What to replace Storage heaters with?

Gerry1

Stubod said:

We have an electrician coming around sometime to give advice for when/if we start getting problems.

With all due respect, IMHO you're over thinking this.  You wouldn't get an electrician to come round to tell you what to do in the event that the electric iron or electric kettle fails, so why do it for the NSHs?  Especially as the previous one's advice was completely wrong !

Old style heaters are pretty reliable: in general, the worst that's likely to happen is that an element, thermostat or fusible link fails, but the cost of a replacement is peanuts.  If you have any doubts that they're working properly, just do the Storage Heater Sanity Test to detect any failed elements.  Also make sure that you're setting them for maximum efficiency.

Stubod

Ultrasonic said:

Stubod said:

My plan is to remove the upstairs heaters as we never use them anyway. 

Bear in mind that removing the heaters from upstairs will likely put off potential buyers if/when your home is sold.

Ultrasonic said:

Stubod said:

My plan is to remove the upstairs heaters as we never use them anyway. 

Bear in mind that removing the heaters from upstairs will likely put off potential buyers if/when your home is sold.

..yes had thought about that, but I had intended to replace them with wall mounted panel heaters for heat when you need it?.....we have never used them in 25+years, but have canibalissed them for thermostates which seem impossible to find for our old heaters....

Stubod

Gerry1 said:

Stubod said:

We have an electrician coming around sometime to give advice for when/if we start getting problems.

With all due respect, IMHO you're over thinking this.  You wouldn't get an electrician to come round to tell you what to do in the event that the electric iron or electric kettle fails, so why do it for the NSHs?  Especially as the previous one's advice was completely wrong !

Old style heaters are pretty reliable: in general, the worst that's likely to happen is that an element, thermostat or fusible link fails, but the cost of a replacement is peanuts.  If you have any doubts that they're working properly, just do the Storage Heater Sanity Test to detect any failed elements.  Also make sure that you're setting them for maximum efficiency.

Hi and thanks again for all the good advice. The only problem we have ever had is either the insulation fails/breaks down, (the heaters are original so most are 30+ years old), or the thermostats pack up and I can't find replacements for them. Not had an element fail, (yet...touch wood). The electrician is coming around to see if the eco 7 fuse box can be modified to provide a 24 hr power supply at some point. Our energy supplier "thinks" it can as they recently installed a new main board that is capable of using a smart meter...all very confusing, but really appreciate all the great feedback...

Gerry1

Don't even think of bankruptcy-inducing panel heaters: potential house buyers will run a mile.  Was it a suggestion from an electrician who wanted to install expensive new heaters rather than just fix the existing ones?

Far better to find replacement thermostats.  Just find out the exact make and model of the NSH and search online, or someone will come along to advise.

Ultrasonic

Stubod said:

..yes had thought about that, but I had intended to replace them with wall mounted panel heaters for heat when you need it?.....we have never used them in 25+years, but have canibalissed them for thermostates which seem impossible to find for our old heaters....

Like @Gerry1 that would personally put me off on running cost grounds, but not everyone would realise. It would certainly be less of a problem than having nothing at all which is what I thought you had in mind from your post above.

I'm pretty surprised you've never wanted any heating on at all upstairs by the way. That sounds very unusual to me.

[Deleted User]

Stubod said:

I understand that the gov. in it's infinite wisdom has condemned the sale of the "Traditional" single supply storage heater, thus leaving all those people with this heating system "hung out to dry", without any cost effective solution.

Hi,

that doesn't mean you have to rip out what you've already got, what's wrong with them?

Plenty of spares HERE.

Stubod

Ultrasonic said:

I'm pretty surprised you've never wanted any heating on at all upstairs by the way. That sounds very unusual to me.

We have a NSH in the hall which sends heat upstairs. In the Winter we close off the two unused bedrooms. The bathroom is heated by an electric towel rail abd a fan heater if a "boost" is needed and we prefer a cold bedroom and we heat the bed using an electric underblanket, so we have never had a need to use NSH upstairs. Accept probably different if the house was occupied by a family.

Thanks for the spares link. I have tried most of these but stuggled to find the thermostates for our old heaters.

..and again many thanks for all the help and advice.

We recently had a company around to do a "gov. sponsored" survey, but after wasting  a day they really only seemed interested in getting us more loft insulation and cavity wall insulation (which we already have), and we have heard nothing since and don't get any replies to our tel calls and emails...

[Deleted User]

Stubod said:

Ultrasonic said:

I'm pretty surprised you've never wanted any heating on at all upstairs by the way. That sounds very unusual to me.

Thanks for the spares link. I have tried most of these but stuggled to find the thermostates for our old heaters.

..and again many thanks for all the help and advice.

Hi,

what is make and model, please?

Stubod

..I have found the old instal. manual, and it appears the original NSH are made by "Heatstore", models 4290, 4291, 4292?

Gerry1

Spares seem to be widely available.  The manual covers three models so you'd need to check the identification plate for the heater concerned.  That said, the only difference is likely to be that they contain two, three or four elements so the spares are likely to be common to all.

If a heater doesn't work at all, the fusible link may have failed.

http://www.storageheater.co.uk/heatstore/hs90-hsa12-hsf24/4290-hsa12.html

http://www.storageheater.co.uk/heatstore/hs90-hsa12-hsf24/4291-hsa18.html

http://www.storageheater.co.uk/heatstore/hs90-hsa12-hsf24/4292-hsa24.html