Storage Heaters...help!

Newbie000

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I have recently moved into a flat that is home to some rather old looking storage heaters. As a first time renter I have no idea how they operate!

I'm aware they are the most expensive type of heating so I would just like to get some guidance on how to use them and limit the damage of the bill so have a few questions...

I've read that it is best to be on an Econmy 7 Tariff and that "most" storage heaters only charge at night. How can I ensure that mine will only use the cheap night rate tariff? I've looked at the fuse boxes in the flat and there are two separate ones. Is this an indicator that the heaters will only charge at the night time rate?

Also I am home mostly in the evenings and some parts of the day at the weekend and would love to know how best to heat my home mostly in the evenings.

Thank you

[Deleted User]

Your electric meter will have a method of switching the day and night rates over at a certain time to take advantage of the 8 hours cheap rate and the storage heaters will/should be connected to that cheap rate time so they only charge up at the night rate.
There are three types of timer switch.Radio Teleswitch is controlled by a signal sent to it and is very accurate. Digital meters which have their own built in clocks which are usually fairly accurate but they may drift with time and be a few hours out. Old circular 24 hr analogue timer switches which sit alongside the meter can be wildly out and its probably only by luck that they are anywhere near the correct time. with these the 8 cheap hours could be anywhere in the 24 hours and they have an advantage that the cheap rate could fall in the early evening in a usable time slot to use other appliances at the cheap rate.
Can you see which timer switch you have ?

Richie-from-the-Boro

I'm aware they are the most expensive type of heating

- they are the cheapest form of electric heating

it is best to be on an Economy 7 Tariff

- it is indeed

I am home mostly in the evenings and some parts of the day at the weekend

- you should get on the cheapest E7 tariff available
- pay DD and use an e-account
- submit your own 6 weekly[ish] meter readings
- aim for 50/50% day and night rate use
- if you store enough cheap stuff, you use less expensive stuff
- you will always need a secondary day rate heater, example now & Easter
- radiation is better than convection so close damper and store enough

Photograph and paste your :
- consumer units
- water controller
- meter

- and tell the group the name of your tariff and your region number

CashStrapped

Check this recent thread...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5540365

Read my second post as I go through storage heater and E7 with a brief overview of how to run the set-up.

zaax

economy 10?

Cardew

zaax wrote: »

economy 10?

Even if you have an E10 meter, the prices I have seen quoted for Off-peak periods on E10 are horrendous. As you can now get 24/7 single rate electricity at 9p to 10pkWh most households would better off ditching E10(not E7) and Storage heaters.

Newbie000

Thank you for the info. I'm not entirely sure how to see which timer switch I have?

Richie-from-the-Boro

#2 mentions x3 types of switch(ing). You again ask what type of switch you have. If you post pictures of your hot water cylinder & hot water controller - your electricity meters - and your consumer units the group will be able to give you an accurate guess.

Look, whichever type of what you call a 'timer switch' you have its completely out of your control anyway, you can do nothing to control it.

1+3