Buying new storage heaters

Reed_Richards

We are indoctrinated with the idea that anything new will be superior to what has gone before, particularly so if this is something technological.  But with Night Storage Heaters, the insulation and compactness were improved decades ago and there isn't much scope for further progress.  So don't suppose that new NSHs will necessarily out-perform the ones you have already.

Susan1942

I will just need to bite the bullet and get on with it.  Had Covid booster and feel tired and under the weather.
I appreciate all the responses and the advice you have given me. 
Thanks  again Sue 

Gerry1

You need to be absolutely clear why you want to replace the existing heaters, otherwise you may end up disappointed.  The savings you can make are limited, especially if you are making best use of the existing heaters, so it may take quite a while to recoup the capital outlay.

• Do the existing heaters keep you warm enough?  If not, has this always been the case, or have they become less effective over time?  It could be like saying you need a new car because it doesn't illuminate the road very well at night; not a good idea if it just needs a failed headlight to be replaced !  Replacement heating elements are cheap, and you can check very easily (without using any tools) whether a heating element has failed.  If not being warm enough is part of the problem let us know and I'll explain further how to check.
• With basic older NSHs, make sure you always turn the output control to minimum before going to bed.   Turn the output control up only if it gets too chilly in the afternoon or evening.  This routine will minimise the heat wasted overnight.
• With the newer heaters, if you are having to use the peak rate boost more than once in a blue moon it means you haven't programmed it correctly to charge up sufficiently overnight (unless the heater is too small for the room, or the weather unexpectedly turned colder that day).  But you're probably not doing too badly as your peak rate use is only 25%.
• Make sure the immersion heater is on the E7 circuit switched by the meter.  If there's a second immersion heater halfway up the tank, make sure it's left switched off.  It may be marked Boost, but should only be used in emergencies, e.g. if you switched everything off before going away and need immediate hot water now that you've returned.

danrv

When I was looking at storage heaters to replace my warm air system, I recall someone using this store for refurbished storage heaters.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174566304254?hash=item28a4f669fe:g:RXwAAOSwBdRfjCSs

As mentioned, they may not offer anything over what you have already but at least will be refurbished and operate on a single E7 supply like your current ones.

Also as mentioned, the latest type of storage heaters like Dimplex Quantum, Creda TRSE and Elnur HHR need two supplies. 
One you have already, just would need a second 24hr nearby.
They’re likely to be more effective as the heat is released via the low level fan.

They can work from one 24hr supply but the charge times need to be setup to coincide with the off peak period. 
With several of these wired like this, it could get a bit tricky to keep an eye on off peak charging and daylight saving changes.
A good electrician would be able to advise.

EssexHebridean

Susan, don't panic, you're being given a lot of scary sounding information here, but it's not anywhere near as bad as it's being made to sound. 

We currently have one quantum heater, two older "standard" Dimplex ones and one very old Creda one (Probably over 25 years old). Without a shadow of a doubt and speaking from the perspective of two winters-worth of experience now the Quantum uses less power to produce more heat than the older ones (and I say older, but those two are still inside 10 years old). The improved controllability and insulation of the very new ones means that the heat they produce can also be used far more effectively. (If I pass the quantum while it is charging overnight there is almost zero heat escape, not the case with those slightly older ones). The quantum has replaced a very old Dimplex one - again up there at 25 years + old - which was essentially completely ineffective due to the fact that the insulation becomes less efficient over time, and was less efficient even when brand new than the new current standard.  The old Creda heater IS still pretty effective, to our surprise - this suggests that they had already started tackling some of the heat escape issues well before Dimplex had. 

The quantum also has no real issues with charging times - you simply make sure the clock is set correctly (and IIRC that even auto-sets itself anyway) and the charging circuit then kicks in when your E7 supply becomes active. The main daytime circuit will only become active in my experience when you do an on-demand request for additional power during the day.

Gerry1

EssexHebridean said:

The quantum also has no real issues with charging times - you simply make sure the clock is set correctly (and IIRC that even auto-sets itself anyway) and the charging circuit then kicks in when your E7 supply becomes active. The main daytime circuit will only become active in my experience when you do an on-demand request for additional power during the day.

I agree that Quantum of adequate size would be a good choice if Susan really wants to upgrade, although the upfront cost may be high.

However, if Susan does not want the cost and inconvenience of installing a second supply when replacing an old basic NSH, the existing E7 circuit will have to be changed over to a 24h supply (a cheap and simple job by an electrician) but it's imperative that the Quantum is programmed correctly because it won't know the cheap rate E7 times if it can't 'see' an E7 circuit.

For example, if Susan is in the South East and her E7 hours are 10:30pm - 12:30am and 2:30am - 7:30am she will unwittingly be clocking up expensive day rate usage for two hours every night if the Quantum's default programming is 11:30pm - 6:30am.

As long as the issue is recognised and dealt with it won't be a problem, but it could be very expensive if overlooked.  She should also check that the Quantum can still work on a single supply in case this facility has been lost in a product upgrade.

coffeehound

Not an electrician, but:  if the 24-hour supply is being added to supplement an existing E7 dedicated feed, then a spur off the ring would be suitable.  So shouldn't be a major task if the ring runs nearby

Swipe

danrv said:

When I was looking at storage heaters to replace my warm air system, I recall someone using this store for refurbished storage heaters.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174566304254?hash=item28a4f669fe:g:RXwAAOSwBdRfjCSs

Thanks @Danrv. Link bookmarked in case any of mine go faulty

EssexHebridean

Our Quantum is installed so it will only charge off the E7 supply. The "normal" electricity connection is simply there to run the LCD screen and provide boost capability if required during the day, but it IS required to run the heater. My understanding is that if they are being installed in an E7 household then that should be the standard installation. In effect, it can only charge with an electricity supply, and the electricity supply to the "charging" connection is only there on the cheap rate. As far as I can think there isn't even an option to "programme" the charging time - it just happens automatically and is limited by when power is being supplied to the circuit. Coffeehound's suggestion about the spur is, I think - the way our second supply was put in when our Quantum was installed. 



Susan - not sure if anyone has posted this previously but it's a link to the operating guide for the quantum which is really easy to follow - might help set your mind at rest of you take a look. https://www.dimplex.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets//Quantum%20Series%20G.6%20Operating%20Instructions%20-%20Issue%202.pdf

Gerry1

EssexHebridean said:

Our Quantum is installed so it will only charge off the E7 supply. The "normal" electricity connection is simply there to run the LCD screen and provide boost capability if required during the day, but it IS required to run the heater. My understanding is that if they are being installed in an E7 household then that should be the standard installation. In effect, it can only charge with an electricity supply, and the electricity supply to the "charging" connection is only there on the cheap rate. As far as I can think there isn't even an option to "programme" the charging time - it just happens automatically and is limited by when power is being supplied to the circuit.

Quantums can be programmed to work on a single 24h supply, which the OP may wish to consider if it would expensive and or messy to install an additional circuit.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/77749270/#Comment_77749270

However it would be prudent to confirm that this still applies because specifications can change and current models may vary.