Electric Heating

[cadspark]

A customer has asked her DNO to remove Night storage meter and she wants me to remove the storage heaters and change the outlets to normal socket outlets. She is adamant about not having night storage anymore but wants something to replace them. Just wondering what your thoughts are on alternatives such as panel convector heaters or oil filled panel heaters?

 

[Theorysparky]

Cads

flats normally have these fitted,,, Dimplex are the most common

not the most cost effective

 

[dariusthemead]

She needs to contact her supplier for the off peak meter removing, what tarrif is she on at the moment?

 

[cadspark]

Her supplier is also the DNO here in Wales and it has all been arranged. She is changing to a standard tariff.

I'm just looking at the best alternatives for heating her bungalow using none night storage electric means.

 

[Evans Electric]

I think shes making a mistake , losing the off peak tarrif . OK not very controlable but good for keeping the place warm and dry.

Wall mounted Fan assisted convectors I guess as replacement.

 

[dariusthemead]

Is she on E7 or some other off peak ie NED or NEDW.

 

[cadspark]

She was on E7 tariff.

I know she is making a mistake but she is convinced it will save her money as she will only turn on the heaters when she needs them.

 

[ProDave]

I did the same for somebody.

He replaced the storage heaters for some gel filled panel heaters that were made to look like wet central heating radiators, I think they were French.

They are all radio controlled by a central timer, and each has a thermostat.

My customer is happy with them, and swears it's cheaper than the old storage heaters were. Personally I'm not convinced.

BUT, (and there's always a but) he not only kept an off peak tariff, he converted to Economy 10. As well as the 7 hours overnight at the cheap rate, you get 3 hours in the day at the cheap rate. So some of your electric heating is still at the cheap rate, and don't forget you still get a tank of hot water each night at the cheap rate.

All I did was swap the off peak CU over to the unswitched feed, so it's live 24/7 for the heaters, and put the immersion heater on a timer for the overnight cheap rate, and the mid day cheap rate boost.

Have a look at what tariff your customer is on. If it's Total Control (a preserved tariff no longer available to new customers) then keep it, as that lets you have cheap rate for panel heaters at any time of day. If you have that tariff, you most definitely want to keep it.

In my last house, I kept the E7 even after replacing the storage heaters for central heating. It was worth it just to have the washing machine and dishwasher operating overnight on the cheap rate.

Like others I think your customer is making a big mistake. I would suggest before dumping the storage heaters, she try it for a month just turning off the storage heaters and using plug in electric panel heaters. I'm willing to bet she won't like the house being cold most of the time, and won't actually save much if anything.

 

[Tooold]

I have fitted Haverland heaters, there are others, for 3 customers after removing night stores. Better control, better looking, easier to understand and a little bit cheaper. When i next move if I have to update the heating I will use these or similar and ditch the gas. I have night stores now so I know how poor they are.

 

[Larnacaman]

Well ...that's the first time i've heard anyone contemplating ditching gas central heating for electric!!!!! ?:|

 

[Apache]

I have night stores now so I know how poor they are.

I quite like our night storage heaters.

---------- AUTO MERGE Post added at 00:09 ---------- Previous post was at 00:00 ----------

BUT, (and there's always a but) he not only kept an off peak tariff, he converted to Economy 10. As well as the 7 hours overnight at the cheap rate, you get 3 hours in the day at the cheap rate. So some of your electric heating is still at the cheap rate, and don't forget you still get a tank of hot water each night at the cheap rate.In my last house, I kept the E7 even after replacing the storage heaters for central heating. It was worth it just to have the washing machine and dishwasher operating overnight on the cheap rate.

You have to do some careful sums here. Yes the rate is cheaper at night, but you pay more in the day!

From British Gas single rate 1st 125 KWh 24.839p and then 11.157p [DD]

On Eco 7, only 4.721p at night but 33.487p/12.586p day.

You are paying between 8.6 and 1.4p more per unit in the day.

 

[ProDave]

You have to do some careful sums here. Yes the rate is cheaper at night, but you pay more in the day!

From British Gas single rate 1st 125 KWh 24.839p and then 11.157p [DD]

On Eco 7, only 4.721p at night but 33.487p/12.586p day.

You are paying between 8.6 and 1.4p more per unit in the day.

That's a little missleading.

You have quoted a tariff with zero quarterly charge. So instead of paying a quarterly charge, you pay higher for the first 125KWH of daytime electricity, which works out the same as paying a quarterly charge. Those no quarterly charge tariffs are really only of use if you have very low usage.

So the real cost on a normal tariff with a quarterly charge is 1.4p more if the day but 6.43p cheaper at night.

But yes, you have to make sure you use enough night time electricity to make it worthwhile. Like I said, just ensuring the washing machine and dishwasher went on at night was enough usage to make E7 worthwhile.

 

[PC Electrics]

I was getting myself all revved up to type a long reply, but you know what? I gave up long ago trying to save stupid customers from themselves.

Do the work with a smile and get paid for it. Just make sure your contract clearly states you've given no advice.

Oh, and don't forget to charge her for removal and disposal of the NSHs, then remove carefully and sell on eBay.

 

[ProDave]

then remove carefully and sell on eBay.

Don't you mean remove carefully and store them, so you can charge her again to put them all back in next year when she realises her mistake.

Then you can sell them back to her at a bargain price, just say you got a good second hand deal.