Old Dimplex radiators not working- fix or replace?

tangofingers

We moved into our electric-only house a few years ago, the Dimplex storage heater is downstairs and works fine. Upstairs our 3 bedrooms have little Dimplex heaters on the walls (pics), and after a year in the house they stopped working properly- they only worked when they were set at 5 or above, and instead of looking into the problem we just mounted these wifi glass panelled heaters on the wall instead. Except in our box room, which our baby is now in. Her Dimplex heater only works if it’s on full blast at 10 now, so I’ve been pre-warming her room and switching it off at bedtime. It’s a small cold room, and she’ll need a moderate temperature through the night soon. We’re unsure whether it is actually more energy efficient to get her a wifi heater or fix the old Dimplex one, but I can’t find the model she has for love nor money online- it looks very old. Scrap it or fix it? Low setting on throughout the night or turn on a wifi one for a couple of hours in the night and morning? 

FrugaiMacDugal

A reverse image search came up with these.

EssexHebridean

In terms of running costs going forwards, it won't make any odds - any electric panel type heater is going to cost the same to run as any other. By the time you've paid someone to repair the existing one, it feels as though your money might be better spent on a replacement though, in particular if that replacement is more controllable. 

Scot_39

Electrical radiators and panels tend all be roughly similar - you get pretty much the full 1kWh of heat out - for 1kWh of energy in.

I note you say you have at least one NSH - do you have any in halls - and I presume a HW immersion het tank - so are you on E7 - and does your peak / off peak mix currently justify being so.  If so might be worth pushing the average unit cost even lower by investing in more storage heating - but they are older tech - and if a house - you have other options *.

Having had a look at one suppliers - supply only prices not installed - first that came up on google - so not naming to avoid any implication its a recommendation - prices - using Dimplex ranges - other brands are available - taking a smallish 10m2 bedroom - larger than many singles - smaller than legal min for a double (11-11.5 m2 according to google depending on standard referenced)

their PLXE panel heaters start around the just sub £200

their Alurads start around the £300 - £350 for 10m2 level

their wireless smart QRad - more like £400

their Slimeline XLE programmable storage heaters - £660 for 10m2.

their Quantum HHR smart storage heaters - £850 for 10m2.

Obviously multiplying by 3 makes the differentials more important.

But if on E7 - and saving say 5-10p/kWh vs single rate on a decent E7 / TOU deal like say Cosy - it might be even the more expensive modern lot20 / HHR may pay back the differential quite quickly.

And if as likely your going to need some heat overnight - the XLE or Creda TSRE - might be an acceptable price / benefit compromise if going to stay with standard tech and mutlirate tariffs (but it may be less work to single wire a Quantum - depending on how the current rads are wired (ring main or direct to CU MCB ?)

[Note * Their are other alternatives - so comprosser / ASHP type tech - that can include reverse air con type heating - air to air - not air to wet radiator which attracts the grant sadly (As you have no wet rads - that could be expensive to add) including single per room units - drilled through the walls which some here have recommended - and cetral units running "refrigerant" pipework from external compressor - as a potentially cheaper route to get COP style efficiencies - so say a COP of 3 gives you 3 kW heat energy in the rooms - for 1kWh electrical costs.  You could get one external compressor to drive several room units.  Depending on how much your looking to spend and for how long you plan on staying to benefit from payback.]