Economy 7 heaters

Susan1942

I have a good sized living/dining room. It has  two heaters of equal size  One has got a fan on it. You can boost your heating by switch this on. Of course that will run on the daytime rate so I  avoid using it.
My question is Is it better to have them both on at a lower setting or to have just one on at a slightly higher setting.?
Normally I would have both on but with the current situation I am trying to reduce my overall usage.
I have not switched my hall or bedroom heaters on as yet with the weather being mild.
Would appreciate some advice. Sue 

macman

If they are thermostatically controlled, then it makes no difference: it takes the same amount of energy to raise the room temp from A to B, whether you use one NSH, 2, or 10.
If the lounge is large enough to need two NSH's, then you probably get more even heat distribution by using 2 rather than 1.

Susan1942

Thanks for that.  There is not an actual thermostat on them.  Just two dials one of which is set for the heating. The second one opens the vents and I might use this in the evening..For now I only have one switched on and at half way . For now it is not cold but will be once winter arrives and colder weather kicks in. I think I am looking at what savings I can make this winter. 
Thanks again for your advice..

xeny

Susan1942 said:

I have a good sized living/dining room. It has  two heaters of equal size  One has got a fan on it. You can boost your heating by switch this on. Of course that will run on the daytime rate so I  avoid using it. 

The fan almost certainly simply blows air through the heater, taking the heat that is already in it out faster. If so the amount of electricity it will use to run the fan is very small compared to the amount taken to store heat in the heater.

If you're mostly in need of heat in the evenings, I would be tempted to find the manual and check what I've typed above is correct, and mostly use that heater, as it should do better at saving heat into the evening and then releasing it by turning the fan on (so you use some electricity in the evening, but don't waste a lot of heat during the day).

ChaunceyGardiner

Susan1942 said:

Thanks for that.  There is not an actual thermostat on them.  Just two dials one of which is set for the heating.

On older storage heaters, the input knob is a thermostat. You'll hear it clicking on and off during the night.

Susan1942

Thanks for that information. I had thought that if I put the fan on I was using more electricity. There is a box type plug that I switch on and it has a red light on it. If I put it on It comes on and off and the heat likewise 
I will have the original information somewhere. Will need have a look for it..
Thanks again 
. 

Be_Happy

If your heater has 2 wall sockets and an extra small dial on the heater, it's a combination heater.  One socket and the 2 large dials, input and output work the storage heater overnight and the other wall socket and small dial  with its own on off switch on the heater works a separate convection heater that runs on full price electricity.  This convector heater part must be switched off overnight for the storage heater to draw in enough heat.

On the 2 large dials set the input for the heat you want and keep the output as low as possible.  This output opens up the vents that let the stored heat out during the day.  The wider the vent is opened, the quicker the heat runs out.

Susan1942

Thank you. That is my understanding of the heater. There are just two dials on the top of the heater. One for charging and the other I open up for the heat to come out. When I turn on the fan on plug I open the outlet fully.  If I stand by the fan and the heat comes on and off. I feel the heat coming out.   Not explaining it very well. 
I think this winter we are all looking at ways to reduce our bills. My supplier is Octopus and they predict that my consumption for this winter will be £2665..My previous bills were £1300 so 100% higher which seems to be what most people are expecting this winter. Thanks again 

Susan1942

Just checked the cost of units 
Day is 40.1 Inc VAT

Night units 14.2 including vat 
That is a raise of 10 p on day units. But a reduction from 20.2.
My night use is about 75-80% night use. I don't have a fireplace or any other source of heating

I have been reading about these very small plug in heater. .My thoughts are that they might not be safe. Does anyone have any thoughts on these 
Thanks for all your advice 

EssexHebridean

The small plug in heater won't be any cheaper to use than the additional heat boost on your storage heater, bear in mind. 

Susan1942

Thank you so much for your response. You are right of course It depends on the cost of the electricity. Will have to use the night setting higher as the cost is so much less.  At 14p + as opposed to 40p + big difference. I think we are all hoping for a milder winter.
The year of all the heavy snow I was in Australia for 6 weeks but I always left heating on at a low level..No longer making that long journey as the last time 4 years ago it was just too much. 
Sue