Should I remove E7 in second home?

Bootsathome

I have just taken possession of a small grade 2 listed flat that is freezing with rubbish insulation and old sash windows. It has E7 hot water system and meter, but panel radiators and separate electric shower. The windows are due to be replaced at some point and I can't insulate further. The flat is in use at weekends and for a week or so every month. The electricity bills of the previous occupants were excessive. I had planned to put in a Dimplex Quantum 150 storage heater instead of one of the panel heaters, but was advised to leave panels in the bedrooms as storage heaters are loud etc. However, someone else suggested Rointe heaters but I have seen threads on here saying they are highly questionable in terms of any savings. A third option I was considering was taking out E7 altogether as most electricity usage is daytime, but assume that would mean I have to replace the E7 hot water tank/system? I know NOTHING about this stuff and wondered if anyone here had any suggestions on what would be the most efficient?

Gerry1

Welcome to the forum.

Remember that you don't need to change the E7 meter to have a single rate tariff.  Many suppliers will happily charge both registers at the same rate so you can keep your options open.

It would be better to scrap the instantaneous electric shower and use water from the hot tank, aided by a pump if necessary.

You probably won't need to change the immersion heater arrangements.  Ideally there should be an immersion heater at the bottom of the tank served by an off-peak circuit switched by the meter, and another one in the middle served by a 24h circuit with a boost switch that cuts out an hour or two after it is operated.  That way you get cheap hot water and can have half a tank of expensive hot water if you run out during the day because you've messed up or have been away.

Might be best to have Dimplex Quantums in the living room and hall, panel heaters in the bedroom, on an E7 tariff?

I'm assuming it's absolutely impossible to get mains gas?

ASavvyBuyer

Bootsathome said:

but was advised to leave panels in the bedrooms as storage heaters are loud etc.

How can storage heaters be "loud"? They are a pile of bricks with a heating element in them.

coffeehound

ASavvyBuyer said:. 

How can storage heaters be "loud"? They are a pile of bricks with a heating element in them.

Thanks to an EU regulation, all new NSHs must be fitted with a fan

matelodave

Quantums have a fan in them, that why they can be loud in a bedroom. That said, you probably don't need the fan to run whilst you are alseep and do you really need the bedroom to be cosy warm during the day or overnight

However IMO you'd be better of a with a fan heater for the 10 minutes before you get undressed and  go to bed and the ten minutes when you get up and get dressed plus an electric blanket if it's cold overnight.

Bootsathome

Thanks all. Yes - no gas option at all. And it is indeed the fan noise issue as well as even the best storage heaters leak making your bedroom too hot that apparently makes them not recommended for sleeping quarters. The hot water system is exactly as you say. Sounds like staying on the storage heater in lounge and hall is best then, and just suck up the high cost of daytime other electrics!

coffeehound

Not sure that the newfangled storage heaters such as dimplex quantum would work well in a draughty home.  Since they supply most heat as blown warm air, it won't hang around for long, and what does stay will rise to the ceiling.  (Matelodave's suggestion for fan heaters in the bedroom would work because it is directed flow and for a short time.)  

Old-style 'dumb' storage heaters should be a better bet if you are going to be in during the day since they provide more of their heat as directly radiated.  Some supplemental heat might still be needed later in the evening.  There are some of these old-style NSHs still around as old stock.  

Otherwise simple radiant heating using single-rate tarrif tariff might be cheaper if you were not going to be in during the day.
(Also would recommend draught-proofing the sash windows using Wilko 2" white duct tape to get you through this winter -- it can make a major improvement.)

macman

coffeehound said:

ASavvyBuyer said:. 

How can storage heaters be "loud"? They are a pile of bricks with a heating element in them.

Thanks to an EU regulation, all new NSHs must be fitted with a fan

But it is perfectly legit to fit refurbed NSH's which neither have a fan nor need a peak rate supply.

Bootsathome

3m high ceilings don’t help!