storage heaters

mande_2

hi can any one tell me if you can use radiator covers on electric storage heaters.

nick74

No, electric storage heaters can potentially get much hotter than water filled radiators and the manufacturers usually state that nothing should be fitted directly above or very close to the front or sides of them.

Viper_7

enough people sell them....

eg
http://www.salixonline.co.uk/rads/storage.html

Greenr

mande wrote: »

hi can any one tell me if you can use radiator covers on electric storage heaters.

We have radiator covers over our night storage heaters. It's ok in the summer months while they're off obviously but during the colder months when the heaters are on, we pull them away quite a bit. if you do get some, get the bigger ones!

economiser

Remember covers will effect output. Probably reduce by about 15%. This is not making them less efficient, just less heat at any one time.

Edit: Previous post just beat me to the draw but proves the point I think.

nick74

If you ensure that the cover is far larger than the heater it may be ok, but personally I wouldn't.
I have seen these where the cover has been scorched by being in too close proximity to the storage heater. Just because people sell them doesn't mean it's a good idea.

Greenr

nick74 wrote: »

If you ensure that the cover is far larger than the heater it may be ok, but personally I wouldn't.
I have seen these where the cover has been scorched by being in too close proximity to the storage heater. Just because people sell them doesn't mean it's a good idea.

we keep the output on the lowest setting to be on the safe side but make sure they're pulled well away when the heaters are on. I have seen one of the top of the radiator covers warp due to the heat so probably should have got bigger ones!!

nick74

I've just had a quick look at the installation instructions for one of my storage heaters. The manufacturers state that nothing must be fitted within 50 CM of the front panel of the heater.
To comply with that it would have to be one damn big cover!

Viper_7

I don't use covers but I put a radiator shelf over the top as the walls were being discoloured by the heat.

If they sell them-they they are deemed safe - imagine the lawsuits if there was a problem with their product - when used in conjunction with the manufacturers guidelines.

The output won't change much- the heat is still dissipated into the room, even if it heats up the cover first, the cover then puts out the heat, you don't lose any efficiency.

nick74

Viper_7 wrote: »

If they sell them-they they are deemed safe - imagine the lawsuits if there was a problem with their product - when used in conjunction with the manufacturers guidelines.

Consider though that many of the makers of these covers refuse to give advice re covering storage heaters and simply say "refer to the manufacturer of your storage heater".
Generally speaking if you do then refer to the manufacturer of your heater they tell you not to use covers!

Viper_7

nick74 wrote: »

Consider though that many of the makers of these covers refuse to give advice re covering storage heaters and simply say "refer to the manufacturer of your storage heater".
Generally speaking if you do then refer to the manufacturer of your heater they tell you not to use covers!

true!........... and some more text to make it long enough to post....