Is it worth paying an electrician to fix storage heaters?

JoJoB

The only source of heating in my house is 2 old storage heaters which both seem to have stopped working at the same time. Probably I should invest in new ones, but obviously if they are easily fixable I would rather do that so as not to waste money and put workable things in landfill.

Does anyone know if there are simple things which go wrong with them and parts easily replaced etc? And if a standard electrician could figure it out or if I should find one specially qualified in this sort of heating?

I have wasted so much money on various electricians and plumbers over the last year that I am nervous of getting one round again!

totalsolutions

Hi, Those heaters are old now and the elements (several in there) fail over time, so one or more elements may need replacing.
Right, the iron slabs in them store heat from charging up over night from about midnight to about 7am. Do you still have Economy 7 electricity tarrif? Does the meter go 'clunk' at midnight? Is the power switch on? Do they warm up/get hot? Might be better/cheaper to get some new, (don't know the costs)

Akom

HI

You will find any good electrician would be able to fix your heaters.

Did they both stop working at exactly the same time or did this happen over time?

If they both stopped working at exactly the same time it maybe just a case of a blown fuse back at the fuse board.

If it happened over time then it may well be the heating elements as earlier stated.

Some other suggestions would be:

Make sure they are switched on. Were the cable goes into the wall there is usually a switch on the wall. Also check the controls on the heating are all set correctly.

Is there anyway you can see if any electricity is getting to them i.e are there any lights that come on.(if you are on economy 7 then they will only come on in the early hours of the morning)

These may seem obvious things but i used to be an electrician and you'd be amazed what things people miss!

Good luck.

JoJoB

Thanks for that, I will definitely get an electrician in then - just have to find a reputable firm. The two did not stop working at exactly the same time so shouldn't be a fuse. I have made sure they are switched on at the wall and changed the fuse in the switch just in case it was that. We are on economy 7 though as the meter is way downstairs I have never heard it go clunk!

As to the controls - I must confess it's always been a guess with setting those, I have no manual or anything, but seemed to get them working ok when we moved in just by using trial and error.

Thanks for all the advice.