Various options for an electric only flat?

whatnext18

Hello


I have been reading up on heating and hot water options for an electric only flat lately.


The flat is double glazed, on the ground floor in a converted block of 4 which was originally built around the 60s (ish. EA has been unhelpful). The floor plan indicates it is around 400 square feet and the external walls should be brick. There is no indication of whether the walls are insulated or not.



It has been mentioned using electric boiler is actually the most expensive way, is that true but would that make the flat warmer compared to other forms of heating?



In my mind an electric boiler is basically gas boiler with different energy source, is that about right? So why is it more expensive than ,say, convection heaters if most electric heating comes with almost 100% efficiency?


I am probably not going to use/get eco 7 tarrif as I do not work regular hours ( a few night shifts per month).


One of the options would be buying new programmable electric radiator (something like Haverland 1400w/ 1100w x2 for my 16.3 sq m living room) and stick with the immersion hot water storage tank that's in the airing cupboard


In order to have easy access to hot water, I'd probably need to keep the tank hot all day which isn't very efficient. Are there other options? It seems like some electric boilers will heat water instantly but is that super expensive?


Thanks

Tom99

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Is there any form of heating at the moment?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]E7 and storage rads will probably be the cheapest option because you are using the cheap elec at night but only releasing the heat when you need it.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Same with hot water. Heat a full tank just before cheap rate ends and providing you tank is well insulated the hot water will last all day.[/FONT]

dogshome

An all Electric flat without an ECO 7 meter is about as EXPENSIVE as it can get, particularly on the ground floor of a conversion where your heat it not just warming your flat, but also the flat above.

With Gas you are useing a 'Raw' fuel that is piped into your home at a cost of around 3 pence per Kwh - The Electric is from a 'Raw' fuel that could well be Gas, that has been burned to power Elec generators and then distributed by wires, giving a cost of around 15 pence per Kwh

whatnext18

Tom99 wrote: »

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Is there any form of heating at the moment?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]E7 and storage rads will probably be the cheapest option because you are using the cheap elec at night but only releasing the heat when you need it.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Same with hot water. Heat a full tank just before cheap rate ends and providing you tank is well insulated the hot water will last all day.[/FONT]

When I viewed the flat, there are some plugged in wall panel ones with thermostats.


I googled the model and they appear to be 1200w convection ones

The brand is winterheat and looks like this


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Winterheat-Electric-Conservatrory-Convector-Heater/dp/B00SVDTPPY

whatnext18

dogshome wrote: »

An all Electric flat without an ECO 7 meter is about as EXPENSIVE as it can get, particularly on the ground floor of a conversion where your heat it not just warming your flat, but also the flat above.

With Gas you are useing a 'Raw' fuel that is piped into your home at a cost of around 3 pence per Kwh - The Electric is from a 'Raw' fuel that could well be Gas, that has been burned to power Elec generators and then distributed by wires, giving a cost of around 15 pence per Kwh

The thing is I don't necessarily use most of my energy overnight during the eco7 hours, so I probably won't benefit from that tariff?

Carrot007

whatnext18 wrote: »

It has been mentioned using electric boiler is actually the most expensive way, is that true but would that make the flat warmer compared to other forms of heating?

Go compare tarrifs and compare price per kwh for electric and gas.



Looking at a random one:


Gas 3.329p

Elec 13.869p


Now you see why!

Carrot007

whatnext18 wrote: »

The thing is I don't necessarily use most of my energy overnight during the eco7 hours, so I probably won't benefit from that tariff?

Best costs electric heating/water will always be storage heaters and a hot water cyclinder heated overnight.


Everything else will be at least tripple the cost.

Tom99

whatnext18 wrote: »

The thing is I don't necessarily use most of my energy overnight during the eco7 hours, so I probably won't benefit from that tariff?

You will if you have storeage rads and a timer on the immersion.

Carrot007

whatnext18 wrote: »

When I viewed the flat, there are some plugged in wall panel ones with thermostats.


I googled the model and they appear to be 1200w convection ones

The brand is winterheat and looks like this


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Winterheat-Electric-Conservatrory-Convector-Heater/dp/B00SVDTPPY

No better than


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electrical-KW-Convector-Heater-Standing/dp/B00755MBH8/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_79_bs_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZHERS7RGPQZKZQD9PJ42

whatnext18

Also, is it needed to have a electrician survey on the wiring conditions?


I don't know much about this stuff but the fuse box looks reasonably modern with the flicker switches as circuit breaker.

whatnext18

Carrot007 wrote: »

Best costs electric heating/water will always be storage heaters and a hot water cyclinder heated overnight.


Everything else will be at least tripple the cost.

I see. I don't know how true it is but the owner is saying it averages out £50 a month with the convection heaters and she works at home.

In that case it is probably not an eco7 tariff? Otherwise it should be more expensive if the main usage is not at night?