Page 3 | Flat with electric heating only - bad idea?

FlyingPi · 2023-10-27T17:23:47+00:00

After looking for ages we've found a flat which seems ideal. However I'm concerned about possible high heating costs. The whole building is about 20 years old and there's no gas supply; EPC has it rated as C band (70) and recommends replacing the storage heaters with the high heat retention types. There's also no hearing in the main bedroom apart from a plug in heater and the flat faces the river so I'm thinking it might be windy/cold. It does have double glazing. The flat is slightly less than we'd budgeted for so we probably could afford the upgrade. Would it still be quite expensive energy bills, do you think? I've only ever had gas heating before. Would it be enough to put you off an otherwise great flat?

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 29/10/2023 13:12

LivingDeadGirlUK · 28/10/2023 21:52

Storage heaters can work really well but they are such a faff. If you set them correctly and have economy 7 they are cheap to run as well. My old flat had them and it was always nice and warm and the heat lasted all day (my partner worked from home).

However I wouldn't personally go back to that set up as its such a pain in the arse to have to manually turn them all up and down evening and morning, and look up the weather for the next day and changing settings accordingly. If you don't do all this then yes they are expensive to run and you can end up with no heat left in the evening.

C is a suspiciously good rating for an electrically heated property, either the insulation is amazing or there was a little fiddle there and its more likely a D.

The newest models have better controls making this unnecessary.

SharonEllis · 29/10/2023 13:12

I didnt think you would have gas in flats. What floor is it on? I've had flats on upper floors & almost never put the heating on - heat rises. Also the aspect will make a huge difference. South facing & you'll get a lot of heat from the sun, even in winter. North facing and it will be cold.

PawsisShady · 29/10/2023 14:04

SharonEllis · 29/10/2023 13:12

I didnt think you would have gas in flats. What floor is it on? I've had flats on upper floors & almost never put the heating on - heat rises. Also the aspect will make a huge difference. South facing & you'll get a lot of heat from the sun, even in winter. North facing and it will be cold.

Of course you can. I live in an apartment with GCH and a gas hob

TammyJones · 29/10/2023 15:45

creamedcustard · 28/10/2023 17:46

I don't understand why anyone would have storage heaters on at night. Surely you turn the heating off unless it's like -5 degrees at night? And even then put on low?

Turn them off at the wall then back on again when the room gets too cold.

That's how they work.
For example the one in the hall is set in 3
It's on e7
It comes in at 12.30 am and heats up
It goes off at 7.30 but slowly releases heat until 12.30 am (still warm) when it comes back on.
It is warm for 24 hours
The house is warm 24 hrs.
It keeps the house at a comfortable temperature consistently
I love them.

TammyJones · 29/10/2023 15:56

LivingDeadGirlUK · 28/10/2023 21:52

Storage heaters can work really well but they are such a faff. If you set them correctly and have economy 7 they are cheap to run as well. My old flat had them and it was always nice and warm and the heat lasted all day (my partner worked from home).

However I wouldn't personally go back to that set up as its such a pain in the arse to have to manually turn them all up and down evening and morning, and look up the weather for the next day and changing settings accordingly. If you don't do all this then yes they are expensive to run and you can end up with no heat left in the evening.

C is a suspiciously good rating for an electrically heated property, either the insulation is amazing or there was a little fiddle there and its more likely a D.

I see what you are saying but I didn't find them a faff.
I'd just set them and adjust if needed
Been through 10 winters though so I just see them as normal.
As an all electric house with solar we are lucky price wise with the energy situation

LivingDeadGirlUK · 29/10/2023 16:15

TammyJones · 29/10/2023 15:56

I see what you are saying but I didn't find them a faff.
I'd just set them and adjust if needed
Been through 10 winters though so I just see them as normal.
As an all electric house with solar we are lucky price wise with the energy situation

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I didn't really think it was a faff either at the time, but now I have a central heating controller which is also programmable from a smart phone, I don't think I could go back.

Bingbangbollox · 29/10/2023 16:17

LivingDeadGirlUK · 28/10/2023 21:52

Storage heaters can work really well but they are such a faff. If you set them correctly and have economy 7 they are cheap to run as well. My old flat had them and it was always nice and warm and the heat lasted all day (my partner worked from home).

However I wouldn't personally go back to that set up as its such a pain in the arse to have to manually turn them all up and down evening and morning, and look up the weather for the next day and changing settings accordingly. If you don't do all this then yes they are expensive to run and you can end up with no heat left in the evening.

C is a suspiciously good rating for an electrically heated property, either the insulation is amazing or there was a little fiddle there and its more likely a D.

My old flat had a C rating, and having just checked, some in the same block are B. You get a lot of points for good insulation, double glazing etc.

TammyJones · 29/10/2023 16:23

My previous/ similar house was gas but didn't have constant heat like this one.
So just on that scones I prefer them.
So mine are on or off
As winter creeps in I will turn them up a little as and when.
But it's no big deal

ScroogeMcDuckling · 29/10/2023 16:36

I would definitely buy another home with electric only.

i have learnt loads over the years, economy 10 electric isn’t really heard of, but it is available.

i would look at low wattage electric radiators, and yes there can be a problem with damp and mould, a dehumidifier sorts this out.

I wish you the best

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 29/10/2023 16:43

EoN have an Economy 10 smart meter tariff. I bloody love it, it is quite expensive on the face of it but you can heat your water, charge devices, shower and run the washer and dryer during cheap periods so you save loads. Means the heaters get topped up regularly too.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 29/10/2023 16:50

Bingbangbollox · 29/10/2023 16:17

My old flat had a C rating, and having just checked, some in the same block are B. You get a lot of points for good insulation, double glazing etc.

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The current EPC calculation is weighted heavily against electric heating (something that is going to have to change with the current decarbonisation programme). Yes you do get a lot of points for good insulation, but the kind of insulation to make a electrically heated home achieve a B is incredibly expensive. You can offset it with things like PV or using heat pumps though.