Panel or storage heater

funnymonkey

Good afternoon.
I need a little advice pls if you can?
I recently removed an old faulty storage heater from my lounge in my flat. The room size is approx 15m2 but not sure whether to replace the heater with storage or panel heater?
We are presently on economy 7
My lifestyle is me and my kids are out all day working/school so apart from early morning in the winter months don't need the heater to be on until school finishes. Obviously more demand at the weekend.
Panel heaters much cheaper to buy but if I understand correctly could be cheaper for my lifestyle as will only use heat on demand whereas a storage heater will be heating the lounge during the day when not required.
Would appreciate your thoughts?
Thank you

Robin9

Stick to storage - panel heaters may be cheap to buy but use on peak electric and can be expensive to run.

macman

A panel heater will be running on peak rate E7 and cost  to 4 times more than an MSH.
Set the NSH up to lower output so that it has more heat left at the end of the day when you need it.

knightstyle

Storage heater for background heat tokeep the place frost free and dry, then use a fire or panel heater in the room you are in as required is the most economical way.  Set input low and keep boost off unless it gets very cold.

funnymonkey

Thank you for your replies.
Could anyone please recommend a good storage heater as been looking at dimplex quantum but they seem to have numerous bad reviews. Thank you 

macman

If you use a modern NSH such as the Quantum, then you will have to run a second circuit to it from your ring main to feed the peak rate boost/fan. If you want to keep it simple, just look for a refurbed traditional style NSH which you can connect to the existing radial circuit.

Be_Happy

Have a look at the Dimplex XLE range.  Modern version of the old storage heaters, with automatic features, but not as complicated as the Quantum.  It will require 2 connections though, off-peak and peak for the fan boost.

funnymonkey

Thank you for your reply Be_Happy.
I've had a look at the XLE range but not sure how they work. A traditional older storage heater dissipates heat throughout the day but can be cold at night when needed I'd inefficient.
With this XLE type can it be programmed not to dissipate heat throughout the day but as and when required?
Also is the fan only for boost or for normal use as kind of defeats the object of having an off peak economy 7 storage heater if you need to use peak time electricity?
Thank you do much

macman

All NSH's, including the old ones, can be adjusted to regulate the output. But the controls are basic (just a damper) and many people never adjust them or don't know how to.

Gerry1

funnymonkey said:

With this XLE type can it be programmed not to dissipate heat throughout the day but as and when required?

Also is the fan only for boost or for normal use as kind of defeats the object of having an off peak economy 7 storage heater if you need to use peak time electricity?

Well insulated NSHs don't leak so much heat as traditional ones so a fan is needed to blow out the heat when the room is occupied.  The fan is also needed if the boost heater is used (on expensive daytime rates).

Dimplex seem a bit confused about the XLE.  They start by saying "Dimplex XLE represents the new non-high heat retention standard" but then say "a powder coated steel casing with high heat retention storage core".

The XLE seems to be a poor man's Quantum, but it's not obvious whether you lose the better heat retaining efficiency or just a few minor bells and whistles.

danrv

funnymonkey said:

With this XLE type can it be programmed not to dissipate heat throughout the day but as and when required?
Also is the fan only for boost or for normal use as kind of defeats the object of having an off peak economy 7 storage heater if you need to use peak time electricity?

You can set it to ‘Out all day’.
The fan is for normal use and the boost function if needed. 
I’m not sure if the XLE works by convection too as it has grills at the top.
The Quantum has them at the bottom only so may be more effective at retaining heat
until needed.