Electric heating options for 1 bed flat

[cbk]

Hi Guys,

 

Looking for some advice on options for heating a small 1 bed flat being build above my garage.  Space comprises open  plan living/kitchen area with adjoining bathroom and separate bedroom.  Approx 50m2, U Values roof =0.13, Walls = 0.13, Floor = 0.19, roof lights = 1.0.  Heating needs to be electric and a self contained system.  Options I was considering were either electric UFH or electric radiators.  Preferred floor finish would be engineered timber so not ideal for UFH I am told.  I've just learned of a third option using a small electric boiler and traditional wet radiators.  This seems to be the cheapest to install.  Does anybody have any experience of this type of system?

 

Thanks in advance.

[ProDave]

Small air source heat pump driving wet under floor heating, will be about 1/3 the running cost compared to resistance heating.

 

NO problem with wet UFH under engineered timber floor.

 

It depends what you want, cheap install or cheap running cost.  I would say the way energy prices are going cheap running cost is most important.

 

[Radian]

Another option is air-to-air (i.e. air con) which can provide heating or cooling at the same efficiency levels as air to water but currently at 10% the cost for the equipment. The only downside is having some noise and moving air. However, as a room-in-roof, the cooling may be a serious consideration. Again, air-to-air has you covered plus if you have solar PV on the roof the running cost of summer cooling can be very minimal.

[Mr Punter]

That is a fair sized garage!  Another vote for air-to-air.

 

Domestic hot water is often an issue for smaller flats but the air-to-air won't work for this, so you are down to resistance heating either instantaneous or store in a cylinder.

[cbk]

Thanks guys, I will have solar PV so that seems to point in favour of the air-to-air option.  Never considered this before as assumed it to be expensive.  Build location is Shropshire so any suggestions on where to go for a design/quote?

[JohnMo]

Heating costs should be really low, what ever option you choose.

 

Not sure an electric boiler and wet rads would be on my list. Disadvantages, expensive to run, plumbing.

 

Need to offset capital cost over running cost.

 

I/R Panel heater? Easy to install, thin, quick to operate / heat you. Or A2A 

 

Remember you will need ventilation, MVHR, dMEV, or normal extract fans.

[tonyshouse]

I would go A2A and a £20 convector heater as backup 

[Mr Punter]

Be good to find an installer that is able to fit a few makes.  Daikin, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Panasonic etc.  You need an FGAS installer.  You can only DIY the prep work, not the fitting.  Just a unit in the main room would be cheapest.  The bedroom will need little / no extra heat.  Electric towel rad in bathroom.

 

You could get the whole lot supplied and fitted for between £1,000 and £2,000 if you shop around.

[Radian]

Purchase price for a mini split is around £500 hence why I said 10% the cost of an wet ASHP. You can also buy one-piece units like this for £900 on Amazon although they used to be only £500!

 

Nearly all units come pre-charged these days so while they ought to be installed by FGAS installers, in practice most people DIY them. Honestly, if it wasn't for the noise (I certainly wouldn't have that single unit one) I'd jump at these as a way to heat my garage attic room. Still on the fence over that ?

[SteamyTea]

A2AHP for space heating and cooling.

Exhaust ASHP for the DHW. Can be designed to solve the ventilation issue.

 

My 2 bed house is smaller than this small 1 bed flat, and no space list to stairs and landing in a flat.

[SteamyTea]

2 hours ago, Radian said:

solar PV on the roof the running cost of summer cooling

Helps reduce peak temperatures as well as when it is really sunny, it takes 20% of the energy out, as long as it has a full time dump load or us grid connected.