A guide to Electric

Storage Heaters

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There are three main types of electric storage heating, all of which
rely on using cheap off-peak electricity to store heat in an insulated
container of water or bricks. This stored heat can then be gradually
released into a home during the day. Dry storage heating systems tend
to be less responsive than central heating systems, and electric systems
have a reputation for being relatively expensive to run. However, cost
should not be a major issue for homes that are well insulated, and
providing that care is taken on how to use them most effectively.

Electric night storage heaters

Electric storage heaters are a less expensive way of using electricity to heat
homes than fan heaters, oil filled radiators or radiant electric bar heaters,
all of which use on-peak electricity. Storage Heaters use electricity supplied
at a cheaper night-time rate (although some tariffs also have a mid-
afternoon boost) to store heat in special heat-retaining bricks.These then
give out heat slowly and are designed to keep warm for the whole of the
following day. You can only get cheap night-time electricity if you are on an
off-peak tariff such as Economy 7 or Economy 10.
Modern, slim-line storage heaters often have a charge control (or an
automatic charge control) which adjusts the amount of heat stored
overnight. An automatic charge control does this by measuring the
temperature in the room (or more rarely, outside the house)
and if it is milder, stores
less heat (saving money
in the process). If the
storage heater has a
manual charge control,
you will have to make
this adjustment yourself.

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 Storage heaters give out their
heat in two ways:
1. By radiation from the front panel - this cannot be turned
up or down, so will give out heat continuously, day and night
(as long as there are still warm bricks behind it);
2. By convected heat in the form of warm air. This can be
adjusted simply by flaps above the heat store, which can constrict
the airflow through the store, so reducing the amount of heat taken
from the store. More sophisticated storage heaters also have a fan
which can blow air over the storage area to produce a heat boost;
however it will also cool the heater down more quickly and if used
too much may result in the storage heater getting cold before the
evening when it is able to be heated up again.

Manual operation of the room

temperature boost control
With the room temperature boost control on setting I the damper
remains closed, and heat is released from the heater only by radiation
and convection around the outer surfaces of the heater. During
warmer weather this alone may provide sufficient heat and therefore
no alteration to the room temperature boost control is necessary.
However if a boost of heat is required, for example in the evening,
then moving the control to setting 9 will immediately open the damper
to allow a more rapid release of any available stored heat.
When the next charging period commences (over night) you should
ensure the boost control is turned back to setting I to close the
damper, and prevent the release of extra heat whilst the heater is
charging, if the damper is not closed then heat will be released too
quickly, and the heater may have become cold by the evening.

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Automatic operation of room
temperature boost control
The damper may be pre-set to open automatically each day if
required. Setting the room temperature boost control at settings other
than position 1 results in an automatic earlier or later boost of heat
depending on the setting selected i.e. a higher setting gives a boost
earlier, a lower setting gives a boost later.
Because the automatic opening of the damper is dependent upon the
‘core’ temperature of the heater, the setting of the input control has an
impact on the time that the damper will open and provide a boost of
heat i.e. the higher the input control setting, the later the boost control
damper will open, and the lower the input control setting, the earlier
the boost control damper will open.
The most suitable settings for individual residents will vary according
to taste, and it may take a little ‘experimentation’ to achieve the best
settings for you, but remember if you switch the room temperature
boost control to a high setting too early in the day, you may leave too
little heat stored in the radiator for use in the evening.

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 Cleaning
To maintain the external appearance of the heater, it need only be
wiped over occasionally with a dry duster. During the summer or when
the heater is turned off and cold, the heater can be wiped over with a
damp cloth, but you should not use abrasive cleaners or polish.

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Setting the controls
The control knobs have been positioned so that they are clearly visible
to an adult, but out of sight of young children. In this way it is hoped
that they will not provide temptation to a child to alter the settings.
Domestic Use
The right hand (INPUT) knob should initially be set at the midway
position. If after the first charge period the room temperature is too
high or too low, the position of this knob should be moved to a lower
or higher position as appropriate. The most suitable position should
be found by experience, and the control may be left at this position
without further alteration.
Normally the left hand (OUTPUT) knob may be left on minimum
(fully anticlockwise).This control may be moved to maximum in the
evening if additional heat is required at the time. Return to minimum
before retiring.
Commercial Use
For normal commercial applications a setting of maximum on the
output control will ensure maximum output during working hours. The
input control should be set as described above for Domestic Use.
Please note: The layout of the controls may vary depending on the
manufacturer. Please carefully check when using these instructions.

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Common questions asked about
night storage and water heating
Can I move my storage heater?
For safety reasons this should only be attempted by a qualified
electrician, as it is essential that all electrical supplies to the heater
are disconnected switched and all bricks removed. The Association
will allow this in certain circumstances, but you must seek
permission in writing and agree to paying the costs, before having
the work undertaken.

Can I put shelving above my heater?

Special shelves are available from the heater manufacturers specifically
for use with storage heaters, however they must be installed strictly in
accordance with the manufacturers instructions. The Association
will allow this in certain circumstances, but you must seek
permission in writing and agree to paying the costs, before having
the work undertaken.

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 Can I dry my clothes on my heater?
You should never cover the surfaces of the heater or obstruct the air
outlet grilles of your storage heaters as this could present a fire risk,
and could also cause temperatures to rise excessively and damage
the heater.

Can I paint my storage heaters?

We do not advise the painting of any storage heaters, as the paint
finishes used by the manufacturers are specially formulated to
withstand the high temperatures involved. You may put yourself at
unnecessary risk if you attempt to paint your storage heaters with an
unsuitable paint.

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Can I put a radiator cover over
a storage heater?
No, we strongly advise against covering any storage heaters, as this will
restrict the airflow through, and output of, the heater. This could also
present a fire risk, and could cause temperatures to rise excessively
and damage the heater.

Is it wise to leave my immersion heater on

24 hours a day?
This is a myth. It is always best to use the water heating timer, as
the energy lost from a hot water tank depends on the temperature
difference between the surface of the tank and its surroundings. It’s a
common myth that it somehow takes more energy to keep heating up
a tank than to maintain it at a high temperature.
Of course, there are a few “ifs” and “buts”. If the tank is highly
insulated (so standing losses are very low) and there is an effective
thermostat on the tank, then the losses through leaving it on can be
much reduced.
Some people have a need for large quantities of hot water all day long,
in which case they may have no alternative to leaving the immersion
heater on, but in general, it is much better to use timer and let the
water heat up overnight on the low cost electricity tariff.

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 www.westwardhousing.org.uk
Email: info@westwardhousing.org.uk
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Westward includes:Westcountry Housing,Tarka Housing, Help to Buy South West and Horizon Homes.
Westward Housing Group Ltd is an exempt charity, reg. soc. no. 30308R.Westcountry Housing Association Ltd, exempt charity, reg. soc. no. 19141R.
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October 2015