Help re storage heaters

mollygrub

Hello yes readings were given and she is on correct tariff but she us just really cold so is using stand alone heaters during the day which are obviously on the higher tariff so that's my concern. I therefore wondered if she should just see if she can go on a standard daytime tariff as the storage heaters are not providing the heat she needs???

danrv

me1000uk said:

I find heating is all about timing and management, so it could be worth some legwork to calculate the cost of the daytime heaters and compare the impact, with that of the storage heaters. You can then make a choice whether a cheaper daytime will be worthwhile.

I’m using direct heaters instead of a warm air storage heater at the moment. They can work well if rooms are well insulated and not open plan. I have a £20 750w convector on tickover in my 14m2 lounge. 
Certainly more controllable and will keep you warm.

Whether they’ll be cheaper to run depends on tariff, how many rooms need to be heated and for how long.
Might be worth checking out the storage heater specs and make sure they’re working properly. 
As mentioned, they might not be sized correctly for the space.

Gerry1

mollygrub said:

Hello yes readings were given and she is on correct tariff

And what exactly is the 'correct' tariff?  If she didn't switch after a whole market comparison it's unlikely that she's on the best available tariff.  What are the daily charge and kWh rates, including VAT?

The output control should always be set to minimum before she goes to bed and set to maximum only if it gets cold in the late afternoon or evening.

mollygrub

Thanks! I will take a good look at this and review... so grateful for your thoughts...

Gerry1

Get her to start by doing the flashing light test, it's really quite easy.

The meter or timeswitch will probably show which rate is in use, e.g. it may display Rate 2 during the day and then show Rate 1 after about 11:30pm or midnight.  Having turned off the immersion heater and all the NSHs locally and then all the circuits on the consumer unit apart from the NSH one, the main thing is to watch the LED for a few minutes to make sure that it never flashes.  Then turn on just one NSH and count the flashes.  The NSH kW rating will be found on a plate on the NSH, although it may be down at floor level or behind a flap.