Various options for an electric only flat?

matelodave

The EPC is only a guide and should give you some idea of your energy demand but as always it will be based on a lot of assumption (many of which will be either incorrect or just guesses). The assumptions will be based on averages which may or may not apply in your case.

Unfortunately you wont know how much it'll cost to heat until you've tried it out. There's plenty of info around which can help you do heat loss calculations based on internal and external temperature, the construction and dimensions of your walls, windows, floors etc. but in the end it's how you use it will be the determining factor.

We all heat our houses differently, using different methods of heating and for different periods of time and different temperatures so any info or even advice that you get from the forum will only be based on most people's experience and knowledge.

Rggarding hot water - we heat our tank for just over an hour a day in the mornings before we get up and there's plenty of hot hot water for both of us right round to the next morning. Others, who may be less frugal, could get through a whole tankful just doing their morning ablutions.

AS others have said, E7 leccy is cheaper overnight and more expensive during the day, but if you only heat the place for two hours a day then installing storage heaters wouldn't actually save you money. You need to determine your own heating pattern to decide what would actually fit in with your lifestyle (which may of course change if you get a partner who might feel the cold a lot more than you do).

No one can make the decision for you but just give you some ideas and things to consider.

Scatty

whatnext18 wrote: »

Do you mind me asking how large is your home and how much do you have to pay towards electricity normally?


Thanks

It is open plan small lounge/kitchen and one bed and bathroom upstairs. It's a "quarter house". Without heating it costs me £30 per month on average. With heating add £45-£50 per month and I'm frugal.

whatnext18

matelodave wrote: »

The EPC is only a guide and should give you some idea of your energy demand but as always it will be based on a lot of assumption (many of which will be either incorrect or just guesses). The assumptions will be based on averages which may or may not apply in your case.

Unfortunately you wont know how much it'll cost to heat until you've tried it out. There's plenty of info around which can help you do heat loss calculations based on internal and external temperature, the construction and dimensions of your walls, windows, floors etc. but in the end it's how you use it will be the determining factor.

We all heat our houses differently, using different methods of heating and for different periods of time and different temperatures so any info or even advice that you get from the forum will only be based on most people's experience and knowledge.

Rggarding hot water - we heat our tank for just over an hour a day in the mornings before we get up and there's plenty of hot hot water for both of us right round to the next morning. Others, who may be less frugal, could get through a whole tankful just doing their morning ablutions.

AS others have said, E7 leccy is cheaper overnight and more expensive during the day, but if you only heat the place for two hours a day then installing storage heaters wouldn't actually save you money. You need to determine your own heating pattern to decide what would actually fit in with your lifestyle (which may of course change if you get a partner who might feel the cold a lot more than you do).

No one can make the decision for you but just give you some ideas and things to consider.

Scatty wrote: »

It is open plan small lounge/kitchen and one bed and bathroom upstairs. It's a "quarter house". Without heating it costs me £30 per month on average. With heating add £45-£50 per month and I'm frugal.

Thanks for the estimate. Perhaps your flat's sq ft size is similar/smaller than mine (well depends where you are obviously, i'm in SE so everything is tiny), but the volume of air might be higher because of high ceiling (from what I googled) ?


Either way, I'd have to see my energy usage if and when I move in and make calculations that's not based on modelled figures.


Thanks!

fitzbiscuit

I live in a flat with only electricity available (some people are commenting as if this is a choice, its not always... sometimes a building doesn't have a gas supply) and the last time I switched electricity companies I found most don't offer an Economy 7 style tariff so much of this technology is redundant unless you are prepared to go with a limited choice of companies... and then you can't support greener suppliers or take advantage of the best deals and I was told even they are phasing them out.

Having researched this A LOT over the last two years I am concluding in agreement that the air source heat pump route is the best one if you have a modern'ish' place without any heavy stone walls etc to heat which may benefit from a more radiant heat. It also has the added bonus of possibly adding purifying which can be a bonus in well sealed flats.

Robin9

fitzbiscuit - is air-source actually an option for you ? Would the freeholder give permission ?