Replacement heating

fairyqueen

I need to replace my old storage heaters .There is no gas supply to my home. So am wondering which system to go with .Do I replace with newer storage heaters that are easier controlled or replace with the other electric heaters that are just controlled like a normal central heating system .I'm just concerned that if I choose the latter they will work out more expensive .My elec bills are so high already 

greenguppie

fairyqueen said:

I need to replace my old storage heaters .There is no gas supply to my home. So am wondering which system to go with .Do I replace with newer storage heaters that are easier controlled or replace with the other electric heaters that are just controlled like a normal central heating system .I'm just concerned that if I choose the latter they will work out more expensive .My elec bills are so high already 

Why do you "need" to replace your existing night storage heaters?
If one or more is broken, it can usually be repaired for a fraction of the price of a replacement.

fairyqueen

They have been repaired and keep breaking again and they are using a high amount of electricity far more than they did when they were new 

Gerry1

fairyqueen said:

They have been repaired and keep breaking again and they are using a high amount of electricity far more than they did when they were new 

If simple 'box of bricks' NSHs are using far more electricity input it means that they are delivering far more heat output.  They don't become less efficient over time in converting electrical energy into heat.

For example:-

• You're losing more heat from the building, e.g. colder weather.

• You're keeping the rooms warmer.

• You're unwittingly using heat at inappropriate times, e.g. in the middle of the night because you haven't been turning down the output control last thing at night.

If you replace them with modern high heat retention NSHs they will be more efficient because they won't be leaking so much heat through the night when it's not needed.  However, they're not cheap and the payback period may be lengthy.

Remember that you will need an additional 24h supply for them unless you programme them very carefully so that they follow your meter's E7 times and never get out of sync.  Get it wrong (e.g. GMT/BST changes, or the E7 times vary) and you'll be charging at crippingly expensive daytime rates.

greenguppie

fairyqueen said:

They have been repaired and keep breaking again and they are using a high amount of electricity far more than they did when they were new 

What has failed, and is it the same component as previously?
If so, have you complained to the repairer?

What makes you think they use more electricity now than they did when they were new?
Was the repairer you used a suitably qualified electrician? Did s/he not check the safety of the appliance? If the heater is using more electricity now than when it was new (for the same heat output), then that electricity must be going somewhere and it doesn't sound very safe to me.
Until we know the nature of the fault(s), we can't be sure of the repair cost, but usually it is just a fraction of the cost of a new appliance, as I said previously.

cattom

electricity is and all ways will be an expensive way to heat your home. you have another option. lpg (bottled gas}. it would be a substantial outlay to have it installed. but its cheaper to run in the long run.

matelodave

cattom said:

electricity is and all ways will be an expensive way to heat your home. you have another option. lpg (bottled gas}. it would be a substantial outlay to have it installed. but its cheaper to run in the long run.

Bulk LPG stored in a ginormous tank outside might be significantly cheaper than leccy, nowadays (but dont count on it remaining so) 47kg bottles are around 12p/kwh (depending how cheaply you can get them) and smaller cylinders are just silly - between 20-30+p/kwh. You've then got the aggro of getting then swapped when you run out.

As said above there's not much to go wrong in a storage heater - an element, a bi-mettallic thermostat and a cut-out, none of which are expensive. A shiny new HHR heater will cost upwards of £300+, wont produce more heat, probably wont cost much less to run and the spare parts, especially the control board, fan motor etc will be significantly more expensive if they fail.

greenguppie

LPG in either form may be difficult for someone who lives in a mid-terrace house
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6252331/high-consumption

Perhaps the property opens direct onto the pavement and has no alternative access to the rear apart than through the house?

We just don't know.

The OP, who joined this forum almost 14 years ago, has the tendancy to post in vary vague terminology, and then often fails to provide further details when requested.