Keep storage heaters or replace with electric radiators?

Josh1994

Hi all,
I think this is the right place to post as not directly related to energy. Would be interested in your thoughts.

I live in a one bedroom coach house that only has electric supply - no gas.
I currently have three storage heaters (a large one in the living room, smaller ones on the bedroom and landing). I also have an oil filled towel rail in the bathroom. 

My electricity bills are astronomical and have been ever since I moved in. I know electric heating is much more expensive than gas - but I have used the equivalent of £200 a month of electricity over the past year (based on actual readings not estimated) and I am at a loss to exactly what is using so much electricity. The heaters are only on usually October - February), and only come on when the economy tariff is on, not boosted by mistake (I have checked). The exorbitant costs aside, as I work 9-6, by the time I've come home they are usually cold so I am spending money on heating that i don't even get to use! 

I was thinking about potentially getting them swapped to electric radiators, which I guess wouldn't necessarily be more efficient from a cost perspective, but I'd rather pay 23p a unit for an hours' heating while I'm at home and can actually experience it than 7 hours of 13p a unit that gets wasted as it dissipates throughout the day. 

Do you have any experience with electric radiators - if so, any brands you would recommend or avoid. Oil filled or ceramic? And how much would you generally expect to pay for removal of 3x storage heaters and to be fitted with three electric radiators. I would probably be looking at one 2kw and 2x 1kw heaters. 

Thanks in advance

Section62

Josh1994 said:

Do you have any experience with electric radiators - if so, any brands you would recommend or avoid. Oil filled or ceramic? And how much would you generally expect to pay for removal of 3x storage heaters and to be fitted with three electric radiators. I would probably be looking at one 2kw and 2x 1kw heaters. 

Before removing the storage heaters it would be a good idea to buy some bog-standard portable heaters and run them in the same way (and at the same times) you would the new 'radiators'.  Just switch the storage heaters off.

Do that for a couple of weeks and see if (a) you get enough heat and (b) if you save any money.

If you pay someone to remove the storage heaters and install new 'magic' ones it will cost you a fortune to change back to storage heaters if you discover the 'magic' doesn't work in your situation.

nofoollikeold

1. The ceramic heaters are snake oil.
2. All electric heaters give out the same amount of heat energy as they consume electrical energy.
3. The only thing that changes is the profile of heat over time:
3a. Ordinary electric heaters give off heat fairly quickly and cool down fairly quickly.
3b. Oil filled heaters take longer to become warm and yield heat, but cool down slower as well while still giving off heat.
3c. Ceramic radiators are very similar to oil filled in heat / time profile, but much more expensive. 
4. Modern storage heater are much better at storing heat and releasing it at more useful times.  You should be able to set the heaters to only start releasing heat at a time to suit you.  
5. If you know the make and model of your existing heaters, try looking up the operating instructions.  With careful use of the controls you might be able to save a significant amount of energy.
6. When doing year on year comparisons, look at the energy usage, not the cost.  That way you take the rising costs out of the equation and get a more accurate picture of usage.  

twopenny

I have a friend who has the new storage heaters. She reckons they are excellent, a whole new ball game and run really cheaply.
Perhaps look at other areas near you that are electric only and see if you can find a way of asking what they do.
Wonder if there's a forum somewhere talking about it?
I had to use plug ins when I moved into this property. They weren't wildly expensive but they didn't heat rooms. I was cold. The best was a panel heater which are more expensive to buy. 
If you want to try screwfix have them.
And be sure they have timer and thermostat.
You certainly shouldn't be paying that much. Something is wrong. I agree with above, you need to look into why your present ones are costing so much. Make, model and how to use. Ensure you are on a low rate tarriff - night only.

GDB2222

Section62 said:

Josh1994 said:

Do you have any experience with electric radiators - if so, any brands you would recommend or avoid. Oil filled or ceramic? And how much would you generally expect to pay for removal of 3x storage heaters and to be fitted with three electric radiators. I would probably be looking at one 2kw and 2x 1kw heaters. 

Before removing the storage heaters it would be a good idea to buy some bog-standard portable heaters and run them in the same way (and at the same times) you would the new 'radiators'.  Just switch the storage heaters off.

Do that for a couple of weeks and see if (a) you get enough heat and (b) if you save any money.

If you pay someone to remove the storage heaters and install new 'magic' ones it will cost you a fortune to change back to storage heaters if you discover the 'magic' doesn't work in your situation.

^^^ Exactly so. As @Secti@Section62 says, get a couple of £10 fan heaters, and turn off the storage heaters. See how it goes. There's nothing special about electric radiators.


More modern storage heaters may retain the heat better. 

worlestone

Josh1994… did you try the plug in heaters? Just wondered how it’s going. We are also electric only, but a 4 bed house with old storage heaters. The greatest difference for use was stopping draughty doors and windows. 

koalakoala

Wow that's expensive for a small place......

Bendy_House

I hope Josh comes back with his results.

£200 pm to heat a one-bed coach house?! Lawdie. Something - almost certainly simple - has gone wrong here! (Neigh stealing leccy...?!)

Is this a 'modern' coach house, Josh? Ie, ~20-odd years old? It should be a doddle to heat.

danrv

Josh1994 said:

Do you have any experience with electric radiators - if so, any brands you would recommend or avoid. Oil filled or ceramic? And how much would you generally expect to pay for removal of 3x storage heaters and to be fitted with three electric radiators. I would probably be looking at one 2kw and 2x 1kw heaters. 

I wouldn’t change to electric radiators. True you get heat when you actually need it but at expensive day rate.
Swapping to HHR fan storage heaters would be better. 

Bendy_House

Josh needs to get to the bottom of his large energy costs - there is something seriously amiss there.

Josh? Hello? HI?!

Take daily meter readings at the same time each day. After a few days, turn off the storage heaters and shiver for a day. Take further reading.