Storage Heater vs Oil Filled Radiators Advice

horhay0

So my girlfriend and I have just been accepted for a two bedroom apartment in Cambridge. As most old apartment buildings, we have the dreaded storage heaters. Having never used these before but hearing from people how much of a nightmare they can be, I am keen to try some alternatives.

We will be on Economy 7 tariff so our energy will be lower obviously at night. My girlfriend is a nurse working shifts but I work Monday to Friday. In my head, it seems that we would be best off using oil filled radiators in the week as we both won't be around in the day to use the heat from the storage heaters. From looking around, these oil filled radiators come with thermostats these days so I can't see that it will be that expesive to run them for a couple of hours at most in the morning and then through the evening from about 6-10pm. Anyone have any experience with this?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

folks only fear the dreaded storage heaters because of stories they've heard from folks who don't know how to operate them properly.

Your oil filled radiators don't store heat and will be using day rate electricity, maybe 3 times the price of the night rate, and you say you will be using them about 6 hours a day.

Your choice, you'll be paying the bills.

horhay0

Thanks for your reply. I'm willing to try it out, but I'm just wondering if we went into a normal tariff, would it cost us the same to run oil radiators as storage heaters or would it still be more expensive? If we run out of heat, we will need to have something to heat our rooms or we will be frozen waiting for the storage heater to heat up so it just seems better if we can control when we want heat and when we don't want it.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

well, see what I mean about folks not knowing how to operate storage heaters.

I switch mine on when weather starts to get chilly, maybe late October.

I put them on at 2 to start with and then adjust as weather gets colder.

Mine will not be switched off until sometime in May.

Though 'on' they are controlled on a timed circuit and only come on during the E7 cheap rate, and even then depending on your setting are thermostatically controlled, so not 'on' for 7/8 hours.

horhay0

Do you only use storage heaters?

G_M

How is your water heated?

If you have a tank which is also heated up at night, then switching away from E7 will have a major cost impact on water heating as well as space heating.

of course if there's no E7 tank and you get hot water some other way that may not be a consideration.

horhay0

Not 100% sure as I have not been told but the whole place is electric, no gas so how else can it be heated. What about hot water throughout he day. Will it just become cold?

footyguy

horhay0 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. I'm willing to try it out, but I'm just wondering if we went into a normal tariff, would it cost us the same to run oil radiators as storage heaters or would it still be more expensive? If we run out of heat, we will need to have something to heat our rooms or we will be frozen waiting for the storage heater to heat up so it just seems better if we can control when we want heat and when we don't want it.

It depends on the tariff you choose.

Storage heaters are designed to use low cost electricity, so you need a time of use tariff with low cost electyicity (like E7 with a low rate for 7 hours per day)
The indication in difference in cost was given in post#2

If you run out of heat using from storage heaters it will be because In no particular order):
a) the storage heaters are faulty - sop get them seen to
b) the storage heaters are incorrectly sized for the property - unlikely if it is an older property; someone would have sorted that out a long time ago probably.
c) you are not using the heaters correctly (and/or not using them all)
d) It is extemely cold outside (in which vcase you may need supplementary heaters whatever heating you have)

Wouldn't it be better to come home to a nice warm house (heated by NSHs) than sit there shivvering whilst you wait for whatever alternative heaters you plan to use. Ok so you may spalsh out and get heaters with timers included, then you will be using expensive daytime electricity to heat your home when you are not even there.

Not really being in control if you have to set a timer before you leave is it? What happens if you are late back? More wasted, expensive electricity.

And varying the temperature from freezing to warm and back during the day is not good for the home, and may well problems like damp, mould growth, etc.

footyguy

horhay0 wrote: »

Not 100% sure as I have not been told but the whole place is electric, no gas so how else can it be heated. What about hot water throughout he day. Will it just become cold?

You accepted a property and are not sure what heating/hot water is available or have not yet seen the energy performance certificate for it??? :eek:

Good luck!

horhay0

Thanks for your detailed replies. And for your last one, as I said, this is our first time to move somewhere and pay bills.

G_M

horhay0 wrote: »

Not 100% sure as I have not been told but the whole place is electric, no gas so how else can it be heated. What about hot water throughout he day. Will it just become cold?

Did you not look round the flat before taking it? Did you not notice a cupboard with a tank in it? Most E7 flats would use the same cheap electricity at night to heat a tank of water. Nowadays these tanks are well insulated and the water will stay hot all day.

In fact I heat my tank once every 3 or 4 days. Day one shower water is too hot so needs cold mixing in; day 2 the shower temp is perfect. Day 3 it's ....a bit bracing (esp in winter)! Day 4 I heat it again. Having said that I doubled up the insulation by spending £10 at B&Q.

Of course if 2 of you are each having big long soaks in baths, then a tank won't last more than a day.

The alternative is an electric shower, but this would use high-cost day-time electricity so is less likely in an E7 flat. The whole point of it is to maximise night-time use and minimise day-time use. Tip - buy a cheap time-switch and set it to run your washing machine at night. At least until the neighbours complain about the spin noise.......