Storage heaters

What is a storage heater?

A storage heater is an electrical heating device in which stores heat during off-peak hours (usually at night) and releases it gradually throughout the day. They may be the right purchase for you if your are looking for a more cost effective way in which to heat your home, especially during the winter period. As they use electricity during off-peak hours the rates are a lot less expensive.

Basic controls

The input switch will need to be altered base on the predicted forecast for the next day. This switch is usually thermostatic, meaning that it will cut of the charge when the room reaches a certain temperature overnight. Most individuals will turn the input switch up to maximum during the winter months as the same weather prevails weekly. However, the output switch may require some daily attention, for example; this switch should be dialled to the minimum setting during the night as this is when heat should be retained. Therefore, during the day you should slowly increase the output levels to gradually maintain a suitable temperature throughout your home. 

Benefits

• Cost-effective: They take advantage of lower electricity rates during off-peak hours.
• Energy-efficient: Ideal for homes with Economy 7 or similar tariffs.
• Low maintenance: With fewer moving parts, they require minimal upkeep.

Drawbacks

• Limited control: Heat is stored overnight and can’t be adjusted quickly during the day.
• Slow to heat up: They need time to charge and release heat.

Storage heaters are great for those with predictable heating needs and access to off-peak electricity, but may not be ideal if flexibility or quick heat is required.

Types of Storage Heaters:

There are several types of storage heaters available, each with its own features:

• Manual Storage Heaters: These are the most basic and require manual control to adjust the amount of heat stored and released. You can set the amount of heat you want to store, but you must adjust them based on weather patterns and personal preferences.
• Automatic Storage Heaters: These models come with built-in thermostats that automatically adjust the heat stored and released based on your daily heating requirements, taking into account factors such as outdoor temperature and the time of day.
• Fan-Assisted Storage Heaters: These heaters use a fan to circulate the stored heat, ensuring that the warmth is distributed more evenly and efficiently throughout the room.
• High heat retention storage heaters: Newest version, with a minimum of 45% heat retention 24hrs after a full charge. Our agency ONLY fits these. 

Tips for achieving best outcome with storage heater:

1. The ‘output’ setting of the heater should be turned off during the night and when not at home.
2. The optional boost setting can be used to release extra warmth during colder conditions.
3. Avoid the use of supplementary plug-in heaters, instead turn up the input on your storage heater.