How to heat a flat
Discussion
As summer appears to be over, I thought I'd turn my attention to heating for the winter. At the moment I have utterly rubbish night storage heaters in stupid places (like behind a door and only accessible when the door is fully shut) plumbed into the walls.
Can someone tell me about heating, the costs, the installation and the efficiency. We have no gas and can't get it, so leccy only.
The night storage is so inefficient, expensive and difficult to use, that its been on for one day since we moved in three years ago. Last year we made do with a halogen heater and an extra jumper. It worked well enough but this year, with a new pet, we can't have the free standing heaters. Its also time I sorted it out.
Thanks
Can someone tell me about heating, the costs, the installation and the efficiency. We have no gas and can't get it, so leccy only.
The night storage is so inefficient, expensive and difficult to use, that its been on for one day since we moved in three years ago. Last year we made do with a halogen heater and an extra jumper. It worked well enough but this year, with a new pet, we can't have the free standing heaters. Its also time I sorted it out.
Thanks
http://www.calor.co.uk/home/central-heating/index....
Not that I'm at all certain its possible to install in a flat, but I do know that electricity is pretty expensive stuff.
Not that I'm at all certain its possible to install in a flat, but I do know that electricity is pretty expensive stuff.
electric oil heaters mounted to the walls is probably the way to go for on demand heat. reasonably inexpensive to buy and install. Can be expensive to run though.
do they still do an off-peak electricity package for storage heaters? 'twas economy 7 donkeys years ago. Are you getting cheaper energy overnight when the storage heaters are supposed to be .. erm .. storing?
Storage heaters "should" be the cheapest to run of the lot, but in my experience they are pretty crap and get luke warm at best when you really need it. Perhaps some swanky new modern ones are better, but somehow I doubt it.
do they still do an off-peak electricity package for storage heaters? 'twas economy 7 donkeys years ago. Are you getting cheaper energy overnight when the storage heaters are supposed to be .. erm .. storing?
Storage heaters "should" be the cheapest to run of the lot, but in my experience they are pretty crap and get luke warm at best when you really need it. Perhaps some swanky new modern ones are better, but somehow I doubt it.
davido140 said:
electric oil heaters mounted to the walls is probably the way to go for on demand heat. reasonably inexpensive to buy and install. Can be expensive to run though.
do they still do an off-peak electricity package for storage heaters? 'twas economy 7 donkeys years ago. Are you getting cheaper energy overnight when the storage heaters are supposed to be .. erm .. storing?
Storage heaters "should" be the cheapest to run of the lot, but in my experience they are pretty crap and get luke warm at best when you really need it. Perhaps some swanky new modern ones are better, but somehow I doubt it.
There is still economy 7 but it makes little difference as the heaters just drain the electricity. The ¨boost¨ button is just a fan heater that blows out luke warm air and you have to anticipate how hot you want it the day before as you have to set the temps the night before.do they still do an off-peak electricity package for storage heaters? 'twas economy 7 donkeys years ago. Are you getting cheaper energy overnight when the storage heaters are supposed to be .. erm .. storing?
Storage heaters "should" be the cheapest to run of the lot, but in my experience they are pretty crap and get luke warm at best when you really need it. Perhaps some swanky new modern ones are better, but somehow I doubt it.
Its rubbish.
littlegreenfairy said:
davido140 said:
electric oil heaters mounted to the walls is probably the way to go for on demand heat. reasonably inexpensive to buy and install. Can be expensive to run though.
do they still do an off-peak electricity package for storage heaters? 'twas economy 7 donkeys years ago. Are you getting cheaper energy overnight when the storage heaters are supposed to be .. erm .. storing?
Storage heaters "should" be the cheapest to run of the lot, but in my experience they are pretty crap and get luke warm at best when you really need it. Perhaps some swanky new modern ones are better, but somehow I doubt it.
There is still economy 7 but it makes little difference as the heaters just drain the electricity. The ¨boost¨ button is just a fan heater that blows out luke warm air and you have to anticipate how hot you want it the day before as you have to set the temps the night before.do they still do an off-peak electricity package for storage heaters? 'twas economy 7 donkeys years ago. Are you getting cheaper energy overnight when the storage heaters are supposed to be .. erm .. storing?
Storage heaters "should" be the cheapest to run of the lot, but in my experience they are pretty crap and get luke warm at best when you really need it. Perhaps some swanky new modern ones are better, but somehow I doubt it.
Its rubbish.
http://www.cnmonline.co.uk/DeLonghi-Stretto-Oil-Fi...
first one I found on google, this sort of this should do the trick. I had a house heated entirely with free standing ones, they worked pretty well. Missed having a central thermostat though.
Parrot of Doom said:
http://www.calor.co.uk/home/central-heating/index....
Not that I'm at all certain its possible to install in a flat, but I do know that electricity is pretty expensive stuff.
I work for the other big L.P.G supply company and to be honest I wouldn't recommend it.Not that I'm at all certain its possible to install in a flat, but I do know that electricity is pretty expensive stuff.
It's currently between £45/£55 for a 47kg bottle, and between 45p and 55p per litre for domestic bulk, depending on usage. In other words nearly double the price of natural gas.
You can get some good introductory prices fixed for a while, this is just a sales tactic though to get you tied into a contract, before you know it the price rises quite dramatically.
What about a wet-electric system?
Something like this: http://www.thermaflowheating.co.uk
Something like this: http://www.thermaflowheating.co.uk
Edited by miniandy on Monday 18th August 22:09
There is such a thing as electric central heating but being electric will incur highish running cost I would think, might be worth checking out though.
ETA; must type quicker!
ETA; must type quicker!
Edited by robinhood21 on Monday 18th August 22:12
Hi.
I cant answer your question directly even though I would like to. If your residence has a chimney suitable for a fire, then perhaps a fire is an option. I picked up a stove / fire place for £200 from an architectural salvage yard. It was a cast iron unit and was flawless i.e no cracks & was refurbished. It was very pretty too (apparently). I located the bricked up fireplace and set about it with a lump hammer. I was quite shocked at the amount of rubble that came out (11 full bin bags). The chimmney needed swept and the cap removed.
Fuel is not that expensive if you contact your local tree surgeons and state that you will collect any chopped up wood from a clients property. These are not actual logs but chopped up logs that will easily fit in the back of a car. I guess you would need a place to store them and a hefty axe to break them up. Chopping wood sounds like work but strangely I find it soothing.
Thats all I can think of & I wish you well.
I cant answer your question directly even though I would like to. If your residence has a chimney suitable for a fire, then perhaps a fire is an option. I picked up a stove / fire place for £200 from an architectural salvage yard. It was a cast iron unit and was flawless i.e no cracks & was refurbished. It was very pretty too (apparently). I located the bricked up fireplace and set about it with a lump hammer. I was quite shocked at the amount of rubble that came out (11 full bin bags). The chimmney needed swept and the cap removed.
Fuel is not that expensive if you contact your local tree surgeons and state that you will collect any chopped up wood from a clients property. These are not actual logs but chopped up logs that will easily fit in the back of a car. I guess you would need a place to store them and a hefty axe to break them up. Chopping wood sounds like work but strangely I find it soothing.
Thats all I can think of & I wish you well.
Get rid of your thongs n' stuff, get thermal big knicker underwear 
There is a couple of unusual alternatives, air sourced or ground sourced heat pumps, as you live in a flat air source is probably the only alternative.
I've know real experience on these apart from a course I was on, apparently for 1kw of energy input 3kw's are given in output, as this was a course it's probably hypothetical theory/ bs
t!
Damart is your friend
Beat to the post by Robdickinson
There is a couple of unusual alternatives, air sourced or ground sourced heat pumps, as you live in a flat air source is probably the only alternative.
I've know real experience on these apart from a course I was on, apparently for 1kw of energy input 3kw's are given in output, as this was a course it's probably hypothetical theory/ bs
t!Damart is your friend
Beat to the post by Robdickinson
Edited by 69 coupe on Monday 18th August 22:53
Don't forget "Economy 7" power is cheaper than standard at night (When you don't need it) but more expensive than standard during the day. It may be a cheaper option to switch to a standard electric package and just use your electric heaters when you need them. This is what I did in my old flat, saved myself loads and was warm when I wanted!
Simpo Two said:
Friend of mine installed electric central heating - just before the price went bonkers. Now he's got a woodburning stove and plans to use that instead. About £250 from some place in Norfolk.
Back to basics eh?
hi ho Simpo two. Basics indeed. I had a few trees chopped down in my back garden. When the chainsaw chap asked if I wanted the big pile of logs removed I said no thanks. I am now the proud owner of a lump of logs. They might come in handy though. I just hope that energy prices calm down. Back to basics eh?
Speaking of which, should this lady not be looking for an electrical heating system? I thought that gas prices where linked with oil prices?
Is that the case?
edited to add: I know someone that wants a new kitchen with gas appliances, hence my interest.
Thanks.
Edited by benzo on Monday 18th August 23:12
Logburners and pellet fires are very common here.
There relativly cheap to run and put out a lot of heat, can heat your water and you can have ducted systems to transfer the heat around the house/flat.
I somehow doubt your going to get one installed in a flat through? You need a covered area to store your wood, somewhere to chop it, it takes a good 30min to get it going and warm etc (& by then your too hot from all the chopping..).
There relativly cheap to run and put out a lot of heat, can heat your water and you can have ducted systems to transfer the heat around the house/flat.
I somehow doubt your going to get one installed in a flat through? You need a covered area to store your wood, somewhere to chop it, it takes a good 30min to get it going and warm etc (& by then your too hot from all the chopping..
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