How much to install storage heaters in an old house?

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marcellaf

Registered User
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hi all,

I need a way of heating a house (in the countryside) that is not currently being lived in apart from at the weekends.
Its an old house, currently has ofch but someone has to go in & turn on the oil - which there isn't really anyone to do this, so the house is without heating for 5 or 6 days on the trot. The house wouldn't have great insulation, and only has single glazed windows.

I'm considering putting in 1 or 2 storage heaters, electric, so that they can be linked to a timer and put on for a few hours each day without anyone having to be there to switch them on.

Any idea at all what the rough ball park figure would be to get such a thing installed, and if we put 1 heater at either end of the house, would that be enough?

What other options should I consider? Budget is a big consideration, and we can't afford to do a big renovation job on the place at the moment but want to try & get something in place before next winter if possible.

Thanks
 
As far as I remeber, from a previous brush with the same topic myself, the storage heaters themselves are not costly a couple of hundred max but the cost comes, I recall, in the fact that they have to be wired back to the circuitboard.

As PP suggested your cheapest option, especially if it's a holding operation, is to put a timer on the CH system.
 
Thanks guys. The current central heating system is run from a central stove/range, which needs to be lit by a person standing there with a match.....so I dont think it would be possible to fit a timer to such an (old) system?
 
marcellaf said:
Thanks guys. The current central heating system is run from a central stove/range, which needs to be lit by a person standing there with a match.....so I dont think it would be possible to fit a timer to such an (old) system?
Click to expand...
Misunderstood you. I thought you said it was
an old house, (which)currently has ofch
Click to expand...
I don't understand what you meant was cosy and quaint:D Maybe storage heaters would indeed do the trick and running on night elec the cost should be kept reasonable but I have heard horror stories about mounting costs so I'd advise you to check out the running costs. Had a similar home and the were just the ticket but that was in another country.
 
Ya, cosy & quaint, except you could take out the 'cosy' part at the moment :eek:

Apologies for my stupidity, but would it be a plumber, an electrician or a heating specialist I should look for/speak to?
 
It's an electrician for storage heaters. But I don't advise this route. Preferable to have the central heating working efficiently for this you need a plumber.
 
The heating system that is currently in the house is really old, and really is past its best.
To replace it with a new range etc. would cost around 5 grand, whereas installing a few storage heaters would cost less than 1 grand. I know there is the ongoing cost of storage heaters but it would still be cheaper than upgrading current system I think.

Anyone know roughly how much a month a 2.2kw storage heater would cost?
 
A 2.2KW storage heater will cost approx 13 euro per week if it's full on. Less ESB price plan discounts if you qualify.
 
You have said that budget is an issue. It is for all of us but you should try to take a long term view. Would you consider doing some insulation work on the walls and attic. Do a little of the long term work every year. The price of electricity is not going to down despite offers from ESB, Bord Gais, Airtricity etc.
 
if you 're looking for storage heaters keep an eye on donedeal.ie, you might them them second hand for next to nothing , they weigh a ton so people happy to not have to move them !- we've just put 6 quite new ones in a skip- basically cos they just don't work !.....actually let me qualify that- they prob work quite well if you've a good, new, well insulated house, and you manage them quite effectively- use the night storage etc. but if you have an old stone house thats takes a few days to really heat up in winter when its been empty for a few days I don't think they'll do the job for you- you'd be much better investing in the insulation and putting local heating where yuo're afraid pipes will freeze (or drain down system if gonna be empty for a while).

the cost of upgrading your current central heating might suprise you as not being that much - if the radiators etc are there you really just need to get a basic oil boiler installed and hooked up to existing system
 
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