Storage Heater Changes

jibber4568

I've just purchased my first property that I'm pretty thrilled about.

The one big problem I have with it is the storage heaters. The flat currently has two storage heaters and a standalone on/off heater in the bedroom (never use this anyway).

The storage heaters are a bloody nightmare. They release all the heat whilst I'm at work during the day, and then you get minimal out of them when needed in the evenings.

Unfortunately I don't have a great amount of surplus cash to do away with them at present but I'm interested to know of others experiences with electric heating.

Is there a better electric alternative out there that won't break the bank in terms of installation or daily running costs?

Maybe my best option would be to just replace the storage heaters with more modern ones?

Don't have much experience in this area so would love to know what others do in regards to this.

Thanks

lstar337

jibber4568 wrote: »

I've just purchased my first property that I'm pretty thrilled about.

The one big problem I have with it is the storage heaters. The flat currently has two storage heaters and a standalone on/off heater in the bedroom (never use this anyway).

The storage heaters are a bloody nightmare. They release all the heat whilst I'm at work during the day, and then you get minimal out of them when needed in the evenings.

Are you using them correctly? It sounds like a condescending question, but few people understand them so it is best to throw it out there right at the start. We can help if you are unsure if you have them set up right.

jibber4568 wrote: »

Unfortunately I don't have a great amount of surplus cash to do away with them at present but I'm interested to know of others experiences with electric heating.

Getting rid of them would be a poor decision as they are virtually the only form of cheap electric heating.

jibber4568 wrote: »

Is there a better electric alternative out there that won't break the bank in terms of installation or daily running costs?

I would say no. There are alternatives out there, but without grants installation and costs would be expensive.

jibber4568 wrote: »

Maybe my best option would be to just replace the storage heaters with more modern ones?

Possibly. Mostly the technology is unsophisticated and 'just works' so there has not been a great deal of investment in upgrades. There is only really one type that has been upgraded to offer extra controllability, and that is a Dimplex Quantum or one of its other brand iterations. Take note though, the upgrades are really only about the controls. The advantage for you would be that they only release their heat via a fan so it would be better for the evening heat that you crave.

jibber4568

Thanks for your prompt reply.

I think I'm using them correctly, I've tried all sorts of combinations but at present this is what I'm doing.

Input is left on 3/4 at all times.

Output is left on 1 at all times.

When I wake in the morning they are red hot despite being on an output of 1. When I'm in the flat at weekends they tend to stay hot for most of the day.

By the time I get in from work they are luke warm. Increasing the output does nothing. I assume this is because they have already let all the stored heat out during the day.

Jitterbug123

I turn my input down to 1 when I get up. And leave it at that until I go to bed.

When I am at work I have the output set at 1, and in the evening I turn it up to whatever is comfortable, and they seem to work. Additionally mine have a fan.

lstar337

Ok, you need to keep your output closed at all times, unless you need a boost. That is why they are running out of heat.

The heater is like a box with two controls. One control (input) determines how much heat is put in the box at night. The other control (output (sometimes called boost)) determines how much heat is let out of the box and in to the room. The output is actually just a hole with a flap over it (damper) that opens when you turn the knob. Sophisticated eh?

If the heater is correctly sized (good), or over sized (better), then you should never need to use the output/boost control.
The reason for this is that the box will release a little heat all day long because it is not perfectly insulated. That heat will just go towards warming the fabric of the building and stopping the room from going cold. If you open the damper, like a bucket with a hole in it, all the heat will leak out and you will have none left in the evening.

Try keeping the damper closed, and put the input at full. If there is still no heat when you get home then the heater is either a) Undersized or b)faulty.

Hope that helps.

lstar337

Jitterbug123 wrote: »

I turn my input down to 1 when I get up. And leave it at that until I go to bed.

When I am at work I have the output set at 1, and in the evening I turn it up to whatever is comfortable, and they seem to work. Additionally mine have a fan.

Fan assist models do operate a little differently, but there should be no reason to turn the input up or down on a daily basis. Obviously for winter it should be high, autumn/spring lower, and off for winter.

I don't see why you would set the output to 1 when you are at work either, that's just heating an empty building.

jibber4568

Thanks for the input guys. Unfortunately I don't have an option to set the output as closed or off. The lowest it will go is 1 which is what I am currently leaving it at all day/night.

The only time I turn output up is when it's chilly in the evenings but it doesn't make any difference.

With the output at 1 in the morning the heaters are far too hot for what I imagine minimum output should be.

Is there a way I can test that they are working properly. Surely I am right in thinking an output of 1 should trickle out a very small amount of heat?

lstar337

jibber4568 wrote: »

Thanks for the input guys. Unfortunately I don't have an option to set the output as closed or off. The lowest it will go is 1 which is what I am currently leaving it at all day/night.

OK, it could just be that the closed position is labelled (1). Can you look through the grill and see the flap?

jibber4568 wrote: »

The only time I turn output up is when it's chilly in the evenings but it doesn't make any difference.

Sounds like you are using them correctly then.

jibber4568 wrote: »

With the output at 1 in the morning the heaters are far too hot for what I imagine minimum output should be.

They usually are raging hot in the morning, mostly because they are fully charged. Remember that the output only controls the little flap which allows air to travel up through the heater via convection. The outer casing will still radiate heat as the insulation is not perfect.

jibber4568 wrote: »

Is there a way I can test that they are working properly. Surely I am right in thinking an output of 1 should trickle out a very small amount of heat?

Yeah, it should just be radiant heat from the outer casing. If you open the damper up in the morning you should feel a rush of heat from the grill at the top. Don't leave the damper open though as it will empty the heater fast!

jibber4568

Thanks for that. I'll try and check that over tonight/tomorrow morning.

Richie-from-the-Boro

What's the name and model of the bloody nightmare heaters. I would never have a fan assisted .. .. even the Dimplex FXL range are merely an admission of insufficient designed storage quantity in the first place.

Two kinds of fan assisted, (1) 13a stand alone resistive fan heater built within the storage heater and discharges though the bottom and (2) fan only draws existing heat from the bicks down through the heater and discharges it through the bottom on a air stream.

- input set to full output set to zero, completely damped closed
- they should be red hot and untouchable in the morning
- convection and radiation, if its untouchable in the morning why the need for any convection ?

"""When I'm in the flat at weekends they tend to stay hot for most of the day""" suggests it only gets cold on weekdays - illogical my friend.

lstar337

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

What's the name and model of the bloody nightmare heaters. I would never have a fan assisted .. .. even the Dimplex FXL range are merely an admission of insufficient designed storage quantity in the first place.

Two kinds of fan assisted, (1) 13a stand alone resistive fan heater built within the storage heater and discharges though the bottom and (2) fan only draws existing heat from the bicks down through the heater and discharges it through the bottom on a air stream.

- input set to full output set to zero, completely damped closed
- they should be red hot and untouchable in the morning
- convection and radiation, if its untouchable in the morning why the need for any convection ?

"""When I'm in the flat at weekends they tend to stay hot for most of the day""" suggests it only gets cold on weekdays - illogical my friend.

They have very similar names Richie, but I believe only jitterbug123 has fan assisted heaters.

jibber4568, has standard NSH.