Cheap alternative to storage heaters?

[MonkeyToesOfDoom]

Just moved into a place that has no gas, just electric. It's kinda old and it's kinda cold. It has storage heaters that work ok but they dont seem to give heat on demand, there's no thermostat to turn up a couple degrees of chilly.

My dad had a paraffin heater.. don't like idea tho. He also had little fan heaters bit I think they're expensive to run. I remember having an electric oil filled radiator looking thing, that seemed ok.

So anyone have experience of these things?

You'll do a lot worse than some of those oil radiators, they are meant to be the most efficient in terms of running costs, those and the halogen heaters.

We are all electric in our flat but our storage heaters are reasonable but if I was getting something else in it would be a decent oil radiator with a thermostat.

There's a really interesting article about it all and how the different heaters work over at thegreenage.co.uk (www.thegreenage.co.uk/what-is-the-cheapest-electric-heater-to-run/), well worth a read.

I've also got storage heaters. You can get new ones which are much better than the old style, both in efficiency and appearance. I also use oil filled radiator a, which are handy because you can put them where you want them.

I use the Dimplex oil-free radiators here when the wood burner isn't being used.
I find them quick to warm the room I am in and the bills are ok, not awful at all. They aren't too expensive to buy either. The heat is pleasant.

We've got a cold house, but electric blankets on the beds and teddy bear fleece duvet covers are the best.
Last year I bought my mum a heated blanket for the sofa, she says it's cheap to run and very snug.

We had dreadful old storage heaters in our last house.
We had a 3kw oil filled radiator in our living room and a little 1kw one in the bedroom. It was still cold but enough to take the chill off.

SellmeyourMLMcrap
Thanks for the ljnk, I'll have a nose.

Thanks all for the input. Oil filled looks best way to go. Plus some cosy bedding, gotta get some.cosy bedding. :)

storage heaters won't give heat on demand unless they have a separate 'anytime' heater.

are you on the right tariff? (economy 7 or economy 10) Do you know the times? are input and output set right?

all electric heaters have the same efficiency.

are you on the right tariff? (economy 7 or economy 10)
Yep
Do you know the times?
Yep
are input and output set right?
I think so, they give a steady heat all day which is is okay, but by 6-7pm the temp drops and room gets chilly.

all electric heaters have the same efficiency.
True, they all turn electric to heat, but some cost more than others to do that conversion.

all electric heaters have the same efficiency.

Yes but the problem with storage heaters is that even if you have them turned right down they have often lost all their heat by 7pm.
With an oil filled heater you can turn it on when you want.

However you do it, electricity is always an expensive way to heat a home. The halogen heaters are alright for quick warmth though.

www.cse.org.uk/advice/advice-and-support/room-heaters

If you're in a position to install a new system, and gas central heating isn't an option, then I'd go for a heat pump system.

If you're in a position to install a new system, and gas central heating isn't an option, then I'd go for a heat pump system.

I wish I was but this is social rented.

which answers my next question...I hope the EPC is E or above or it will be illegal from April. How's the insulation in general?

Unfortunately storage heaters will run out of heat around early evening unless input turned right down, which is why the midday boost of economy 10 is so useful. That also gives you a cheaper time to run other appliances and heaters (if of course you are home then).
If you are on economy 7 it will be pricey to run heaters during the day.

and same efficiency means that all heaters do cost the same to do the electric to heat conversion.

if you are already on economy 10 then that's all you can do, and you'll need to turn the output down during the day to save some for the evening when it is colder.