Storage heaters

Undervalued

mrsyardbroom wrote: »

I'm fed up with lighting the mutlifuel stove every day. It's expensive to run and needs a lot of upkeep. I'm thinking of getting a storage heater to replace it but there are so many different types I feel a bit lost in an alien world of electricity. Can anybody recommend any storage heaters that are efficient and can deliver up to 4kw of heat? The heat needs to e controllable as I wouldn't need anything like that most of the time. Are they expensive to install? I would need a wiring circuit put in.

You will of course need your meter changing to one that gives you the cheap night time rate. Although I think that is done for free (certainly used to be) you will then be paying a slightly higher rate for your daytime electricity.

My only experience of storage heaters was in a small Victorian house that I used just as a business premises. In many ways they worked well but they were not ideal if I was working late into the evening on a cold day. Also, you need to think a couple of days in advance in changeable spring and autumn weather. If you don't you can end up opening windows to get rid of the heat or plugging a fan heater in on an unexpectedly cold day!

Installation is fairly simple and just needs a switched outlet and single cable from each heater, wired back to a separate fuse box. Much easier and less disruptive than running pipes for central heating, particularly if you don't mind the cable being visible in places. Obviously if you want it all hidden under the floorboards it is more work.

Gerry1

Undervalued wrote: »

Also, you need to think a couple of days in advance in changeable spring and autumn weather. If you don't you can end up opening windows to get rid of the heat or plugging a fan heater in on an unexpectedly cold day!

Apparently it's not quite so bad with more modern ones such Dimplex Quantum because they have much better insulation so they retain their heat into the afternoon rather than dissipate it overnight. They have a fan that blows air down to release heat when it's needed, and if all else fails they can be topped up (at expensive peak rates) with a boost switch. Clever programming also means that they don't have to be left on all the time if you go away for a few days.

mrsyardbroom

WhoIsThat wrote: »

Duplicate thread

Already posted here:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6072619/storage-heaters

JJ Egan said "This is Oil and LPG section ." Who do I beilieve?

mrsyardbroom

Undervalued wrote: »

You will of course need your meter changing to one that gives you the cheap night time rate. Although I think that is done for free (certainly used to be) you will then be paying a slightly higher rate for your daytime electricity.

No I won't. According to Bulb I simply have to select the appropriate tariff so maybe I already have the right meter but thank you anyway.

WhoIsThat

mrsyardbroom wrote: »

JJ Egan said "This is Oil and LPG section ." Who do I beilieve?

Well that is a decision you have to make for yourself when using the internet.

I'm obviously going to suggest you believe me.:D

e.g. look at the following term and condition you agree to abide by when using this site:

You agree not to:

8.3.9. post the same note more than once or spam

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/site/terms-conditions/

Gerry1

mrsyardbroom wrote: »

Undervalued wrote: »

you will then be paying a slightly higher rate for your daytime electricity.

No I won't.

Oh yes you will ! :eek:
In my neck of the woods, the Bulb single rate at all times is 13.976p per kWh. However, on their E7 tariff the Day unit rate is 16.296p per kWh which is 17% more expensive.

mrsyardbroom wrote: »

According to Bulb I simply have to select the appropriate tariff so maybe I already have the right meter but thank you anyway.

If your meter has only one register (one string of digits) and there's no switching box next to it, then it won't be suitable for E7 and will have to be changed. If the property has never had storage heaters it's unlikely to have an E7 meter.

There's no point in running storage heaters on single rate, you might as well use fan heaters or electric fires, and you'll soon go bankrupt...

WhoIsThat

Mister_G wrote: »

Yes, but this is the correct place for it.

If that is your considered opinion, you can ask the Board Guide to consider moving it here.

justjohn

mrsyardbroom wrote: »

The nearest mains gas is half a mile away and the gas board is unwilling to supply the village. The smokeless fuel I'm buying is costing me £23 a week and it isn't even the coldest part of the winter. It gets more expensive than that. At the moment I'm using free kindling but last year I ran out and had to pay for it. During the coldest part of the winter I reckon it was costing me £35 to £40 a week just to keep one heater going. I'm sure a storage heater would be cheaper than that.

Unsure where you are in the country. We are paying 90 pound per potato box full of hardwood or 60 pound for softwood.


£16 pound for smokeless ovals. coal trebles £15 per 50kg sack


As for electric heating it all depends on heat loss. Well insulated building will cost less in electricity too heat. So may be good for you.


We went from multifuel to oil ...not a good move as wood is cheap as we are rural.


Now we run the house on oil CH and muti-Fuel in livingroom(coal single £8 per 50 kg and logs hard/soft mixed). Its a big old house. At weekend we can run the stove whole weekend without it going out.