What to replace Storage heaters with?

Stubod

I understand that the gov. in it's infinite wisdom has condemned the sale of the "Traditional" single supply storage heater, thus leaving all those people with this heating system "hung out to dry", without any cost effective solution. (All new heaters need a dual supply). I am therefore trting to find somebody who can offer some "independant" advise on the best way forward but I am drawing a blank on any organisations who can do this....so just wondering if anybody knows any companies that can offer this?...(NB We are in Wales)...

QrizB

No recommendation for a consultant, sorry, but there aren't that many options if you don't/can't have gas/oil/LPG.

Shortlist, in generally increasing order of installation cost and disruption:

1. Refurbish your existing traditional storage heaters.
2. New-to-you refurbished traditional storage heaters.
3. New dual-supply storage heaters.
4. AAHP plus immersion heater (recent example).
5. ASHP and wet CH.
   

Operating costs generally get lower as you go down the list.

Reed_Richards

I have no knowledge of this vendor or the product they suggest https://www.storageheatersales.co.uk/lot-20-storage-heater-options but they say:

While all new storage heaters are made to use two electrical supplies, (Economy 7 and a standard supply) - The New Elnur models are also the only LOT 20 Storage Heaters that can be wired to a Single Supply* (Depending on meter type and Tariff). A significant saving on new installation or replacement fitting installer costs.

Stubod

Hi and thanks for the replies...I am happy to consider anything, my problem is finding an independant organisation that can offer advise. I have tried local gov., Welsh Gov, Nest, Warm home, Which, and my own energy supplier and none of them can give me contact details of anybody that can offer this advise....

gefnew

This a link to energy saving trust, they have lots of info and advice this type of problem.
Energy Saving Trust

Gerry1

Lots of misunderstanding here.

• Existing NSH owners haven't been hung out to dry.  Old style NSHs without a fan will still work quite happily and don't have to be replaced.  Spares (e.g. elements, thermostats) continue to be available cheaply.

• Modern High Heat Retention NSHs will be cheaper to run, especially if you are out at work all day, but the cost of upgrading a Traditional NSH may not be worthwhile.  Doing nothing may well be the best option.
  

• Dimplex Quantum can also be operated from a single supply.

If a single supply is used, it's critical that the programming is correct for the E7 meter that's in use: get it wrong and it could be an expensive mistake.  If your area is 2330 - 0630 but you didn't notice that your meter was actually 0030 - 0730 then you'd always be paying for the first hour at the day rate.

Stubod

Gerry1 said:

Lots of misunderstanding here.

• Existing NSH owners haven't been hung out to dry.  Old style NSHs without a fan will still work quite happily and don't have to be replaced.  Spares (e.g. elements, thermostats) continue to be available cheaply.

• Modern High Heat Retention NSHs will be cheaper to run, especially if you are out at work all day, but the cost of upgrading a Traditional NSH may not be worthwhile.  Doing nothing may well be the best option.
  

• Dimplex Quantum can also be operated from a single supply.

If a single supply is used, it's critical that the programming is correct for the E7 meter that's in use: get it wrong and it could be an expensive mistake.  If your area is 2330 - 0630 but you didn't notice that your meter was actually 0030 - 0730 then you'd always be paying for the first hour at the day rate.

Hi and many thanks for your input. I hope the "hung out to dry" statment is incorrect. I spoke to an electrician who does Econ7 installs, and he was of the opinion that you now hadd to have a dual supply for all the new Lot 20 type storage heaters. This would cause us major work to run additional cables to all the heaters. I have now done a bit more research and understand you can now get single supply Lot20 heaters, but the single supply needs to be "on" for 24 hrs?

I am now trying to find out if it is possible to convert the existing economy 7 supply to a 24 hour supply and still run as "Economy 7". Hence the reason I am looking for somebody to talk to to offer possible solutions.

...and many thanks again for the input...this is the most helpeful info I have had to date after trying several other sources!!

Gerry1

Your electrician was wrong.  Ideally for an HHR NSH you should have a 24h supply for the fan, the programmer and the built in convector (if fitted) and an E7 supply livened up by the meter.  That way you can be absolutely sure that the NSH will only charge up during the cheap rate times, it's foolproof (no GMT/BST problems etc).

However, as a workaround you can wire and program the NSH to so that it has only a single 24h supply and slaves its operation to the meter's cheap rate times.  You'll have to do the programming bit yourself because your installer is unlikely to stay until midnight to see when your meter actually changes over.  It's likely that he'll use the default times for the region (if there are any) or, worst of all, leave it on the default factory setting (possibly intended for Germany !)

All usage is at E7 rates during the relevant times, so you just need to feed the relevant circuits from the meter's 4th port rather than the 5th.  It's all quite straightforward as long as you get the programming right.

But I'm still not sure what's wrong with your traditional NSHs? Why the urge to change anything?

EssexHebridean

We needed replacement of one of our old style NSH’s a few years ago - decided the investment in a Dimplex Quantum model was worthwhile, and haven’t been disappointed. The additional cost to have the second supply installed to it was insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and the fact that it costs less to run because it actually releases heat only when needed means we’ve made huge savings on running costs since. As and when any of our others need replacing we’ll definitely be going for the same - or currently available equivalent. 

Stubod

Hi both, and many thanks for the replies. At present our old heaters are still working, (at least they where as they are now well and tuly turned off!). We have an electrician coming around sometime to give advice for when/if we start getting problems. My plan is to remove the upstairs heaters as we never use them anyway. That leaves one in the hall, and one/two in the living room, (we use a multi-fuel wood/coal fire during the colder months). I am much relieved that there does seem to be some solutions, so many many thanks for your help and good advice, it is appreciated....

Ultrasonic

Stubod said:

My plan is to remove the upstairs heaters as we never use them anyway. 

Bear in mind that removing the heaters from upstairs will likely put off potential buyers if/when your home is sold.