Where can I get advice on my heating options

littlemissbliss

I called my supplier. Apparently i am on economy 7 with a smart metre. I have changed from Flexible to Fixed where i still pay for what i use (variable) but my rates do not change. Doesn't really warm my flat up, but at least I know what I am dealing with

littlemissbliss

Murphybear said:

We live in over 60s sheltered housing.  It has 33 individual flats and communal areas.  Like  yours we are all electric.

Last year the Housing Association put in new storage heaters which are much more efficient and cost less to run.  Details from their website below

” Dimplex Quantum heaters (QM), a new range of storage heaters is now on the market. 

The Quantum heater is essentially a more up to date storage heater using the latest thermal materials, providing greater control and efficiency. The Quantum heater range also upgrades and replaces the existing Dimplex FXL fan storage heater range which has now been discontinued.”

There is also useful information about grants for home heating on the government website (.gov)

“Find out if your property is eligible for Help to Heat funding.”  

The gov website also has useful tips on saving money in your home generally.  

They are the heaters I currently use, if they are cheaper to run Id hate to see what the average heater is to run!

QrizB

littlemissbliss said:

I called my supplier. Apparently i am on economy 7 with a smart metre.

That's the type of tariff - E7 - that is normally used with storage heaters.

If you have storage heaters, they should charge up (get hot) overnight when electricity is cheaper then let their heat out during the day.

If you're not charging them overnight but are instead relying on daytime electricity, it'll be very expensive.

Albermarle

QrizB said:

littlemissbliss said:

I called my supplier. Apparently i am on economy 7 with a smart metre.

That's the type of tariff - E7 - that is normally used with storage heaters.

If you have storage heaters, they should charge up (get hot) overnight when electricity is cheaper then let their heat out during the day.

If you're not charging them overnight but are instead relying on daytime electricity, it'll be very expensive.

This is also my guess.
The OP Has storage heaters but is not using then properly.
Although could be wrong.

FreeBear

Comments in bold...

littlemissbliss said:

Here is what they say are the steps i need to take to save heating bills. So looks like its the floor not the walls so much

Step 1: Floor insulation (solid floor) Typical installation cost £4,000 - £6,000 Typical yearly saving £131 Potential rating after completing step 1 62 D
Would need freeholder's consent, and an annual saving of £131 is pretty poor for the £4-6K investment.
Step 2: Draught proofing Typical installation cost £80 - £120 Typical yearly saving £12 Potential rating after completing steps 1 and 2 63 D
If you have draughts, the savings could be much higher. Certainly the cheapest option for the greatest return.
Step 3: Low energy lighting Typical installation cost £30 Typical yearly saving £22 Potential rating after completing steps 1 to 3 64 D

Doesn't everyone have LED lighting now ???
Step 4: High heat retention storage heaters Typical installation cost £1,200 - £1,800 Typical yearly saving £179 Potential rating after completing steps 1 to 4

HHNSH won't actually save any money, but they will enable you to shift heating to suit your needs. So perhaps save having to use panel/convector heaters to boost the temperature.

With solid concrete floors, a cheap & effective improvement is to put down some woodfibre boards as used under laminate flooring. Then a good quality foam underlay (around 10mm thick), topped off with a carpet. Whilst it won't do a huge amount to cut heat loss through the floor, it will feel much warmer under foot.

littlemissbliss

QrizB said:

littlemissbliss said:

I called my supplier. Apparently i am on economy 7 with a smart metre.

That's the type of tariff - E7 - that is normally used with storage heaters.

If you have storage heaters, they should charge up (get hot) overnight when electricity is cheaper then let their heat out during the day.

If you're not charging them overnight but are instead relying on daytime electricity, it'll be very expensive.

A little confused here.....they have an on and off button at the wall. There is no charging.

littlemissbliss

Albermarle said:

QrizB said:

littlemissbliss said:

I called my supplier. Apparently i am on economy 7 with a smart metre.

That's the type of tariff - E7 - that is normally used with storage heaters.

If you have storage heaters, they should charge up (get hot) overnight when electricity is cheaper then let their heat out during the day.

If you're not charging them overnight but are instead relying on daytime electricity, it'll be very expensive.

This is also my guess.
The OP Has storage heaters but is not using then properly.
Although could be wrong.

They are electric radiators not storage heaters. 

Newbie_John

Albermarle said:

QrizB said:

littlemissbliss said:

I called my supplier. Apparently i am on economy 7 with a smart metre.

That's the type of tariff - E7 - that is normally used with storage heaters.

If you have storage heaters, they should charge up (get hot) overnight when electricity is cheaper then let their heat out during the day.

If you're not charging them overnight but are instead relying on daytime electricity, it'll be very expensive.

This is also my guess.
The OP Has storage heaters but is not using then properly.
Although could be wrong.

That would explain you high costs.

You are on E7 tarriff meaning that your elecitricty at nigh 0-7am is very cheap - close to gas prices, and electricity during the day quite expensive like 50%+ to standard rate (check your exact rates to be sure).

Storage heaters are designed to charge between 0-7am and then release the heat during the day.

If you're not doing that and running them during the day rates - that will be very expensive as they take a lot of electricity. 

As you already know the type, try to find a youtube guide how to set it up correctly to work with your cheap night rates.

QrizB

littlemissbliss said:

Albermarle said:

QrizB said:

littlemissbliss said:

I called my supplier. Apparently i am on economy 7 with a smart metre.

That's the type of tariff - E7 - that is normally used with storage heaters.

If you have storage heaters, they should charge up (get hot) overnight when electricity is cheaper then let their heat out during the day.

If you're not charging them overnight but are instead relying on daytime electricity, it'll be very expensive.

This is also my guess.
The OP Has storage heaters but is not using then properly.
Although could be wrong.

They are electric radiators not storage heaters. 

But your EPC says they are storage heaters?

If the previous owner of the flat ripped out the storage heaters and replaced them with direct electric radiators, you're going to be looking at much higher heating costs than your EPC expected.

Can you share a photo of one of your heaters?

littlemissbliss

Just changed to this, the date rate was 36. Not much difference but every little helps. 

14M Fixed 14M Fixed 

January 2025 v1 

Day rate: 31.11 p/kWh 

Night rate: 13.05 p/kWh 

Standing Charge: 49.21p/day  

But I do not have storage heaters. Overall they sound ok apart from cooling down in the evening.