Unconventional Storage Heaters

Ch3apAndCheerful

Hi all,

We've recently moved into a flat with Economy 7 meter and two storage heaters. I've done a bit of reading on how to operate them but the trouble is these models don't have an "Input" and "Output" dial. Only an "Input Control" from 1-5 and a "Boost Control" from 1-5.

Any advice on how to get the best out of these? As day rates are massively higher than night and getting this wrong sounds expensive.

Cheers

 

molerat

Make / model of heater ?

Often the boost control is on demand heating using standard rate.

Gerry1

https://sse.co.uk/help/electric-heating/electric-night-storage-heaters

The names may vary but the function of the knobs will be the same.  Make sure the immersion heater is on a circuit switched by the meter, and that any switch marked Boost connected to a second immersion heater halfway up the tank on a 24h circuit is always left switched off.

Check that the register which increases during the day is billed at day rate and vice versa.

Make sure that you've registered with the existing supplier (or SoLR) and that you stay on their default (capped) tariff: whatever you do, don't switch to a different supplier or to a fixed rate.

Torry_Quine

That's what my storage heaters have, it's standard.
The input dial is used to vary how much it takes in so the colder it is the higher the dial is put.
The boost allows more heat to be drawn from it so use it sparingly as the heat will run out quickly. Always remember to switch the boost off  

matelodave

If the storage heaters dont have a auxiliary heater then it's likely that the "boost" control is just another name for the output control and allows extra heat to escape later on during the day rather than reheating the core.

As molerat say, give us the make and model and someone will be able to give you more info

[Deleted User]

Hi,

is it this type of boost control?

Swipe

Boost on older heaters is just a flap that can be raised to let more heat out.

Bexie1989

This is the same as our one. On these, the boost dial doesn't mean it starts using peak rate electric, don't worry.

Basically, the "boost" dial is simply the output. You'll want to input set higher and keep the "boost" low. It'll still be hot and heat up the room, but it will release the heat slower. If it's chillier in the evenings, turn the boost dial up so it uses up the rest of the stored heat before you go to bed - if you're ok leaving it at 1, then any heat left over will just mean (in theory) it won't need to store quite as much the next night.

I've lived in a few places with storage heaters and honestly I've never had to turn the output/boost higher than 1.