Central heating - electricity only

[Bodger47]

Hi,

I run a medium sized shop that is currently heated with a few fan heaters. Its not ideal as they are costly to run, create a tripping hazard and blow the dust around (one of my staff says it affects her asthma so we don't have it on when she's in!)

We don't have a gas supply at all, only electricity but we have an old cylinder that's heated with an immersion heater and pretty much never gets used as we have electrical hot water heaters above each sink which provide instant hot water. The immersion heater does work though and the water gets very hot after about half an hour and stays hot for ages. I was wondering whether its technically possible to somehow run a couple of radiators off this? Or any other ideas?

Thanks

 

[steadyon]

Easier to buy an electric boiler, run some radiators off it. You could even use it to heat the cylinder as well, provided the cylinder is suitable, which it probably isn't.

 

[gmartine]

Electric is always going to be the most expensive option, thought about gas (propane bottles)?

Difficult to say if it's going to be any cheaper but a gas radiant heater might be a nicer option in a shop than an electric fan.

https://www.calor.co.uk/shop/in-the-home/portable-gas-heaters.html

 

[joni os]

As shops open during day, when air temperature is relatively high, this is one of few situations where I would consider air source heat pump. Unsure what green energy grants are available to commercial premises.

 

[Worcester]

Air source heat pump, not too expensive to install, some RHI support is available for commercial A2w use, however the cost of installing metering may mean that you don't bother to claim it.

In practice a small air-air heat pump that can heat in winter and cool in summer would be ideal. We install these in loads of people conservatories, gyms, media rooms etc, as well as small shops.