economy 7 storage heater replacement options

andyfff

Hi Folks,

I've got 30 year old economy 7 storage heaters as (and a similar age immersion heater) and i'm looking at upgrading. My flats just outside Glasgow, I mention this as I had a green deal survey a few years ago but the scheme closed, so no work was done

The green deal guys who came out advised to keep my old heaters till they fell apart, which will be soon, but surely there must have been some improvements in 30 years?

My heater options seem to be "better" storage heaters and there seem to be many types of them or non-storage heaters which are apparently better as they take advantage of a single energy rate. The companies who sell the non-storage ones state that the day/night rate for storage heaters has quite a high day rate compared to when economy 7 was introduced.

I've done some research but it seems to be all sales based with each company's product being the best choice, very hard to get impartial details on running costs etc.

I could get gas, I think, but its a single bedroom top floor flat so i'm probably stuck with electricity, which is 3 times the price of gas!

Any thoughts would be welcomed

Regards,
Andrew

molerat

The only real advantage of newer storage heaters are that they are a bit prettier and the insulation is a bit better meaning less heat leakage but basically they are exactly the same as 30 year old ones. Non storage heaters "take advantage" of expensive day rate electricity ! The green deal man was correct. Do not believe the hype from the sales literature about "magic metal core" heaters, it is a load of rubbish and has been proven so many times. Replacing a working heater is never going to be cost effective as the small savings will never repay the capital cost and the majority of these old heaters can be repaired cheaply, most parts are still available. Installing gas would be the better option from the comfort point of view as it provides heating on demand. Storage heating is the most cost effective way of heating with electric so don't be swayed by the sales pitches of others.

footyguy

andyfff wrote: »

Hi Folks,

I've got 30 year old economy 7 storage heaters as (and a similar age immersion heater) and i'm looking at upgrading. My flats just outside Glasgow, I mention this as I had a green deal survey a few years ago but the scheme closed, so no work was done

The green deal guys who came out advised to keep my old heaters till they fell apart, which will be soon, but surely there must have been some improvements in 30 years?

My heater options seem to be "better" storage heaters and there seem to be many types of them or non-storage heaters which are apparently better as they take advantage of a single energy rate. The companies who sell the non-storage ones state that the day/night rate for storage heaters has quite a high day rate compared to when economy 7 was introduced.

I've done some research but it seems to be all sales based with each company's product being the best choice, very hard to get impartial details on running costs etc.

I could get gas, I think, but its a single bedroom top floor flat so i'm probably stuck with electricity, which is 3 times the price of gas!

Any thoughts would be welcomed

Regards,
Andrew

Yes, the alternative heating forms that use the peak rate electricity 24/7 is of course an 'advantage' over your current arrangement that uses cheap rate electricity.

I see you've not posted here for 3 years, (and immediately left after making this post in the wee hours of the morning) so perhaps appropriate to remind you that this is MSE, not MWE (MoneyWastingExpert) .

Good luck!

Cardew

As said in post #2. Why 'upgrade'? The only advantage of modern storage heaters is they(allegedly) are better at retaining heat during the day. Both old and new storage heaters produce exactly the same amount of heat for the same running cost. Also they are easy to repair.

The same applies to your immersion heater - what is the purpose of an upgrade? old and new immersion heaters produce exactly the same amount of heat for the same running cost.

I've done some research but it seems to be all sales based with each company's product being the best choice, very hard to get impartial details on running costs etc.

Here is the definitive and impartial detail on running costs of electrical heaters:

'All electrical heaters from a £10 heater from Argos to £1000+ heaters filled with any ingredient known to man, and coated with any other substance, produce EXACTLY the same amount of heat for the same running cost.'

andyfff

Footyguy you are correct, almost. In addition to submitting my own post I also replied to someone else's. It was the wee small hours and the password issues were immense! Quid pro quo?

Thanks for all replies on this :T

cheers!

andyfff

NittyGritty

this may or may not be of help to you, help2heat.direct


depends if your on certain benefits etc, but you could maybe get them replaced free of charge (again assuming you fit the bill) that is, worth a look if nothing else

AndyPK

I just had a leaflet thru my door today about similar things.

Not had chance to investigate further but I see a product made by Fischer.

Looks like a normal double water rad.

https://www.fischerfutureheat.com

Anyone got one ?

molerat

AndyPK wrote: »

I just had a leaflet thru my door today about similar things.

Not had chance to investigate further but I see a product made by Fischer.

Looks like a normal double water rad.

www.fischerfutureheat.com

Anyone got one ?

I believe they are filled with snake oil to store the heat https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3516223

matelodave

molerat wrote: »

I believe they are filled with snake oil to store the heat https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3516223

It's not oil but Magic Fairy Dust in Fischer heaters which are NOT storage heaters whatever Fischer's glossy brochure might suggest.

I recommend that you carefully read the thread that Molerat has highlighted to help you make up your mind

EachPenny

AndyPK wrote: »

I just had a leaflet thru my door today about similar things.
<snip>
Anyone got one ?

Yes, I get them through my door all the time

If I had a traditional fireplace I could burn them to keep me quite warm.

I'd also look where molerat has suggested.

vivatifosi

I bought new storage heaters a couple of years ago to replace my twenty year old ones. Why? One caught on fire, fortunately contained in unit but v scary. Fire Brigade said thermostat had failed.

My new storage heaters are remarkably similar to the old ones, with the exception of the fact that the thermostats are a little better and they have a second thermal cut out for safety. I wouldn't have replaced mine either were it not for the fire.