Electric Heaters in new build home and lack of insulation

Netexporter

Has the house got MVHR (mechanical ventilation and heat recovery)?

Hoenir

Have you got well insulated curtains. They do make a considerable difference. With only 2 of you in a 4 bed house. How many of the rooms are you actively using?  No point in excessively heating this space. 

QrizB

Panda126 said:

We're worried the insulation wasn't done properly I don't know how it's possible for the temperature to drop so quickly

Id be checking my new build paperwork, getting the builders back and complaining to them. Do you have a new-build warranty?

Panda126

Gerry1 said:

Is mains gas available in your area?

Yes but it would cost fortune to install it.

Lorian said:

What temperature was the garage getting down to.

Around 5 degrees recently 

Panda126

Netexporter said:

Has the house got MVHR (mechanical ventilation and heat recovery)?

No

Hoenir said:

Have you got well insulated curtains. They do make a considerable difference. With only 2 of you in a 4 bed house. How many of the rooms are you actively using?  No point in excessively heating this space. 

We can't have insulated curtains as we can't cover the radiators and most of them are by the windows 😞

QrizB said:

Panda126 said:

We're worried the insulation wasn't done properly I don't know how it's possible for the temperature to drop so quickly

Id be checking my new build paperwork, getting the builders back and complaining to them. Do you have a new-build warranty?

Yes I believe we do have a warranty however communication with our developers is very poor, we will try to make a complaint but I don't have high hopes and have no idea how to proof they did something wrong. It's a new developer and this was their first site. Is there anything specific I should focus on in the paperwork?

Netexporter

Is there anything specific I should focus on in the paperwork?

I'd be wanting to look at all the Building Regulations drawings and specifications.

Did you get a survey done prior to purchase?

markin

What kind of construction is it, timber or block? 

Are you on E7 or standard single rate electric?

How long have you lived in it, when did you start heating, It could still be a very wet house, with a lot of mass to heat and dry out.

Why was an air source heat pump (ASHP) not installed!


As a quick fix you could get a A/C mini split heater installed in the main living area you use, Or install night storage heaters if they are just panel heaters you have and go on E7.

I guess you could also install a wood stove if you can get free/cheap wood locally.

M25

Do any of the large rooms get the sun early in the day? Could you make that your livingroom?

As others have said I'd speak with neighbours to see their situation.

Personally I could not live with electric heating unless it was cheap to run. I have gas and my house is toasty my previous house had gas too but we used a log burner which provided enough heat for the whole house essentially. Anytime I've ever visited an electric-heat house (or my memory from a child) I think it's cold.

Would you consider a log burner? Is your livingroom or another large room got a place a flu could be fitted easily? Have a look on Youtube. From what you say unless you want to pay what will be £3000 at least for gas (+boiler) I think a log burner may be the best solution certainly financially and maybe wait for a neighbout to install gas.

Sounds a horrible situation but I think there's hope with a log burner in your case.

Get a quote from an installer and have a good think about how you'd manage with logs. If you like a bit of heat it's for you and it certainly won't cost £20.00 per day.

QrizB

Everyone who's saying "get gas CH" or "fit a log burner" is missing the point. Even if the OP did this, at considerable expense, they'd still have a house that leaks heat like a sieve, would still be expensive to heat and would be worth considerably less than it should.

They need to get the developer to find the faults with their year-old new-build and fix them. Anything else is avoiding the issue.

debitcardmayhem

You say they are electric radiators, dimplex brand. Are they srorage heaters?