Storage Heaters

Katie-Kat-Kins

fb1969 wrote: »

That is what I was thinking. From my limited knowledge I think that storage heaters would have to have an input and an output. These sound like panel heaters and, if they are, could account for the high bills.

Oh dear could be the problem then....... will have to try turning them off and seeing what happens.....

And I guess that means we'll have to find somewhere else to dry the washing as it will take ages in the spare room if the heater is off!

Katie-Kat-Kins

hippey wrote: »

This sounds almost like the Heatwise tariff that made a short lived appearance some years ago, all I know is I believe there were 4 periods throughout the day acting as a boost for heating, but most suppliers don't offer it anymore.

It is an npower sign online tariff. We compared and went for the one that looked cheapest. We said that we wanted economy 7 but I don't remember anything about all these multiple rates.....

Magentasue

KatP wrote: »

Oh dear could be the problem then....... will have to try turning them off and seeing what happens.....

And I guess that means we'll have to find somewhere else to dry the washing as it will take ages in the spare room if the heater is off!

Storage heaters have an input dial for storage - the higher the setting, the more electricity is used and more heat is stored. You then set the output to lowest possible so that, although heat is leaching out, it's doing so slowly. If you want more heat, you turn output up higher, but then the heat 'runs out' faster. Some have a boost setting to get more heat later in the day.

Panel heaters are completely different. They're like the cheap to buy/horrendously expensive to run plug in heaters. You turn them on when you want heat - usually during the day using expensive daytime electricity if you're on Econ7. If this is what you have, turning them off at night and a single rate tariff will probably be better for you.

Katie-Kat-Kins

Thanks we actually have two things that might be these panel heaters and three storage heaters. One in the second bedroom (office) one in the lounge diner and one in the downstairs hall. I will try to keep these panel heaters off and use just the storage ones and see what that does to our readings.

dunloadin

Looks to me from your posts that you have a Comfort Plus, THTC type heating system.

Is it a Token/Key meter or do you pay by quarterly bill?

Is there one or two meters? I ask as the meter with the 'boost' button sounds like a radio telemeter (not to be confused with a teleswitch)

A photo would be great, should be able to suss it out then (make sure serial numbers are obliterated tho!)

Fire_Fox

KatP wrote: »

It isn't quite warm enough for us to turn ours off yet but we have turned a couple off and lowered the settings on the others to keep it at "one jumper warmth". I don't expect to wander around in a t-shirt but don't want to be wearing more clothes in the house than outdoors!

I really hate the lack of subtle control with them. Central heating with a proper thermostat is so much easier...... but we don't have a gas supply so it just isn't realistic for us.

We switched our heating off in mid February right after the really cold snap! How well insulated is your property? How thick is your one jumper? Do you wear a t-shirt and camisole or long sleeved top underneath? Do you own any fleeces? They are light enough to be able to wear one or two layers without feeling restricted.