How to set up my new home

Ruby789

Hi all,

I'm not sure if I'm on the right board, but I hope so. I've had an offer accepted on a flat and I'm going through the buying process. It needs some modernisation, including updating the heating and water storage. It's all electric (I have no choice about this). The EA said he would have got more for it if it had been more modern (it's a 90's build, but hasn't had any improvements made).

I have no experience of electric only living, so don't know what's actually considered good, and what improvements would be worth my while over a shortish time-frame - I plan to stay 5-7 years then sell on.

It has:
- A 20 year old storage heater to the living room
- A small heated towel rail to the bathroom (newish)
- An immersion water tank in the cupboard (not insulated, 20 years old)
- 150mm insulation in the loft
- double glazing throughout
The bedroom, hallway and kitchen have no heating.

I'm thinking:
- Change the storage heater to a Dimplex Quantum
- Get a Dimplex Q-rad for the bedroom
- Update the water tank to a dual immersion cylinder (and get a jacket for it)
- Draft excluders on all doors and windows (if they need it)
- Leave the kitchen and hallway un-heated??

Maybe list:
- Top up the insulation in the loft to 270mm (will I move out before it pays for itself?)

Worries and doubts:
- Technology moves on so fast.
- Storage heating seems to be tolerated (but not loved) in internet land.
- Economy 7, is this here to stay with all the plant closures?

I want a nice, comfortable home, with reasonable energy bills. However, some consideration that it's not my forever home is probably sensible.

Many thanks for any comments and advice.

Richie-from-the-Boro

- 20 year old storage heater has about 40 years life left in it
- uninsulated immersion water tank is wrong, it should be a PartL spec for your heating system
- - PartL has been around since the early 80's
- - PartL has double the insulation efficiency of ordinary water insulated cylinders
- E7 is here to stay forever ..................
- 5-7 years then sell on, you decide, Quantum is excellent but you will not recoup in 5-7 years

Photograph and record the meter readings. You will be on a deemed contract when you move in. Get your own cheapest E7 supply contract, DD, you supply readings, e-account etc.

Ruby789

Thanks Richie! Very helpful.

footyguy

Ruby789 wrote: »

...
- Economy 7, is this here to stay with all the plant closures?
....

Economy 7 has been around for almost 40 years and before that there were dual (or triple) rate tariffs now referred to as legacy tariffs. I don't see E7 ending anytime soon. I don't know what plant closures you are thinking of, or more importantly how you think it would affect the avialability of the E7 tariff?

In fact, what you may see in the future as smart meters become more widespread, is the introduction by suppliers of many more 'time of use' tariffs.

JJ_Egan

Apart from getting on cheaper tariffs i would do nothing .
Wait until you see during the winter what the heat and bills are like .

Most home buyers i see just rip out the old stuff even if that was ripped out by a buyer 2 years ago .

Richie-from-the-Boro

I predicted on this forum many many years ago TOU distributing power to E7 systems providing excess / wasted UK power such as wind intelligently via 'smarts' providing megga-watts of energy storage security to the UK GOV. I still wait for the GOV to force the industry to accomodate both the householder and the UK's energy security needs. It is going to happen .... one day ...... it should have been a decade ago - get on with it GOV.

Ruby789

footyguy wrote: »

I don't know what plant closures you are thinking of, or more importantly how you think it would affect the avialability of the E7 tariff?

I got that idea from here: http://www.thegreenage.co.uk/storage-heaters-still-place-home/ The update right at the top.

This site came up several times in my search to understand electric heating.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Greenage, as the name suggests are just one more pusher / lobbyist / seller of things green pushing individuals into solar and windy-mills. Clue less and ignorant of facts.

E7 is without exception the cheapest form of electric heating for millions who do not have any alternative energy supply for their dwelling. Their claim that 'storage heating' is not a green contributor is equally wrong. Quantum already mentioned in this thread is an agreed 'green' standard.

Not everyone has a spare £6k to invest in replacing an existing perfectly working E7 system for an excellent Quantum.

Ruby789

Thanks again. I will admit, I got all confused by all the different options and companies pushing their miracle products. Along with the horror stories of astronomical bills and still being cold all the time.

Which is completely DAFT in hindsight. I think the horror stories are very old storage heaters in leaky properties. As JJ Egan says, see what its really like before solving problems I don't know I have.

Richie-from-the-Boro

A tin can holds bricks. Each brick store's x-kW of energy, from 9 to 16 bricks per can. This heat is roughly 80℅ radiated (good) and 30% (bad) convected if the 'damper' is fully closed. They have a maintenance free lifetime equivalency similar to a human being. If on either a modern or a 40 year old NSH heater the damper' is closed and good fit the [almost all]. heat released is radiated and not wasted in convection, you will get the most from your E7-£.

It's only in very recent social historic fact that a complete NSHS heating system install or replacement was available completely FOC. Most NS is social housing, high rise, or off grid, and by far the most economically efficient for an all electric dwelling of which there are millions of domestic users who have no economic alternative, conning the poor into borrowing £8k over 20 years at an astronomic interest rate into an unessesary replacement system is good for GOV, employment figures and profits of the business and banking industry - but very little if any for those who 'drink the marketeers oil'.

Insulation, stopping the cold coming in or expensive heat going out is a much better 1st use of money. Best of luck.

Ruby789

Thanks Richie

Will do.