Should I replace storage heaters?

Akustik

Today, by chance, I saw a Gumtree ad about someone selling some storage heaters (Elnur brand). The flat I own was built in '82 and comes with no gas, so they've put some storage heaters (Alto brand). I'd assume they were purchased in the same years as the flat was built.
I've read some opinions about storage heaters and most people don't seem to like them. I can't say I've formed an opinion yet. Although, when I get home from work I do feel like it's probably better that the flat is a little warm and not completely cold. This means I don't have to end up sitting in the cold while a normal heater is warming it up.

So here's the questions ...
1. Should I try and replace the storage heaters? Is there money to be saved by doing this? Storage heaters seems pretty expensive to buy - for the same power ones I have it looks to be about £500-£1000 if brand new. If I get the ones I just saw it's probably gonna be around £500.
2. Or should I go a completely different route and go for on-demand heaters rather than storage?
3. If I go on-demand, would that involve rewiring the electricity?
4. Coincidentally, my hot water tank is also E7 and I'm planning on changing that soon as well. Should I go for E7 one again or a normal one?

For information - flat is 1 bedroom (40sqm.) EPC C (I think)

Gerry1

Lots of similar threads on this forum, just do a search.  If they work and are safe there's no point in changing them unless it's to clever fan assisted ones, but the payback period will take forever.  If you're all electric it will cost you a fortune, electricity is four or five times as expensive as gas. Try to get gas, or move !

Robin9

1 If they ain't broke don't try to fix it.

 2.Don't be tempted by the Magic Dust type.
4. stick to E7 

Kitchen_Sink

Akustik said:

Today, by chance, I saw a Gumtree ad about someone selling some storage heaters (Elnur brand). The flat I own was built in '82 and comes with no gas, so they've put some storage heaters (Alto brand). I'd assume they were purchased in the same years as the flat was built.
I've read some opinions about storage heaters and most people don't seem to like them. I can't say I've formed an opinion yet. Although, when I get home from work I do feel like it's probably better that the flat is a little warm and not completely cold. This means I don't have to end up sitting in the cold while a normal heater is warming it up.

So here's the questions ...
1. Should I try and replace the storage heaters? Is there money to be saved by doing this? Storage heaters seems pretty expensive to buy - for the same power ones I have it looks to be about £500-£1000 if brand new. If I get the ones I just saw it's probably gonna be around £500.
2. Or should I go a completely different route and go for on-demand heaters rather than storage?
3. If I go on-demand, would that involve rewiring the electricity?
4. Coincidentally, my hot water tank is also E7 and I'm planning on changing that soon as well. Should I go for E7 one again or a normal one?

For information - flat is 1 bedroom (40sqm.) EPC C (I think)

So if I understand you correctly, you have not formed an opinion yet over your current heating (despite presumably living with it over the last winter) but you are thinking of changing it and you are wondering if you should change it to ones that would mean you end up sitting in the cold while a normal heater is warming it [the flat] up whenever you come home?

And you are also planning on changing your hot water tank, possibly from an E7 one to a normal one? What does that even mean?

molerat

On demand electric heating is more effective, convenient and generally more aesthetically pleasing than E7 storage heating.  The downside is that it comes with a running cost of around 3 times that of storage heating.

Gerry1

molerat said:

On demand electric heating is more effective, convenient and generally more aesthetically pleasing than E7 storage heating.  The downside is that it comes with a running cost of around 3 times that of storage heating.

Unlikely to be three times as expensive: single rate is seldom twice the cost of cheap rate E7, let alone three times.  If the occupant goes to work the difference will be smaller because no heat will be wasted in the daytime during the week.  But electric heating is always a problem, expensive and inflexible with simple storage heaters, very expensive with on demand plug-in heaters.  It should always be avoided.

Richie-from-the-Boro

- OP if yours [water + space heating] work keep them
- stay with E7 + better tariff + wiring
- swapping a small one for large will retain/store more [cheap (er)] heat
- avoid anything with fan or fan assisted or digital controls in it
- avoid anything with a need for rewiring the dwelling
- they are sized small to big as 1.7 to 3.4kw
- if you are renting be aware of tenancy agreement rules

Akustik

Thanks for your replies