Advice About Electric Heating

ElectricHeatingQuestion

Hi,

My partner and I are about to move into a new flat which is off the mains gas network and would really appreciate some advice about heating our new home with electric!

We're about to move into a two-bedroom, one-bathroom ground floor flat (approx. 60 m^2).

I would love to ask all the heating experts out there - what do you think would be the ideal way of heating such a home without gas being an option?

The flat currently has a mix of storage heaters and electric heaters and an immersion boiler.
Our current plan is to replace the storage heaters with modern electric radiators and keep the current immersion heater (we think this was being run on Economy 7) for our hot water. It's probably obvious at this point but there is no wet central heating system installed.

So some of the questions we had were:
- does this sound like a sensible plan or are there other options we should be considering?
- should we replace the immersion heater with a newer one if it doesn't have thermostatic control?
- would an electric boiler be better (cheaper to run) than an immersion heater even if it was only for out hot water?
- if we're going to use electric radiators would we be better off not using Economy 7?

Thank you! :beer:

Robin9

ElectricHeatingQuestion wrote: »

..........................
Our current plan is to replace the storage heaters with modern electric radiators ...................

Don't use the magic dust type that cost a fortune to install (and run)

Do learn how to use the storage rads ; do read your meters; do get the best tariff you can. Keep E7

Don't do anything in a hurry; don't have long showers.

Once you've had a year you will be better informed to make decisions going forward

molerat

The most economical way to heat the flat is with storage heaters.
The most convenient and effective way to heat the flat is with on demand electric radiators.
The difference in price will be eye watering !

coffeehound

ElectricHeatingQuestion wrote: »

- should we replace the immersion heater with a newer one if it doesn't have thermostatic control?

Hi, your existing immersion heater will have its own thermostat. You can view its setting by switching off the electric feed and removing the round plastic cap off the end of the heater. Ideal setting is 60 C if that gives you enough hot water each day.

Gerry1

Unfortunately, you've made a BIG mistake. The cost per kWh may be around 3p for gas, 9p for Economy 7 overnight electricity and 13p for single rate electricity, so your heating bills will be in similar proportion.

It's like buying a car that could only use two special brands of petrol costing £3.75 or £5.42 per litre.

If you're out all day at work and they are old storage heaters it may be worth considering upgrading to modern ones with better insulation and fan assistance such as Dimplex Quantum. However, that may not be cost effective unless you are going to stay in the flat for a long time.

tk47

ElectricHeatingQuestion wrote: »

Hi,

My partner and I are about to move into a new flat which is off the mains gas network and would really appreciate some advice about heating our new home with electric!

We're about to move into a two-bedroom, one-bathroom ground floor flat (approx. 60 m^2).

I would love to ask all the heating experts out there - what do you think would be the ideal way of heating such a home without gas being an option?

The flat currently has a mix of storage heaters and electric heaters and an immersion boiler.
Our current plan is to replace the storage heaters with modern electric radiators and keep the current immersion heater (we think this was being run on Economy 7) for our hot water. It's probably obvious at this point but there is no wet central heating system installed.

So some of the questions we had were:
- does this sound like a sensible plan or are there other options we should be considering?
- should we replace the immersion heater with a newer one if it doesn't have thermostatic control?
- would an electric boiler be better (cheaper to run) than an immersion heater even if it was only for out hot water?
- if we're going to use electric radiators would we be better off not using Economy 7?

Thank you! :beer:

Welcome to moneysavingexpert.com

Yes, this is moneySAVINGexpert.com

So my question to you is why?

Why not use what you already have? :huh:


Mmmm... half past midnight :cool:

Richie-from-the-Boro

Many - 700 posts in this thread alone, read and learn.

Many actual real user experience.

Many ASA sanctions

Many sad costly stories.

Click here:

matelodave

As others have said, learn how to use your storage heaters properly and minimise your use of peak rate leccy by not using electric heaters when possible.

Keep records of your energy consumption (both peak and off peak), ideally by reading the meter once a week, then you'll know how much you use and get an idea of when you use it. Get through this winter before making any rash decisions.

When you've got a decent winter's worth of data, do the sums by adding your peak and off peak consumption figures together and see if that would have cost you less or more on a single rate tariff. That should give you some idea of your costs if you exchanged the storage heaters for electric on-demand heating.

Just be aware that peak rate on demand heating is the most expensive way of heating your home and any adverts or salesmen that suggest heaters with magic fairy dust, exotic clay, golden oil or any other filling will cost exactly the same to run as an equivalent electric radiator or similar from Argos or B&Q

Gerry1

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Many - 700 posts in this thread alone, read and learn.

Many actual real user experience.

Many ASA sanctions

Many sad costly stories.

Click here:

And note how many posts have been censored because the company doesn't like them. Ditto, the reviews on TrustPilot aren't reliable; they usually say how neat and tidy the installation was just a few weeks ago. You'll never see any saying they made the owners go bankrupt after a cold winter !

Ectophile

ElectricHeatingQuestion wrote: »

Hi,
- should we replace the immersion heater with a newer one if it doesn't have thermostatic control?

I would be very surprised if it doesn't. If it doesn't, it should be replaced before somebody is injured by boiling water coming out of the taps.


The thermostat is often hidden behind a cover screwed on to the top of the immersion heater.

Richie-from-the-Boro

They are married