Rointe radiators

FrozenNorth

I’ve just moved to a rented flat with all electric heating. There are Rointe radiators in the hall, bedroom and sitting room and towel rail in the bathroom. Despite being a supposedly energy efficient system, I have used 110 units of electricity in my first five days here and I cannot afford that on my pension, not to mention the carbon footprint of such usage. The radiator is off in the bedroom, 10 degrees in bathroom and hall and 14 degrees in the sitting room when I’m in there, otherwise also 10 degrees. I have replaced the curtains with heavier, longer and wider ones and have put up a curtain at the front door. I have lots of warm clothes, shawls and a hot water bottle, and I go to bed early to save on the bills. Any suggestions on how I can cut the usage? I’ve transferred my account to Bulb, so am paying a fair price for this part of the world.
I don’t use the immersion heater as there’s an electric shower and I can ferry a bucket of hot water to the kitchen for the washing up. I live in the Scottish Highlands and electricity is the only realistic energy option - not that I am in a position to change the system.
All suggestions welcome as I don’t want to have to spend my days in warm shops and libraries nor all my afternoons and evenings in bed and much colder weather for the next three months. Thank you

Robin9

The best you can do is get onto the cheapest tariff you can find.

I see you have moved to Bulb - there may be better tariffs available to you.

coffeehound

Have you applied for their warm home discount?

https://bulb.co.uk/warm-home-discount/

matelodave

Unfortunately Rointe heaters are on a par with Fischer, there's possibly a no more an expensive way of heating your place. They are no more efficient than an Argos convector heater and will cost exactly the same to run

As Robin says your only answer is to get on the cheapest tariff you can or find find somewhere else to live

jk0

Did you receive an Energy performance certificate before you rented? Does that mention these heaters and how expensive they are to run? If not I might be calling the Environmental Health.

Richie-from-the-Boro

FrozenNorth wrote: »

I’ve just moved to a rented flat with all electric heating. There are Rointe radiators in the hall, bedroom and sitting room and towel rail in the bathroom. Despite being a supposedly energy efficient system, I have used 110 units of electricity in my first five days here and I cannot afford that on my pension, not to mention the carbon footprint of such usage. The radiator is off in the bedroom, 10 degrees in bathroom and hall and 14 degrees in the sitting room when I’m in there, otherwise also 10 degrees. I have replaced the curtains with heavier, longer and wider ones and have put up a curtain at the front door. I have lots of warm clothes, shawls and a hot water bottle, and I go to bed early to save on the bills. Any suggestions on how I can cut the usage? I’ve transferred my account to Bulb, so am paying a fair price for this part of the world.
I don’t use the immersion heater as there’s an electric shower and I can ferry a bucket of hot water to the kitchen for the washing up. I live in the Scottish Highlands and electricity is the only realistic energy option - not that I am in a position to change the system.
All suggestions welcome as I don’t want to have to spend my days in warm shops and libraries nor all my afternoons and evenings in bed and much colder weather for the next three months. Thank you

For info see here.

Essentially the same product, you will learn a lot about you problems by reading the thread.

Gerry1

Unfortunately you have chosen almost the worst possible arrangement: no gas and all heating and hot water both using full price electricity. The only pitfall you have avoided is being on a deemed tariff.

You might make a modest saving by forgetting the instantaneous shower and using the immersion heater on an E7 tariff with someone such as Yorkshire Energy who can be cost effective even with relatively low night usage.

You could experiment by finding out the E7 switching times in your area, setting the immersion heater to come on perhaps a couple of hours before it ends, and recording the meter reading at the start and end of the cheap rate each day. You can then get an estimate of the percentage of night time usage and do some comparisons against your Bulb tariff to see whether it's worth switching. Any savings are likely to be relatively modest, but every little helps.

Assuming you're claiming all the relevant benefits (not forgetting Cold Weather Payment), your only realistic option seems to be a move, ideally to somewhere with gas central heating. If there's no gas anywhere, then find somewhere with night storage heaters. Make sure they're correctly dimensioned to run on E7, not old tiddly ones designed for E10 which is being withdrawn and costs a fortune. Ideally you need something modern such as Dimplex Quantum which reduces costs by having good insulation to reduce the heat lost overnight when it's not needed.

FrozenNorth

Thank you for all your responses. Unfortunately, I can’t move within the area as there’s a shortage of rental properties (too many second and holiday homes) and I don’t want to move away.
Your comments have made me think about alternatives - advice on whether an oil-filled electric radiator or calor gas heater is a better option would be gratefully received.
Thanks again

Robin9

Oil filled rads will be no better.

Ensure you have good ventilation if going calor gas bottled.

Richie-from-the-Boro

FrozenNorth wrote: »

Thank you for all your responses. Unfortunately, I can’t move within the area as there’s a shortage of rental properties (too many second and holiday homes) and I don’t want to move away.
Your comments have made me think about alternatives - advice on whether an oil-filled electric radiator or calor gas heater is a better option would be gratefully received.
Thanks again

All electrical appliances cost exactly the same to run on day tariff. All electrical appliances cost exactly the same to run on night [E7] tariff. NSHeaters run from £-100-600 depending on size, delivery, installation and changes to your wiring will have to be made.

Paraffin (modern) heater run on Tozane costs similar to day time electric, (they can be run on jet1 paraffin ) charges, the Zibro Heater LCSL530 Nf is a hugely capable 4.65kW and can be had from Amazon for £400.

Want more ask.

Best of luck.

Gerry1

An oil filled radiator will cost exactly the same as a panel radiator of the same wattage. A kilowatt is a kilowatt is a kilowatt whether it's a 1kW panel radiator, ten 100W bulbs, a 1kW oil filled radiator, a 1kW fan heater or a one bar electric fire.

The only electricity savings you can make are on the cost per kWh, e.g overnight Economy 7 (but beware of higher daytime rates and standing charges) and using the more efficient types of (genuine) storage heaters that don't give off so much heat overnight when it's not needed.