Are new storage heaters worth the cost?

GoingAlone123

Hi all
I have just bought a one bedroom flat that has one storage heater in the bedroom (an old Dimplex with no controls) and Fischer electric radiators in kitchen, living, hall and bathroom. I am terrified of how much my electricity bill is going to be if I don't make some changes but I have never had electric heating and I don't know anything about it. I have had a electric heating company tell me I should install new Dimplex Quantum storage heaters in all rooms but that is super expensive and I don't know if I will save much. I also really can't stand the look of storage heaters and they take up a lot of space. 
The hot water is also electric. 
Can anyone help this clueless person please? 
TIA!

QrizB

My commiserations, peak rate electric space heating is among the most expensive options.

It's a one-bed flat, so it hopefully won't take much heating. Let's guess 4000kWh/yr.

At the October cap, that will cost you around £2080 a year (that's just heating).

Using storage heaters instead, you might save £600 on that (it all depends on your supplier and tariff).

You probably don't need snew torage heaters in every room;.I'd be inclined to fit one in the living room (where you will spend most of your time) and leave the Fischer heaters everywhere else. Get the Fischer heater from the living room moved to your bedroom, where (unless you're an OnlyFans creator) you're unlikely to need stored heat.

Use the living room storage heater to keep the core of your house warm and only turns the others on of you really need them

mmmmikey

I'd agree with everything in the above post, and would also suggest that you make absolutely sure that you are on an Economy 7 tariff as having a storage heater without this is pointless. Forgive me if this sounds obvious but if the previous owner used the Fischer heaters as their main source of heating they may have changed to a single rate tariff.

GoingAlone123

QrizB said:

My commiserations, peak rate electric space heating is among the most expensive options.

It's a one-bed flat, so it hopefully won't take much heating. Let's guess 4000kWh/yr.

At the October cap, that will cost you around £2080 a year (that's just heating).

Using storage heaters instead, you might save £600 on that (it all depends on your supplier and tariff).

You probably don't need snew torage heaters in every room;.I'd be inclined to fit one in the living room (where you will spend most of your time) and leave the Fischer heaters everywhere else. Get the Fischer heater from the living room moved to your bedroom, where (unless you're an OnlyFans creator) you're unlikely to need stored heat.

Use the living room storage heater to keep the core of your house warm and only turns the others on of you really need them

Thank you so much! This makes a lot of sense. It is a really small flat so I'm sure it won't take a lot to heat it. I'd rather make minimal changes now and see how I go over winter (without bankrupting myself!) than do a complete overhaul now without any benchmark. Really appreciate you responding! 

GoingAlone123

mmmmikey said:

I'd agree with everything in the above post, and would also suggest that you make absolutely sure that you are on an Economy 7 tariff as having a storage heater without this is pointless. Forgive me if this sounds obvious but if the previous owner used the Fischer heaters as their main source of heating they may have changed to a single rate tariff.

Thank you! Yes I am definitely on an economy 7 but it is with Eon and I am hoping to switch to Octopus. 

macman

Pointless to mix Fischers and NSH's on E7, as the former will not store any appreciable heat overnight. 
Can you come off E7 for the winter, if Eon will totalise the 2 registers?
Otherwise the Fischers will all be running on peak rate, unless you are nocturnal.
The previous owner must have been deluded to mix the two and remain on E7.

BUFF

Dimplex (I know, vested interest so take with a small pinch of salt) & BRE have just done some research where the outcome was that Quantums were ~20% better than old NSHs.

QrizB

macman said:

Pointless to mix Fischers and NSH's on E7, as the former will not store any appreciable heat overnight.

While I agree with your second clause, I don't agree with the first.

If the OP stays on E7, fits a modern HHR storage heater in his living room and uses the Fischer heaters for short-term heat in low-occupancy spaces, the lack of storage in a Fischer radiator will be irrelevant.

The previous owner must have been deluded to mix the two and remain on E7.

They must've had a screw loose to fit Fischer heaters at all.