Electric Storage Heaters - Please Help!

lizzlekicks · 22 July 2015 at 9:21PM

Hi

I've just moved into my first flat and it has electric heating - storage heaters in the living room and hall and electric heaters in the two bedrooms. I have no idea how to use the heaters so that it won't cost me an absolute fortune. I want to try them all out properly to make sure they're working and still have time to go back to the seller if there's any problems.

I've tried to two heaters in the bedrooms - switched them on at the wall and they were switched to "manual" and they quickly heated up.

The two storage heaters just confuse me. They are "Heatovent" ones and after browsing the internet, I can't find any instruction manuals (although I have come across a few good general instructions/videos).

To make sure they're working, would I need to switch them on and leave them for 24 hours so they can charge up overnight? There's a thermostat on the kitchen wall ("EQ 7+") but I'm not sure if this is just for the immersion heater for the water or if it relates to when the storage heaters charge up (if not, how do they know when to charge up - ie. at night).

I'm so confused and hope I don't sound completely stupid. I'm just worried I'll end up having a huge electricity bill - being my first place, I never had to really worry about this back at my parents!

Thank you.

Richie-from-the-Boro · 22 July 2015 at 10:18PM

lizzlekicks wrote: »

Hi

I've just moved into my first flat and it has electric heating - storage heaters in the living room and hall and electric heaters in the two bedrooms. I have no idea how to use the heaters so that it won't cost me an absolute fortune. I want to try them all out properly to make sure their working and still have time to go back to the seller if there's any problems.

I've tried to two heaters in the bedrooms - switched them on at the wall and they were switched to "manual" and they quickly heated up.

The two storage heaters just confuse me. They are "Heatovent" ones and after browsing the internet, I can't find any instruction manuals (although I have come across a few good general instructions/videos).

To make sure they're working, would I need to switch them on and leave them for 24 hours so they can charge up overnight? There's a thermostat on the kitchen wall ("EQ 7+") but I'm not sure if this is just for the immersion heater for the water or if it relates to when the storage heaters charge up (if not, how do they know when to charge up - ie. at night).

I'm so confused and hope I don't sound completely stupid. I'm just worried I'll end up having a huge electricity bill - being my first place, I never had to really worry about this back at my parents!

Thank you.

- bedroom ones are panel heaters and work on 13a day unit cost
- night store heaters can be 1.7kW 2.5kW or 3.4kW and work on cheaper night rate
- water cylinder should have x2 elements :
- - one at the top on day unit cost
- - one at the bottom on cheaper night rate

- the storage heaters have two knobs, a charge [input] knob and a damper [output] knob
- the charge is the total amount 1-6 of heat you want to put in in 7 hours overnight
- the damper is like a lid on a pan of heat the more its open 1-6 the more quickly it releases heat

All the above assumes you are on an E7 tariff and wiring setup with both room heat & water heating. Is the account in your name ? Is the tariff E7 or E10 ? For one night only set the night storage damper to closed and the charge to somewhere 2-3, once you know they work you can switch them off at the wall switch till the onset of winter. Check and make sure the water heats up overnight on cheap rate.

lizzlekicks · 22 July 2015 at 11:11PM

Thanks for your reply.

I've put the one in the hallway on with the charge at 2 and damper at 1 (can't be switched off). It's just started working - noticed the really strong smell first! I suppose it won't have been used since the winter. So I'm guessing that means it's working. I'll have a proper look at my electricity tariff tomorrow (they mucked up my initial readings - one was over 50000 when it should have been only 5000) and make sure I'm on the right kind.

Thanks again.

Richie-from-the-Boro · 23 July 2015 at 12:47AM

lizzlekicks wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.

I've put the one in the hallway on with the charge at 2 and damper at 1 (can't be switched off). It's just started working - noticed the really strong smell first! I suppose it won't have been used since the winter. So I'm guessing that means it's working. I'll have a proper look at my electricity tariff tomorrow (they mucked up my initial readings - one was over 50000 when it should have been only 5000) and make sure I'm on the right kind.

Thanks again.

- photograph them, [phone] double check, and keep them
- you are usually put on the most expensive [default-standard] tariff, ask them for their cheapest tariff
- yes they will 'honk' initially, particularly after a move [dust]
- check the water heating works on cheap rate, can be left on all summer
- the room heating is winter night store only, switch em off individually at the spur switch near each heater
- best of luck

lizzlekicks · 31 July 2015 at 11:51PM

Cheers for your reply - starting to make sense.

Got the reading sorted last week so just to wait on the first bill. I contacted Scottish Power they said I have a Comfort Plus White meter and outlined the standing, day and night rates and off-peak is 11pm-7am,

I've found some instructions for the thermostat in the kitchen for the water. The previous owners had the "tappets" on the timer set for off peak from just 5am-6am. I've moved it to 11pm-7am but I suppose I could just put it for a couple of hours as I don't need to heat water the whole night. Don't know if the wiring for this is connected to the storage heaters as well as the water.

I'd love to save up and get some fancy new heaters but that's the last thing I'm thinking about just now haha!

luvchocolate · 1 August 2015 at 7:37AM

I have water on for 5 hours in the early hours, enough hot water for a daily bath, washing up etc.remember off peak will change by an hour when we move the clocks.

I have storage heater in the lounge and hallway, never use the ones in bedroom as too hot.

I pay £65 per month and got £200 back in April, they work well for me.

Electric Storage Heaters - Please Help!

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