Should I just get new storage heaters?

ProDave

A change to E10 will cost you nothing, but you may need to change supplier as not all do it, and I think would work a whole lot better.

Scilly

So glad you've asked this! Same here! 2 bed house, really old NSH that pump out all the heat first thing in the morning & the house is chilly by the evening. The 'output' dials don't work so they're inefficient! I don't have a lot of money & want to replace them, even one at a time, but with the best I can buy! No gas in this house either so that that's not an option.
Really interested in what people have to say! Thanks!!

lstar337

Scilly wrote: »

So glad you've asked this! Same here! 2 bed house, really old NSH that pump out all the heat first thing in the morning & the house is chilly by the evening. The 'output' dials don't work so they're inefficient! I don't have a lot of money & want to replace them, even one at a time, but with the best I can buy! No gas in this house either so that that's not an option.
Really interested in what people have to say! Thanks!!

The output dial is just connected to a flap, not much that can go wrong there. If the flap isn't being closed (by you or malfunction) then that explains why all the heat is gone by the evening.

Scilly

lstar337 wrote: »

The output dial is just connected to a flap, not much that can go wrong there. If the flap isn't being closed (by you or malfunction) then that explains why all the heat is gone by the evening.

The dials don't make an effect to the output in any of the NSHs, I'm guessing it's because they're old. I have them set to 1 so that I could crank them up to 4-6 of an evening (when I'm home) but by the time I am home the NSH's are all but luke warm :eek:

molerat

What do you have the input dial set to ?

Dandytf

molerat wrote: »

What do you have the input dial set to ?

I find my input dial wont turn at all though think I’ll re try tomorrow.
Output dial can be turned as it was always set to highest since I moved in though I switched it down to approx3 2016 -less heat though warm enough during e7 hours and morning/early afternoon.
Is there a cost difference if I mange to switch input dial up or down tomorrow.

ChaunceyGardiner

Dandytf wrote: »

I find my input dial wont turn at all though think I’ll re try tomorrow.
Output dial can be turned as it was always set to highest since I moved in though I switched it down to approx3 2016 -less heat though warm enough during e7 hours and morning/early afternoon.
Is there a cost difference if I mange to switch input dial up or down tomorrow.

You’re doing it wrong. If the output is set to anything other than minimum when the overnight charge begins then heat will escape immediately. Leave the output control alone and adjust the desired room temperature with the input control. The higher the setting, the more heat will be stored and electricity consumed.

jk0

Ditto. I put some instructions on my BTL's storage heaters as follows:

'Set output to maximum from 5pm to bedtime. Leave on minimum all other times.'

KenA

One of our three storage heaters seems to require the input dial to be set much higher to store the same amount of heat as the other two. Presumably this isn't a problem or going to cost more.

lstar337

Always keep the output to as low as it will go, and only use in an emergency.

Think of the storage heater as a box of heat with a flap. The input sets how much heat you put in the box. Max fills it all the way to the top, middle fills it half way, and so on. The box will slowly release heat all day to keep your room warm. Opening the flap will cause the heat to flood out quickly. If you leave the flap open then the box won't fill up at all, and all the heat will be gone.

They are simple beasts, but anyone who has them needs a little instruction to use them correctly.

So in conclusion, set your input high to store as much cheap heat as possible, and your output to low until you absolutely need it.