Hot water tank and storage heaters - replace/upgrade?

w12ee3e

The flat I'm interested in unfortunately doesn't have central heating (maybe a good thing with gas prices set to rocket further?) but I'm wondering it would be still worth upgrading the storage heaters (circa early 2000's so quite old) and the huge water tank (takes a lot of space)

Are there more modern alternatives provide a meaningful improvement in terms of efficiency and space? I suspect replacing the 4-5 storage heaters isn't going to be cheap!

Obviously central heating and a combi boiler would be perfect but with it being a 3rd floor maisonette the prospects of this might be limited...?

Robin9

Storage heaters is a form of central heating and 30 years isn't old.

Your cheapest option is to make the most of what you've got. Learn how to use the storage heaters and the immersion heater - ensure you are on E7.- watch out for any boost switches.

Don't even consider magic dust heaters

Installing into a 3rd floor flat probably isn't practical - presumably you have a lease - you will need the consent of the freeholder.

Rent or Buy ?

Ebe_Scrooge

If you're stuck with electricity as your only option for heating, then storage heaters are about your best bet.  As above, do make sure you're on E7 or similar cheap-rate-overnight tariff.

In all likelihood there's little to be gained by replacing the radiators.  More modern heaters may be a little better insulated and have better controls - meaning you can access the heat when you need it.  But any difference is likely to be marginal at best, and would take many years to recoup the cost of replacement.

And yes, definitely don't be fooled by any magic pixie-dust advertising.  As Montgomery Scott so rightly said, "Ye cannae change the laws of physics".  1kWh of leccy in = 1 kWh of heat out.  You may be able to insulate and store the heat a bit more effectively so that it doesn't leak out when you don't need it, but that's about the best you can hope for - other than making sure you're "charging up" the radiators with the cheapest rate leccy you can find.

It's a similar thing with the hot water tank.  If it's too large for your requirements, there may be a small gain to be made from changing it to a smaller one.  If it's well-insulated, once it's up to temperature it should stay that way for a couple of days or so.  But of course, there will be some heat loss - no insulation is 100% effective.  So you could argue that by heating a smaller volume more frequently, you're losing less heat from the stored water.  But again, any gains will be marginal at best, and probably wouldn't justify the cost of replacement.  Assuming your task is indeed well-insulated - if it isn't then adding more insulation is cheap and will give you far more bang for your buck.

w12ee3e

Robin9 said:

Storage heaters is a form of central heating and 30 years isn't old.

Your cheapest option is to make the most of what you've got. Learn how to use the storage heaters and the immersion heater - ensure you are on E7.- watch out for any boost switches.

Don't even consider magic dust heaters

Installing into a 3rd floor flat probably isn't practical - presumably you have a lease - you will need the consent of the freeholder.

Rent or Buy ?

Buy. Yes the lease might be an issue, I presume there would be substantial engineering work required to connect the flat (and in turn the building) to the gas supply?

coffeehound

I don't think you are allowed gas above the first or second floor -- not sure of the specifics, but it would be worth checking the local regs

[Deleted User]

Hi,

if you're not acquaint with the workings of storage heaters here's a wee VIDEO, might help.

Hopefully we are heading into warmer weather, so you shouldn't need full heat.

If you set up a DD now and pay extra over the warmer months it'll help build up a kitty for next winter.

Your water tank, if well insulated should suffice your daily needs, make sure it on a timer to come on the last hour or so of the cheaper rate.

Take regular meter readings, at least once a month, and provide these to your supplier, also, set up a wee spreadsheet to keep your own record of usage and cost.

Ectophile

Don't replace the big tank with one that's too small.  It should heat up fully overnight, and give you a day's worth of hot water.  If you down-size the tank and run out of hot water, you'll have to use the "boost" function at peak rate to heat it up again.