Storage Heaters - Any advice?!

Sunshine_of_your_Dyf

Hi all,
For reference, this is a Dimplex CXLN storage heater
My partner and I have just moved into our new home, and are struggling to get to grips with our storage heaters. I understand the concept, but none of our storage heaters appear to have an 'output' dial. It's difficult without being able to show a picture, but essentially the dial on the right is 'Input' (which I understand, no problems there) and the dial on the left is 'Room Temp Boost'. There's also a convector heater setting underneath, which I understand to be a separate, additional heating element to the storage heater.

Every article I read about storage heaters, including Youtube videos, shows storage heaters as having an Input AND an Output dial, but none of mine in the house appear to have this. Unless the 'Room Temp Boost' dial IS the Output dial: I've read though that the room temperature boost setting uses the mains electric as an instant boost, and is therefore much more expensive to run, and is usually used as a boost when you haven't got enough stored electricity.

Also, am I right in thinking that Storage heaters work throughout the day, then when you want it most in the evening (say, 7 or 8), it'll not be there because it will be 'wearing off'?

We would be grateful for the help! We'd love to get this sorted before the Autumn months down the line to avoid us wasting money unnecessarily!

Thanks!

[Deleted User]

Hi,

stick a 'broken' link up for photie and somebody will put it up.

Edit: is this it?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

or is this it?

Rodders53

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/762163/Dimplex-Cxl-N.html is the manual for it.   Boost is the output/flap setting.  The switch (with neon) turns on the extra peak rate heating element

Reed_Richards

The basic principle of a night storage heater is that you input heat during the night using cheap rate electricity then output it during the day.  iI you are not getting enough heat out during the day you may need to boost the input, or at least it would be much cheaper to do than than to resort to an instant boost.  

Sunshine_of_your_Dyf

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

or is this it?

I think both of the pictures are! Do you have one? I think mine must be broken because I switched the output down to the bottom last night (with input at around 4), and I woke up this morning at 6 and it was still hot? Is that right?

Sunshine_of_your_Dyf

Here are the pics! It's a CXLN, which I guess is the same as the one you posted?

Sunshine_of_your_Dyf

There's also these two switches by the wall: is one an Economy 7 switch (right one), and one a 24 hour switch (the left one)?

shinytop

Sunshine_of_your_Dyf said:

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

or is this it?

I think both of the pictures are! Do you have one? I think mine must be broken because I switched the output down to the bottom last night (with input at around 4), and I woke up this morning at 6 and it was still hot? Is that right?

The output dial makes only a little difference.  It just controls a metal flap that lets a bit more air move around and come out the top.  The heater will always feet hot as when you touch the outside, you're feeling the heat coming out of the bricks and through the insulation; that happens regardless.  I have 8 storage heaters of 3 different types and can't notice much if any difference with the output settings.  They do work very well at heating the house but tend to run out a bit in the evening. It looks like you have a daytime booster but be careful as that could get expensive. 

Sunshine_of_your_Dyf

shinytop said:

Sunshine_of_your_Dyf said:

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

or is this it?

I think both of the pictures are! Do you have one? I think mine must be broken because I switched the output down to the bottom last night (with input at around 4), and I woke up this morning at 6 and it was still hot? Is that right?

The output dial makes only a little difference.  It just controls a metal flap that lets a bit more air move around and come out the top.  The heater will always feet hot as when you touch the outside, you're feeling the heat coming out of the bricks and through the insulation; that happens regardless.  I have 8 storage heaters of 3 different types and can't notice much if any difference with the output settings.  They do work very well at heating the house but tend to run out a bit in the evening. It looks like you have a daytime booster but be careful as that could get expensive. 

Thanks for the information! is the daytime booster the 'Room Temperature Boost' you can see on the pic?
Is there any way you can NOT make it run out in the evening time? That's the time my partner comes home from work and wants it on the most!

Reed_Richards

Your best hope of having it not run out in the evening is to turn the input up to the maximum setting.