Where can I get advice on my heating options

QrizB

That looks like an Octopus tariff.

If you absolutely definitely do not have storage heaters, you should contact them and change to the single rate version of the tariff. They might try to tell you that it will cost more, but if you insist on it they will change you over. You'll be put on a single rate of about 25p, which is 20% cheaper than your current one.

There's a link in my signature that illustrates how much more expensive direct electric heaters can be, and how being on E6 with them is the worst (most expensive) possible combination.

Edit: if you can't see my signature, the link is here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78557202/#Comment_78557202

littlemissbliss

QrizB said:

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?

Small bedroom (my office)

Main bedroom

Newer ones in the lounge. There are 2 of these


All are switch on by the mains on the wall. 

QrizB

Edit: ignore this post. See below.

The bedroom heaters are basic direct electric convectors.

The lounge ones look very much like Dimplex storage heaters.

This is a fairly common arrangement where you're expected to live in the lounge where you get a nice steady heat from the storage heaters, and only wake up / go to sleep in the bedrooms where you just want a short blast of heat in the morning and night. For the typical use of a bedroom, the extra cost of a storage heater isn't justified.

Murphybear

littlemissbliss said:

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!

I can only compare them to the old storage heaters.  Sadly having to use electricity to heat a home is always going to be expensive 

littlemissbliss

QrizB said:

The bedroom heaters are basic direct electric convectors.

The lounge ones look very much like Dimplex storage heaters.

This is a fairly common arrangement where you're expected to live in the lounge where you get a nice steady heat from the storage heaters, and only wake up / go to sleep in the bedrooms where you just want a short blast of heat in the morning and night. For the typical use of a bedroom, the extra cost of a storage heater isn't justified.

They are all Dimplex, just the bedroom ones are old.

Yeah, when you are paying a mortgage you kinda want to use all of the flat. Moral of the story....don't go electric! Great if you want to freeze and pay out a shed load of money 

Ill try and move before next winter and try and get somewhere that has central heating, all be it i know that will be tricky with a flat. But nothing like a warm home throughout. This cold has defiantly effected my health. 

My parents pay a similar cost for a 3 bedroom house and are actually warm!

QrizB

OK, I thought your lounge heaters were storage heaters but - sadly - a bit of Google reverse image search leads me to think they're actually Dimplex Q-Rads, which are just direct electric convectors with a slightly smart control system.

https://www.heatershop.co.uk/electric-radiators/dimplex-q-rad-e-electric-radiators

So I think you have direct electric heaters throughout your flat and you should move off E7 onto a single rate tariff as soon as possible.

theartfullodger

Insulate external walls on the inside, ditto ceilings and if you can under floor joists.

Storage radiators (rather than other electric heating systems) mush cheaper and effective, albeit many many people hate them and they are ugly.

Thermal underwear, jumpers, best financial option (apart from illegally bypassing meter - quite easy is dangerous-ish so clearly not recommending this......)

Talk to your neighbours in the block & see what they do/have done..  ALWAYS good to be on good terms with neighbours.

Is there a residents association??

littlemissbliss

theartfullodger said:

Insulate external walls on the inside, ditto ceilings and if you can under floor joists.

Storage radiators (rather than other electric heating systems) mush cheaper and effective, albeit many many people hate them and they are ugly.

Thermal underwear, jumpers, best financial option (apart from illegally bypassing meter - quite easy is dangerous-ish so clearly not recommending this......)

Talk to your neighbours in the block & see what they do/have done..  ALWAYS good to be on good terms with neighbours.

Is there a residents association??

It appears that most of the people in Chelmsford use these heaters.....reason i know is because every building i go in is using them. Plus i see some old ones that have burnt out on peoples front. Ill ask my neighbours but i think we are all the same.

FreeBear

littlemissbliss said: Ill try and move before next winter and try and get somewhere that has central heating, all be it i know that will be tricky with a flat. But nothing like a warm home throughout. This cold has defiantly effected my health.

Avoid anywhere that has a communal heating system - You could be held hostage to outlandish rates and unable to switch to an alternative supplier. Cautionary tale here -> https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6581772/989-energy-bill

A flat with independent heating (as long as it isn't an electric boiler) is the way to go.

EssexHebridean

OK - so moving home is going to cost you a lot more than sorting the current heating out. 

Short term fix to reduce costs is to get yourself off R7 - as right now the only advantage you are going to be getting from it is possibly the cost of heating your water. Allowing you have a smart meter Octopus should be able to action this immediately. 

Second thing - find an electrician who is knowledgeable about Storage heaters and working with Economy 7 setups - get them to quote you for fitting Dimplex Quantum NSH's of a suitable size in the lounge, plus in the room you use as an office too. The bedroom heater may as well stay as is - as presumably you only need to use that to give the room a boost before bedtime and again in the morning - subject to what time you get up you may even be able to get the morning blast on the off peak rate! IMO NSH's - even high heat retention ones - aren't really suitable for bedrooms as there will be some heat leakage overnight. Once the heaters are installed then you will want to switch back to either a standard E7 tariff or possibly a tariff like Snug Octopus.

This isn't going to be cheap, but it will cost you less than a move would for sure.  

It's infuriating that the incorrect EPC has lead you to believe that you were buying a property with storage heaters when in fact this is not the case - however, I can see how to the inexperience eye those heaters may well have appeared to be NSH's, to the individual reviewing things for the EPC.