Storage heater vs portable oil radiator

Joeycat2904

What's cheaper to run in a large 1 bed flat? 
4 storage heaters, or 2 oil radiators? 

We are trying to save money but need some opinions! 

Thanks 

FreeBear

Depends on the KW rating of each type and whether you have an E7 (or E10) electricity supply. On a standard tariff, and assuming both are rated at (say) 2KW, then there will be no difference in running costs. Storage heaters would be better if you are on an E7 tariff as you can "charge" them up at night on the cheaper rate and let them radiate heat during the daytime. Oil filled heaters will provide heat when you turn them on - Good if you want a bit of instant heat.

Sandtree

Joeycat2904 said:

What's cheaper to run in a large 1 bed flat? 
4 storage heaters, or 2 oil radiators? 

We are trying to save money but need some opinions! 

Thanks 

Need to look at their power rating, if they are 2kw each then the time having them powered on at the same time would be double for the storage heaters as the radiators as there are twice as many of them however the speed at which they heat up and discharge the heat is different due to the thermal mass difference. All of these types of heaters are near 100% efficient in terms of transforming the electricity to heat.

This means that if you are on a meter with an off peak pricing period the 4 storage heaters can heat up in the night on cheap electricity and then discharge that during the day. You cannot do similar with the oil radiators as they discharge too quickly so you'd have a hot morning and cold afternoon/evening forcing you to use peak rate power. 

You really need to do your own experiments though as it depends on your living patterns, preferred temps, number of rooms used and home insulation... I've had places where storage heating could be on in only the lounge and it running on the night mode was enough to heat the home all day but other places where by early afternoon I was already looking to turn on the daytime heating options in multiple rooms