storage heater/economy 7 queries

Katie-Kat-Kins

schubertdog wrote: »

One point that a lot of people on here seem to be missing is that as soon as the E7 or E10 comes on in the evening and the storage heaters start the process of warming up they will also start to give off some heat as well as storing it, the amount of heat will depend on what setting you have the output set to.
You need to be warm in bed but shouldn't have the heating set too high so that you are actually hot while trying to sleep.

If you find that all of the heat has gone from your storage heater before going to bed then using a thermostatically controlled portable oil filled radiator is the safest way to introduce some additional heat without breaking the bank. Try different settings to get a temp of 16C - 18C

You quoted me, but that was exactly what I was saying, that even with the output on minimum the heater will "leak heat" through the night.

uknowsit

Hi all, I'm wondering if someone can help as i'm totally confused.

I moved into a house with Economy 7 Tariff, on a pre pay meter. There is no central heating, the only heat comes from plug in radiators and 1 gas fire. The hot water comes from the immersion heater which is stored in a cupboard.

I recently changed from pre pay - to direct debit and as I don;t use any electricty in the night, i ditched the economy 7 tariff.

Now, my immersion heater dosn't work. Teh supplier tells me a need to be on economy 7 (or 2 tariff meter) for this to work. Is this right? After all, the immersion only heats the hot water as i have no storage heaters for it to provide too.

I was paying around £70 p/m on the pre pay meter - just me in a 2 bed house, which is one of the reasons for switching to a direct debit online tariff.

Would appreciate any help or advice as i'm totally lost. I keep getting asked if I have "storage heaters", but don't really know what they are.

Katie-Kat-Kins

Storage heaters are a type of heater, they are fixed to the wall and wired into the electricity. They are "fatter" than normal electric panel heaters as they are filled with "bricks" which are heated up on cheap rate E7 electric and then discharge heat during the day.

Do the panel heaters you have now heat up since you have disconnected the E7? If they do then you probably don't have storage heaters. As your immersion is connected through the E7 it is likely that you once had storage heaters but someone removed them and replaced them with normal electric heaters.

Immersions aren't always connected through the E7 - we have storage heaters but our immersion runs off the main circuit so we can turn it on and off at will without waiting for night time.

It sounds as though when your E7 was disconnected it left your immersion without an electricity supply.

You have a few options:
1. Get an electrician out to look at the wiring and get the immersion wired into the main circuit, continue using a standard rate tarriff for everything and be prepared for pricey bills.
2. Get the E7 reconnected so the immersion works as before and make the most of the E7 by using as many appliances as possible during the E7 period and stick with your current heating. Your bills may not be any cheaper than in example 1 but they shouldn't really be more.
3. Get the E7 reconnected so the immersion works as before, and then change some of your heaters for storage heaters. This involves some outlay but should cut your bills a bit as the storage heaters and immersion will use cheaper rate electric.
4. Stick as you are and use alternative means to heat your water, electric shower, kettle, etc.

Cardew

uknowsit wrote: »

Now, my immersion heater dosn't work. Teh supplier tells me a need to be on economy 7 (or 2 tariff meter) for this to work. Is this right?

I expect your house originally was fitted with Storage heaters, but have now been removed.

It was a normal procedure for the storage heaters and immersion heater to be wired so they only came on when the house switched over to cheap rate electricity during the night.

It will be a simple task for an electrician to disconnect the immersion heater from the E7 off-peak wiring and reconnect to the normal house wiring.

ballzylassie

hello all,

we've been having problems with getting our heaters to work this winter, and i suspect some construction over the summer is the cause. we're on economy 10. right now the heaters are working but they go on during the PEAK hours!! we know this is the case because one of the switch light on one of the heaters.

we have had the electric company come and reset the timer - I think there are two switches (out in the hallway and in our flat) - and even installed a new timer, but it's still going on during the non-peak periods.

it's such a hassle to get the electric company to come and do anything so i was wondering if there's anything we can try given their (seemingly earnest) efforts.

anyone know what the cause could be?

our initial prob was that the heaters wouldn't go on, and the apparent cause was that something was preventing the heater switch from switching fully on due to reduced space in the switch box. the electric company has come twice: first to reset the economy switch, the second to reset the timer. as i am new to the uk, i have no clue what specifically was done to address these two problems, but there it is.

thanks in advance for your help!

koolkat66

I am in a flat with Economy 9 (moved in about 6 months ago). The meter is in the basement of the next door building. I do not have access to either the basement or the other building, so I have no way to check on my electricity consumption.
First of all, I have a 2-hours boost in the afternoon, which leaves another 7 hours of cheap electricity at night. EoN says is between 10 and 7, which makes it 9 hours instead of four. The heater comes on at 10 (can see the switch coming on) and recently have been going off at 12 midnight. Then it starts again (not sure what time) because in the morning is on till 7.
Is the timer set incorrectly? Or does it switch itself off because it has reached temperature? But then, why would it start agin?
I am a bit confused...
Cristina

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi Cristina

Sounds like you're on what we call a Restricted Hour Tariff (RHT) set up.

These are usually for all electric properties with storage heaters or other particular heating arrangements like under floor heating.

The meter will be wired directly into the water heating and central heating circuits at the property. This will allow a set number of hours per day at cheaper off peak rates for water and heating requirements only.

During these times, there will also be a number of hours each day where general household appliances (like washing machines, tumble dryers etc) can be used at the off peak rates.

A timeswitch will be used to switch the meter between the different time periods.

Switching times vary depending on the actual meter and the area you live.

RHT tends to be a bit of a hybrid arrangement. I would have a chat with one of our specialist metering teams. Ask them for the switching times for your particular meter (they are called Time Pattern Regimes or TPRs). They will be happy to help.

Alternatively, drop an email to the address in my Profile; I'll be glad to have a look for you.

Malc

koolkat66

Hi Malc, I think this is exactly what I got. I cannot find the email address in your profile,only EoN website...could you please post it to me?

Many thanks,

Cristina

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi Cristina

I'm afraid MSE don't allow Helena or myself access to the PM function.

If you click on my name and then Public Profile, my contact details are under Biography in the 'About Me' section.

Look forward to receiving your email.

Malc

garethcnmjones

I am in a flat with Economy 9 (moved in about 6 months ago). The meter is in the basement of the next door building. I do not have access to either the basement or the other building, so I have no way to check on my electricity consumption.
First of all, I have a 2-hours boost in the afternoon, which leaves another 7 hours of cheap electricity at night. EoN says is between 10 and 7, which makes it 9 hours instead of four. The heater comes on at 10 (can see the switch coming on) and recently have been going off at 12 midnight. Then it starts again (not sure what time) because in the morning is on till 7.
Is the timer set incorrectly? Or does it switch itself off because it has reached temperature? But then, why would it start agin?
I am a bit confused...
Cristina

economy ones are awful...