Heating a large space **HELP**

CashStrapped

In addition to the other posts I would recommend that you stop sitting in a cold house.

It is not good for your health nor the health of your property. A cold property is more susceptible to cold and damp which again, is not good for your health.

Is this the first property you have lived in where you have paid the bills?

I remember paying heating bills for the first time and trying to economise to the point where the property was too cold and living could get uncomfortable.

It is not a way to live.

Heating a property is part of owning a property. You have to budget for it and accept it.

Freezing yourself for the difference of a maybe 70p per day (probably less) is not worth it.

Furthermore, have you read my post and the posts of others? You sound as you maybe rushing to choose a heating option without having checked your usage pattern/habits.

You need to work out your usage pattern. If you are out of the property for the majority of the day, storage heaters may not be the best for you. You need to work out what times during the day you most use heating. Only then can you work out what is the most appropriate solution.

With regards to Storage heater sizes, this depends on the size of your room(s). An electrician/heating engineer can do quick calculations to determine the correct size/output heater you should buy.

Discuss with them your requirements and what controls are available. You could even ring one of the storage heater manufactures and they would go through the options.

In summary, only you know your usage and requirements. You can get recommendations on here until the cows come home.

At some point you need to take responsibility for yourself, stop sitting in the cold, do your own research and make a decision.

controversy

fozzledozzle wrote: »

Evening,

I have recently bought a groundfloor one bedroom flat and I am having problems heating the living room up. The flat is electricity only, therefore gas/central heating is not an option.

The room:
6m x 5m = 30 square meters
Floor to ceiling is 10.5 ft
2 large windows approx 7ftx7ft (two of these)

I have spoken to numerous people about numerous solutions (infrared, storage heaters) but I am still not clear about what can help me and which is most efficient.

At them moment, the room has 2 small convector heaters in the corner of the room, they blow hot air out immediately but they are near useless as the hot air rises immediately and has literally no effect on the room even after leaving on for 8hrs straight. I bought an oil filled 'portable' heater which gives off good heat, but is only small and again is near useless.

Can anyone please help me or advise me what the best solution would be.. I am starting to worry about whether or not it is going to be possible to keep the room warm without running up a massive bill.

I am only in the flat 6pm-bedtime through the week and obviously at weekends too. I am planning on ordering thick lined curtains to help keep the cold out/warmth in.

Any help is greatly appreciated - thank you and happy new year!

IF YOU USE THIS METHOD YOU WILL SPEND LESS THAN £1 A DAY ON HEATING YOUR HOME

I use to be in exactly the same situation until I came across the Japanese solution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDDkAMKG5wk

Note: These are incredibly addictive I shall not be blamed for you lounging about

Majority of Japanese people have no central heating what so ever and there houses are relatively warm.

They do this by using a KOTATSU. Its basically a low laying table frame with a infra-red heater underneath it, a blanket over it and a hard wood top.

You know that feeling you get when your freezing cold and get into a hot bath? Well the Japanese feel that all the time and it literally is really good for you because it helps your skin pours breath.

You also should take advantage of those huge windows you have. Get some decent net curtains that stop people seeing though and then create some mylar insulation blinds which can be pulled up in the day time to let warm light though and closed in the night to trap warm air in.

Here is a video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1XxixvcKh0

If you want ultra energy efficiency you should make wooden frames and put as much bubble wrap or insulation inside as possible and then put mylar on both sides. So at night you can seal your windows

If you need to do desk work on the other hand you could do the following. Get a:
1. Heat lamp.
2. Heated Keyboard.
3. Dog Basket Warmer.

This system is created by the admins of Permies.com and it is incredibly efficient.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqJoXyBuxRw

fozzledozzle

CashStrapped, I have lived in rented properties before where I have been accountable for bills. However, this is the first property I have bought and I am/was a 1st time buyer therefore I am trying to be as economical as possible when it comes to bills.


The more responses I read and the more I actually think about my 'habits' as you have highlighted, the more I think perhaps storage heaters aren't going to work for me. I only use the living room 6pm-11pm (maximum) on weeknights and some weekends also.


I live alone, so therefore I am the only person to keep happy - after all I am only going to be in this situation for a few months of the year, 6 months maximum.


Cardew I have taken your advice and have just purchased a Halogen heater, the one that you linked in fact. After reading several reviews the majority of people seem to be happy with the amount of heat it gives off and the job that it does. It was only £12 and after researching they cost 6p/12p/18p depending on what setting to run p/h - so I guess its worth a shot to see if this option suffices.


This is probably going to sound really stupid now, but after a few of you mentioning about how it could be damaging to my health living in a room that is that cold it has got me wondering (I'm a 26 year old lad and we don't tend to think of these things until they're highlighted to us by others!!!!).


However, as the Halogen heaters are used to warm up what ever is in their path (me), I'm guessing it won't have much of an impact on the rest of the room - right ? So therefore even though I am going to be warm, the rest of the room isn't necessarily going to be, is this still a health concern ? Like I said, sounds really stupid but I have received some very helpful advice on here so far and thought it was worth an ask.


Thanks everybody again!

Cardew

This link gives details on health risks of getting cold - obviously older people are more at risk - but at 6C hypothermia is a risk for everyone.


http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/winterhealth/Pages/KeepWarmKeepWell.aspx


Let us know how you find the Halogen heater.

Richie-from-the-Boro

suki1964 wrote: »

6oC? That's madness, it's not even that cold outside

If you are finding it too difficult to warm that room, then decant into a room you can afford to heat

Other ways to warm a room are

Bubble wrap the windows

Hang curtains, you can get cheap ones from charity shops. Who cares what they look like if they do the job. Line them with cheap fleeces pinned to the insides. Keep them closed during the hours of darkness

Get an electic top blanket if you can afford one. Otherwise fleece blankets. My house can be costly to heat so we always have lap blankets ( as do most people I know)

Light candles. Even tea lights can take the chill off a room. Make sure they are in holders away from anything flammable

I find if the temp drops to below 14 in my sitting room, I start falling asleep and have no energy. I can't imagine what sitting in temps lower then that is doing to you

6oC? That's madness, it's not even that cold outside

What 6o °C are you referring to, and posted in which # number where ?

Robin9

6 degrees #14

I don't think its an accurate figure !

Richie-from-the-Boro

Halogen is low up front costs, low running costs and zero maintenance costs. Its instant heat - instant off for solid only objects which reduces waste heat and a good degree of arc for domestic use. Its essentially the sun in a tube. Some like them others find them too bright although you can get short wave ruby and even black ceramic. The IR was was round in British homes in the 60's, I fitted one to my then brand new build bathroom in 1959 and it worked very very well.

Modern versions of the efficient far-infra panels positioned correctly in the centre of the ceiling or directly above seating will travel at 45° and is an excellent workable solution for domestic use, and yes they do eventually heat your sideboard chair etc because they are solids -of course that means your sideboard chair etc are of themselves radiators emitting heat.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Robin9 wrote: »

6 degrees #14

I don't think its an accurate figure !

Thanks for that, #14 does not quote any figure my friend.

Robin9

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Thanks for that, #14 does not quote any figure my friend.

My typo #18 and I still don't believe it

fozzledozzle

Robin9 wrote: »

My typo #18 and I still don't believe it

This is going to sound ridiculous, but here goes...


I have an expensive coat with one of its main features being that it changes colour below 9 degrees, I purposely left said coat in the living room over night and it had fully changed colour over a 24hour period.


I'm laughing myself at how ridiculous that actually sounds but I don't have a thermometer to put on the wall so its the only method I have of giving me some form of idea of how cold it is. That being said, it could be anywhere below 9degrees to change colour..


Regretting writing this already as now you're all going to think I'm a loon!