Replacement Storage Heaters?

Reed_Richards

BobR64 said:
I think the water heating isn't done by heating a tank of water but by storing the heat a bit like a storage heater and then using that to heat water when needed. 

The principle you described is called a "Thermal Store".  Typically the heat is stored in a tank of water but that hot water does not mix with the water you use.  However there are some (maybe only one) that don't use water to store the heat.  If so it would be more compact and well-insulated (but expensive to buy in the first place).  It won't make a big difference to electricity costs except that it should be well-insulated so won't lose so much of the heat it stores to the surroundings.  These "phase change" thermal stores are made by a company called Sunamp (but possibly are now being marketed under other names).   

NewLeaf1986

It sounds like your mum just needs a new night storage heater with boost functionality.

Dimplex will do the job nicely.

Input set to 2 in summer and 3 in winter, output always at minimum, and boost used on the occasion there's a chill in the air to be taken out.

Should cost at most £1,000 installed.

Its usual for the heater to be quite warm in the morning, that's how they work, it's just something she'll have to acclimate to.

Replacing it with a simple convector heater will end up costing her much more in the long run.