Help! What heaters do we go for? Dimplex Quantam?

hannahjhan

Hi, I am after some advice.

I live in a old, 2 bed, chalk walled, non insulated thatched cottaged.
 Up until 3 years ago our heating source was some old night storage ‘input/output’ heaters. They were getting old and dilapidated so my dad (also my landlord) took some bad advice and installed some electric ‘on demand’ thermostat heaters with the promise of cheaper and more efficient heating. 

As a result, the last 3 winters have been the most expensive and stressful months I can ever recall. Our electric bills over the winter average out at £300 a month... despite careful timed usage and very reasonable temperatures of between 16-18degs. It has been such a stressful battle that actually the suppliers have agreed to remove and refund the heaters. 

Our concern now, is what heaters to install that will hopefully reduce running costs.  Unfortunately, installing oil central heating isn’t an option, and we do not have mains gas. 

We have been looking into the Dimplex Quantam night storage heaters so would
appreciate any feedback on these. Whilst I understand that many will say night storage heaters are not economic, our previous experience of them actually gave us lower and more consistent bills. What concerns me is that the newer type models also work with a thermostat...so will we actually be any better off?!

please help! 

Gerry1

Dimplex Quantum should be fine.  Ideally you will also need a 24h circuit to them as well as the E7 overnight supply.  They will be slightly cheaper to run than traditional night storage heaters because they are better insulated and use a fan to blow the heat only when it's needed, so you won't be wasting money on having a red hot room at 3am.  That's why you need a 24h supply.

You can also choose to use the built in convector heater for a boost in the evening at expensive daytime rates, but if you've programmed the Quantum correctly this should seldom be needed.

Needless to say, make sure you are on a competitive E7 tariff: start comparing using Citizens Advice and 'Which? Switch'.  Also make sure that the immersion heater is on a switched E7 supply and that any Boost switch remains off.

matelodave

Don't forget, there are other makes of "High Heat Retention" storage heaters which are similar to to Quantum but don't cost as much and are probably no less efficient 

danrv

matelodave said:

Don't forget, there are other makes of "High Heat Retention" storage heaters which are similar to to Quantum but don't cost as much and are probably no less efficient 

Just wondering how similar. Always thought the Quantum design/appearance was exclusive to Dimplex.
I do recall seeing them under a different name but can’t remember what.

matelodave

try Elnur and Creda

danrv

matelodave said:

try Elnur and Creda

Thanks. Yes have seen those. Just thought there was some cheap copies of the Quantum knocking about.

mnbvcxz

Quantum are probably the safe bet, what most people end up with. They will need two electricity cables, one always on and one for the economy 7. So that adds to the installation. They are better insulated than the older ones you had so will hold the heat better for longer and will decide for you how much they  need charging up at night... More electronics to go wrong expensively though, in the rare event that they do. Ten year warranty is really five years if you look closely. They are the market leader though. Can rapidly reach £1000 a heater with installation and vat. Think carefully if you actually need them in a bedroom, or if you just need a quick blast at bedtime and getting up. Depends if you like to sleep in a warm room or not. 

Draught proofing, insulation, diy secondary glazing and such is always worth mentioning.

If you wish to be creative you can always look at Mini Split air conditioning units. Something like £700 https://www.orionairsales.co.uk/daikin-air-conditioning-ftxm20n-wall-mounted-20kw7000btu-inverter-heat-pump-r32-a-240v50hz-6518-p.asp would put out a similar amount of heat as a large night storage heater but in theory five times more heat than the electricity you put in so you might get a kw of heat for 3p or so. Less than half the running costs of a night storage heater and on demand. Early adopters say nice things about them actually. Downsides are you double the cost to include installation, unless you get lucky with a good value gas man. And not a very common tried or tested solution. You can get a dodgy self install chinese one as well, not quite  as quiet or as efficient but cheaper at £400 for those who like that route. 

If you really want to be ambitious you can get a green deal for an air to water heat pump, up to £10000 if you are on many low income benefits. You starting to gamble on getting a good solution in the end mind. Need giant or special radiators to get the low temperature heat out, not always well matched with old cold houses.

Or if time, skill and money are  no object you would dig up the floor and replace it with a breathable floor with water heating pipes  embedded in it run off a low temperature heat pump. Not for the faint hearted though.

Good luck. My storage heaters are wearing out too, and I wonder if economy 7 is going to stay around long enough to justify spending the money on newer ones or if I should gamble on a mini split working out...

macman

Did you switch the metering away from E7 when you ripped out the old NSH's? If so, to state the obvious, you'll need to switch it back again.
I don't think anyone on here will say that NSH's are uneconomic: if electric heating is your only option then they are by far the cheapest method. 
Were the 'modern' heaters the ones that begin with 'F' and are filled with magic clay/custard/kryptonite?

BUFF

matelodave said:

try Elnur and Creda

Creda heating is a Glen Dimplex group company

matelodave

BUFF said:

matelodave said:

try Elnur and Creda

Creda heating is a Glen Dimplex group company

Does it really matter who produces them? They are an alternative to Quantums. They aren't identical to Quantum, nor are they quite as expensive.

danrv

matelodave said:

Don't forget, there are other makes of "High Heat Retention" storage heaters which are similar to to Quantum but don't cost as much and are probably no less efficient 

Elnur have a high heat retention range but I don’t think Creda do. No mention of it in the TRSE heater specs.
Look the same as Dimplex XLE. 
The Quantums are expensive individually but a system would probably work out cheaper than a central heating/rads installation, especially ASHP.