Storage heaters or regular radiators

[abv]

Hi Guys

We are converting an old farm house in to a holiday let and are wondering what is the best system for central heating and hot water.

There is no mains gas on the site so we have 2 ways to go. Electric storage heaters and an electric boiler. The problem with this system is if 2 people require a bath one after the other and they have to wait for the water to heat up again - is there an electric boiler that works on the same principle as a gas combi boiler (hot water on demand).

The second way to do what we want is a propane gas combi boiler and normal water filled radiator powered by the combi boiler.

The things I need to know is firstly the cost of running the two systems - which is the cheapest (apparently the new economy 10 tariff has 3 off peak slots per day). Secondly which is the most efficient, gas or electric. Thirdly, does anyone have any other solutions.

Cheers

 

[oilman]

Hi Guys

We are converting an old farm house in to a holiday let and are wondering what is the best system for central heating and hot water.

There is no mains gas on the site so we have 2 ways to go. Electric storage heaters and an electric boiler. The problem with this system is if 2 people require a bath one after the other and they have to wait for the water to heat up again - is there an electric boiler that works on the same principle as a gas combi boiler (hot water on demand).

Not that fast, a gas or oil combi is 25kW to 30kW!!

The second way to do what we want is a propane gas combi boiler and normal water filled radiator powered by the combi boiler.

Oil is a lot cheaper than LPG. Storage heaters are MUCH less maintenance than either. Don't forget, if you have gas, you will need an annual gas safety check too.

The things I need to know is firstly the cost of running the two systems - which is the cheapest (apparently the new economy 10 tariff has 3 off peak slots per day). Secondly which is the most efficient, gas or electric. Thirdly, does anyone have any other solutions.

Cheers

Look at oil, LPG and electric will both be expensive by comparison, but electric will be cheaper to install, and less to maintain.

 

[ricarbo]

If it's let out, presumably it might be empty in freezing conditions, so the risk of burst pipes goes up and insurer's might not want to pay. So I'd go for electric underfloor heating and charge the occupiers the higher cost, which won't be too bad for a short let. If it's a wet system you could put in frost protection, but what if the electricity supplies are unreliable (powercuts)? Where is this building?
That leaves the hot water problem.
You could put in a larger water store and protect the installation with trace heating under the lagging, controlled by a frost stat.

 

[crystal ball]

There are electrically heated wet c/h systems, a bit like one big storage heater heating a pumped system, I fitted one about 15 years ago to a barn conversion, 3 phase 20Kw, size of a small wardrobe