Replacement for storage heater?

Tomc

Hi all.
I live in a flat and want to replace the storage heater in my sitting room. The size of the heater would be considered a double and is now about 25 years old and costing a fortune to run. I am currently with Eon on their 'Economy 10' equivalenttarrif as apparently they stopped the economy 10 and i am on the next closest thing.
This single heater, only using economy hours electricity has started to cost me about £100 for a month to have on, or so Eon reckon...
Anyhow I am looking for a heater that would work perhaps with the cheaper rate electricity and would be hopefully be economical.
Other suggestions gratefully welcomed.
Kinds regards
Tom

Robin9

Where does the £100 a month come from ? If its from your last bill is the bill based on Estimated or Actual readings.

A 3.75 kw heater will charge up in a couple of hours and perhaps a further haour in the afternoon boost - 3 hours at 3.75 at say 12p = £1.35 a day = £40 a month.

Old does not mean inefficient.

Read your meters this evening and again tomorrow evening and let us know the readings.

Tomc

Thanks for that. I will give it a day or so as had the heater off today. Will put it on tonight. Will take a reading tomorrow eve and then the following.
Cheers ��
T.

Le_Kirk

If it is a storage radiator, remember it works by building up heat in its internal bricks. If you turn it off and leave it for a day or two, it takes time to build up the heat in the bricks again. Before you decide about replacing it, check that it is actually using the OFF PEAK electricity. If you are going to replace it, check out the latest versions which have temperature sensors so that it only inputs enough heat into the bricks to maintain a good output through the day. Without the sensor, it just keeps going all through the night (or for the whole OFF PEAK period and you might be wasting heat if it is a warm day.

Jameri

Thanks for that.

Tomc

Thanks very much for that. Yes it's only on the economy electricity. Only switched it off for one day, but it's up and running again .
It's a long story with Eon as they had mid last year sent me a quarterly bill for over £750 which they claimed was catchup from previous . I paid them to have my meter checked which they said was ok ( i thought someone might have been leeching my electricity!). I had gone to ombudsman who determined that eon were at fault for not taking readings and i received an apology and a small rebate that worked out to £25 .
Subsequently readings given to Eon suggested that the heater might be using £100 electricity a month therefore I will supply readings to the kind other replier and see what comes of it. eon never made it easy with their explanations to me when they talk about kilowatt hours etc. which left me a bit confused.
Anyway paid them what they said was due but now worried that the heater is draining too much money.
If not, not sure where the electricity is going as I am fairly frugal...
We'll see what happens..
Thanks again ��
T.

Robin9

Can you clarify this £100 a month please ?

is this your total bill including your day time use of your appliances and lighting or your nighttime (which not only includes the storage heater but your hot water immersion heater and your appliances etc during the night-time 0030 to 0730)

Fire_Fox

I am not clear how you have identified the storage heater as the main or sole electricity guzzler without you taking regular readings in kWh (say monthly or weekly) in different seasons. Your supplier absolutely should be taking readings so you do not get excessive catch up bills, but not regularly enough for you to track your usage and identify electricity guzzlers. Trying to track in pounds rather than kWh can be very misleading.

Check that any timers on your electricity meter, space heaters and immersion heater are set to the right time - they can slip over years - and that all thermostats are working properly. Read the user manuals to ensure each unit is set up correctly. Also consider whether much of your heat (air or water) is benefitting your neighbours or the outside world due to poor insulation (includes curtains/ blinds).

Other electricity guzzlers include the tumble dryer, if you have one, and this is often used more in winter than summer.

HTH!

Tomc

Hi there.
Took readings yesterday (Monday) and today. Both at approximately same time.
Monday
R1 02788
R4 06951
Total 09740

Tuesday
R1 02792
R4 06970
Total 09763
The storage heaters only kick in (as far as I am aware) when the cheap rate starts up for a bit in afternoon and then at night etc.

My hot water in my immersion heater is only heated during cheaper rate times. I dont even switch it on every day as my hot water usage is low. Showering etc before and after work. My shower is one of those instant electric heat up types. Washing machine used a couple of times per week. Other than that nothing significant in usage. Generally try to be conscious of my usage.
Thanks again.
👍
T.

Tomc

Hi thanks for that.
There is no timer on my electricity. I only know it comes on when the immersion heater starts to heat up (if I have it switched on on economy setting). I seldom use the heat up quickly element for the hot water. The catchup charges has been based on readings I have given to eon. They have suggested it could be my storage heater. Still a bit flummoxed regarding it all... I had posted readings previously but not sure what they represent accurately. The approx £100 per month was on top of my normal usage which (as it appears) could only be attributed to having this heater on.
👍

Fire_Fox

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I am not clear how you have identified the storage heater as the main or sole electricity guzzler without you taking regular readings in kWh (say monthly or weekly) in different seasons. Your supplier absolutely should be taking readings so you do not get excessive catch up bills, but not regularly enough for you to track your usage and identify electricity guzzlers. Trying to track in pounds rather than kWh can be very misleading.

Find out what time(s) you have cheaper electricity from EON, and if these time(s) change when the clocks do. The "next closest" or "equivalent" tariff to Economy 10 might mean your storage heater coming on in the afternoon and your frequent showers are the culprits.

ETA:
https://www.eonenergy.com/for-your-home/your-account/economy-7-and-10-meters