which helps to keep heat in, so if you do, always close at bedtime or when going out to work in the morning.

What tariff are you on, E7, Comfort Pus, Comfort Plus Control, as some of them get a couple of boosts during the day.

Apologises this doesn't answer your question for efficient alternatives, but you haven't tried the heaters yet, so don't really know the cost, maybe your previous experience was in an old draughty house with old heaters.

If you do decide to try them take a weekly meter reading and keep an eye on running costs.

macman

E7 is 'expensive to run' compared to what?
Oil filled rads, or any other form of heating running on peak rate E7 electricity, will cost you at least 300% more than E7 cheap rate,so I really don't think you've thought this through.

Cardew

Agree with the above posts.
It is most important that you carefully select the company and Economy 7 tariff; there is a huge discrepancy in the tariffs on offer.

ChumpusRex

Bottled gas heaters and paraffin heaters are unsuitable for home use, because of the very high risk of carbon monoxide production, as well as condensation and high cost of fuel. Most flats will have covenants in the lease strictly forbidding the use of such appliances.

You already have the best and cheapest heating system installed. Be grateful for that, and the fact that the builder didn't install an electric wet radiator system, which is a common occurrence these days, and an absolute economic disaster area.

Richie-from-the-Boro

muntarmadness wrote: »

Hi,

We have just moved into a second floor flat inside a brand new 4 floor building (5 incl the basement). The flat is heated by electric storage heaters which we are not keen on using as from past experience and in general, are are expensive to run.

I was wondering if anyone could advise me on alternative sources of heating. Currently we are looking at Calor portable gas heaters which seem good value for money (£100 will get you a 15kg gas heater, which I imagine, on a low setting will last quite a long time) Are they actually worth it and how safe are they?
I've read our tenancy agreement which doesn't state we cant use them, only ensure they are safe to use by a qualified engineer.

Are there any other efficient alternatives, apart from putting on an extra jumper? paraffin heater/ oil filled radiators?

apologies if this has been asked elsewhere but I couldn't find anything

15kg is the weight of the gas in the bottle and has little to do with its output in BTU terms nor its controllability. Your new build if you look at your EPC will be graded at least a C and maybe a B which means in paraffin or calor terms it will be of a good airtightness and draft proofing standard, calor will produce an average of 8 pints of moisture from an average sized bottle. You will need to spend much more than any savings you make powering an expensive dehumidifier to get rid of that quantity of moisture or ........... leave windows open always.

If you need to make savings go to the A + B standard A being your living area use of the night store heater to keep a 19-21°C and its accompanying E7 150 litres of cheap insulated water for hygiene etc. Fit panel radiators in areas B to provide occasional as and when needed extra heat. Best of luck.