Replacing Storage Heaters and Panel Heaters in Bristol
Night storage heaters were designed for a time when off-peak electricity was cheap and nobody expected to be warm at 9pm. Panel heaters respond faster but cost more to run. Bristol has a lot of homes still relying on one or both — purpose-built flats, converted period houses, ex-council blocks and some bungalows on the city’s edges.
An air-to-air heat pump is usually the most practical upgrade. It delivers heat when you want it, room by room, at a fraction of the running cost, and in summer it cools.
Why Electric Heating Costs So Much
No matter how new, an electric heater can only give back the energy it takes in — one for one. Storage heaters use cheaper night-rate electricity, but they release that heat on their own timetable: hot in the morning, lukewarm by evening, when most people are home. Many households end up topping up with daytime electricity anyway.
A heat pump harvests warmth from outdoors instead, so each unit of power typically yields 2.5–4 units of heat. Rooms warm up in minutes, each on its own timer and thermostat.
The £2,500 Grant for Electric Homes
Under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, direct electric heating counts as a system that can be replaced. So if you own an electrically heated Bristol home, £2,500 towards air-to-air is often on the table, provided the job meets the rules and an MCS-certified firm does it. Landlords are eligible on the same basis. Details on the grant page.
Comparing the Options
| Night storage | Panel heaters | Air-to-air heat pump | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat per unit of electricity | 1 | 1 | Typically 2.5–4 |
| Warm in the evening? | Often not | Yes | Yes |
| Control | Input and output dials | Thermostat | Thermostat, timer, app |
| Summer cooling | No | No | Yes |
| Grant | None | None | £2,500 for eligible installs |
Flats: What to Sort Out First
Freeholder or management company consent
Leases nearly always need consent for equipment on the building’s exterior. We provide a short written description of the equipment, its size, weight, noise level and position to support your request.
Where the outdoor unit goes
Typical options are a balcony, a wall bracket on a rear elevation, a flat roof or a shared garden or yard. Rules for blocks of flats are stricter, including a smaller maximum unit size under permitted development.
Pipe routes from upper floors
In upper-floor flats the pipes may run down an external wall in colour-matched trunking. We plan the neatest possible route.
Converted period houses
Clifton, Redland and Cotham have many Georgian and Victorian houses split into flats, often in conservation areas. Street-facing walls are normally off-limits, so we look to rear elevations and lightwells.
A Typical Bristol Flat Upgrade
Check the building
Look at the lease, find out who manages the building and identify where an outdoor unit could go.
Survey the rooms
Size an indoor unit for each main room and plan pipe and cable routes.
Proposal and consent
Fixed quote for you, and a summary of the works for the freeholder or managing agent.
Installation
Typically one to two days; storage heaters disconnected and removed if you want.
Handover
Room-by-room timers set up and the controls explained.
How Many Rooms?
In a one-bed flat, two indoor units — living space and bedroom — usually cover everything. Two-bed flats typically have three. Hallways and bathrooms tend to be warm enough from the rooms around them, with a towel rail in the bathroom. In larger houses we look at which rooms are used most and plan from there, keeping an eye on the outdoor unit’s capacity if you might add rooms later.
Hot Water
An air-to-air heat pump doesn’t heat water. Most electrically heated flats have an immersion cylinder or electric shower, which stays as it is. An old, badly lagged tank is worth replacing while we’re there.
Houses and Bungalows
Electrically heated houses and bungalows benefit in exactly the same way. Typically the lounge and main bedroom go first, with other rooms following. If you’d prefer radiators and hot water from a single system, an air-to-water heat pump with a £7,500 grant is the alternative.
Making the Most of Your Tariff
Storage heaters are usually paired with an Economy 7-style tariff. Once they’ve gone, it’s worth comparing tariffs again: some suit heat pumps better, with cheaper periods during the day as well as overnight. Combined with timers on each indoor unit, you can warm rooms through cheaper hours and keep them comfortable when you’re home.
What About the Old Heaters?
We can disconnect and remove storage heaters as part of the installation and make the wiring safe. Storage heaters are heavy and contain bricks that need careful handling, so it’s easier to have them taken away on the same visit.
Landlords
Bristol has a large private rented sector, and electrically heated rentals are a common source of high bills and condensation complaints. A heat pump can lower tenants’ costs, improve comfort and help the energy rating. We can liaise with tenants for access.
Condensation
Intermittent electric heating leaves walls cold for long periods, which is when condensation and mould take hold. Gentle, continuous heat keeps walls above dew point, and dry mode pulls water out of the air. It won’t cure structural damp, but it often helps everyday condensation.
What Bristol customers typically pay
Two- and three-room flats generally land in the multi-room band; qualifying owners then deduct £2,500.
- One room, air-to-air£1,500 – £3,500
- Two rooms on one outdoor unit£3,000 – £6,000
- Four or more rooms£5,000 – £12,000+
- Air-to-water heat pump (boiler swap)£8,000 – £14,000
Ranges reflect typical Bristol installs in 2026. We confirm an exact figure in writing after visiting the property. How we price a job.