storeage heaters

jatbaws

im just wondering if any body knows what is the best way to use them ie what time to switch on and of to save on my electricity bill


they have a input and a output dial
dimplex cxl24n

KimYeovil

They should have two controls. One determines how much heat they store automatically during the off-peak hours. The second dial controls how slowly or quickly they release the stored heat over the following day.

It depends on the model how this second dial is used. If you aren't at home during the day you obviously want to limit how much is released before you come home. Easiest thing to do is to google the make and model of the heaters and see if you can find a manual. Or post the actual model here.

(Unfortunately most storage heaters are very difficult to limit the heat leakage when the second dial is set to minimum output. Particularly when it is cold you may run out of heat by the late evening. Nice for plants and pets left at home during the day. Less fun for you after 9pm when you may have to resort to manually switching the heating element on at peak daytime prices.)

gemstars

What ones have you got? Do they all have separate switches?

They should be hooked up to your overnight rate so that once you switch them on they store the heat up overnight using the cheaper electricity and then let it out during the following day.

Mine have the option to turn them up or down and a boost switch if I need extra heat during the day.

penrhyn

These appear to be dual storage and convector heaters, the storage part should be wire to a separate circuit and automatically controlled by a radio teleswitch, (assuming you are on an Economy 7 tarriff).
The convector which would run on day rate electricity should be used sparingly.

jatbaws

so basically i turn them up at night and down during the day thanks 4 everybodys help

Be_Happy

Jatbaws

Not sure if you quite understand this??

Heater has one dial marked input - this controls how much heat you take in overnight, so keep it on as low a setting as you can cope with if you want to save money. You will pay for all the heat you take in.

Think of the output dial as a fan. It is going to blast out the heat you have stored in the storage heater and the higher the setting the quicker it will send out the heat and the less you will have left for later in the day.

These two dials should not be adjusted every day, but only when there are changes in weather temperature. You don't turn them up and down daily. I have mine set just now as input 4 and output 1.

You will probably have a third dial (sometimes called boost) which controls the convector part of the heater and this is completely independant. It is used as an extra source of heat when you need a quick top up. It uses full price electricity and is expensive to run. You MUST make sure that this dial is switched off last thing at night or the storage heater will think it's warm enough and not take in any heat overnight, leaving you cold next day. It is easy to forget you have this boost switch on, so do make sure.