Recommendations needed for heating studio apartment...

scolarda

Hi,

I'm looking for some recommendations on what I can do with my apartment. I live in a reasonably sized studio apartment - about 42sq.m - which basically has no heating installed. Last winter I had horrific electricity bills trying to run the provided plug in radiators to heat the place.
The landlord is willing to make some minor changes to the property if necessary to get a better system in, but not at a large cost (e.g. central heating installation not a goer). Anyone got any advice for the most cost-efficient way to heat the apartment?

Thanks

antoinolachtnai

Insulation is the biggest way to save. How many external walls are there and is it on the top floor? If it is on the ground floor, does the floor seem very cold?

For actual heating, getting a day/night meter, heating hot water at night, and installing storage heaters are probably going to be the options.

Do you know how much electricity you used in kWh?

scolarda

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

Insulation is the biggest way to save. How many external walls are there and is it on the top floor? If it is on the ground floor, does the floor seem very cold?

For actual heating, getting a day/night meter, heating hot water at night, and installing storage heaters are probably going to be the options.

Do you know how much electricity you used in kWh?

3 external walls, it's actually a bungalow split into two apartments. The other apartment has the majority of the house.

I should have specified that it's a bit of an odd arrangement whereby there's one electricity bill for the entire property and a meter for each apartment, so the people in the larger apartment get the bill and work out what my share is. As such I don't have control of what electricity plan we use and I don't think they'd switch to a night saver plan as there's no benefit to them. Not sure if storage heating is a goer if I can't switch the plan?

In terms of usage, in the summer when I don't use the plug in radiators I use about 350/400 units in two months. The highest usage I had in winter with the radiators on was 1500.

Thanks

antoinolachtnai

Yikes. The cheapest, fastest thing is to insulate the attic. This will improve things more than any other single measure. I would also take steps to make the ceiling airtight, i.e., check the vents, lights and the like to make sure there are no gaps where warm air can escape.

If there are gaps around doors, then sealing these will make a big difference. However, be sure to allow adequate ventilation, especially if you have any sort of naked flame.

Next thing is probably the windows and the walls but you really need expert advice on this. The simplest starting point is for the landlord is to get a BER cert. This will cost around 100 euros and the guy who does it will give some pointers about possible improvements. (A BER cert is also a legal requirement for property that is being rented.)

All these issues really need to get sorted out for the building as a whole, not just your apartment.

What you say about the electricity arrangements is basically correct. You are basically stuck with daytime electricity as your heat source.

I don't know if you have considered it but an LPG/butane heater ('superser') might look attractive, but will cost more or less the same as electricity, and brings its own safety issues.

endacl

Jumpers. Lots of jumpers.