Back in the days when the twentieth century was young and electricity was cheap heating our homes using electricity was considered not only de-rigueur but displayed the hallmark of modernity. How things change. Today electrical heating systems are considered to be amongst the most expensive ways in which to heat your home. Direct heating using fan heaters, oil radiators or barred electric fires is considered the least attractive option available. However, in some homes and some situations, it may be the only choice. Some householders find that electric storage heaters have some advantages for their homes and in some properties they offer the simplest solutions.
Cavernous Mansion or Country Cottage?
If you own a cavernous mansion in the country the cheapest way to heat it will probably be to set light to it. Electric heating systems are costly but they are at their most efficient in smaller properties. For landlords of flats and bed-sits they are often the easiest form of heating to install and if the space is small they needn’t cost tenants a fortune. Retirement bungalows or apartments also often feature storage heaters and with the right settings and the right tariff they can be a clean, easy and hassle free form of heating. Storage heaters, used correctly, can take advantage of low-cost electricity available at off peak times. For those with a smaller flat, who are at work all day, this can be a perfect and very efficient solution. In the case of retirement bungalows or apartments many come pre-fitted with storage heaters; by installing energy efficiency measures, often free or subsidised, storage heaters can be efficient and affordable. One type of property in which storage heaters are extremely common is the second home or holiday cottage and in this type of property they make for the most effective solution to a number of problems (see below).
Off Grid Properties and Options
For any property that is not connected to the mains gas supply*, heating is always going to be an issue. There are a number of options and these are increasing as new, green technologies are developed. In terms of central heating systems the choices are as follows; solid fuel, oil or LPG fired systems, ground source heating, wood pellet/chip fired boilers and (depending on the property) solar electric/water heating. Traditional solid fuel fired systems are dying out in the UK but can still be found; their main disadvantages include the facts that they can be dirty to run and maintain, coal/anthracite is increasingly costly and they are labour intensive to manage. Modern oil and gas solutions are the most suitable for many properties but these are not cheap to run and the costs seem set to continue to rise. Green alternatives, such as wood chip/pellet boilers are the 21st century alternative to the traditional solid fuel range; they’re expensive to install but clean and easy to operate and they’re also considered carbon neutral. Ground source heating requires a reasonable amount of land and plenty of disruption to install. It’s ideal where space allows and is most suitable for those living fulltime in an off-grid property. Solar solutions can be a great way to make the most of clean, green and free energy. If the size and generation capacity of the property make it feasible, they can also mean that storage heaters become a viable, very clean and low maintenance option.
*If you are close, but not on, a gas supply line you may be eligible for financial assistance to be connected to the grid, your local authority should have information on grants if you think this may be the case.
Storage Heaters for Second/Holiday Homes
Many off-grid, rural properties are older buildings, featuring thick, stone-walled construction. For those who have a second home (or holiday letting property) of this variety storage heaters offer a sensible solution. The main problem with this type of property is that you are not usually on hand 365 days a year to feed the boiler (coal or wood chip) and gas and oil heating can be problematic too. In addition, storage heaters don’t feature central heating systems which are filled with water; while this is not normally an issue for full-time residents it can be a serious issue for those whose properties are empty for lengthy periods in the winter. The risk of frozen or burst pipes is ever present in this case and, in houses that are unoccupied for large periods of the winter, frozen pipes and the resulting floods/damage can remain undiscovered for a longer time. Using storage heaters in this context makes a lot of sense, especially if you take advantage of the cost saving tariffs available from the major energy suppliers. In addition, stone built cottages with thicker walls retain heat very efficiently in those walls; using storage heaters as a background heating source will gradually aid this natural storage of heat in the fabric of the building. The background ambient temperature will not only keep the property aired but will also reduce that damp atmosphere that so many holiday cottages suffer from in winter. Heating can also be supplemented cost effectively when the property in use, adding atmosphere and extra heat at a low cost.
While storage heaters may be frowned upon in some circumstances they can be the most sensible option in some settings. Modern models (see www.storageheatersdirect.co.uk for more information) can also be more efficient than older, existing heaters and can be used as a viable alternative in many off-grid or smaller properties.
Sam Mulder is a self-builder and DIY enthusiasts. In this post he looks at when, where and if storage heaters can still be effective and efficient in modern homes.
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