How do I use my Creda SFH24AW storage heater?

Username1890

I have absolutely no clue how to use it but it's freezing cold in my flat so it needs to be used. And the only manual I could find online is useless. 

There seems to be 3 controls:

Fan: 1, 0 or 11 setting

Boost: 0 or 1 setting

Room temperature: 1-6 setting

There are also two switches to the mains next to it also. I've just turned them both on as I don't know how they work? 

With my flat being so cold I assume I'd keep this on at the mains at all times? And use the highest room temperature setting?

Are these 2 the only things I should use? When should I use the fan or boost settings?

I only really seem to feel heat coming out when using the fan/boost options tbh, but wouldn't this result in a huge bill? 

Any help would be much appreciated, and if you've ever used one then I'd like to know how you used this!

Ebe_Scrooge

I'm not familiar with that specific model, but in general here's how storage heaters work.

They "charge up" overnight using (hopefully!) cheaper off-peak electricity.  Basically this heats up a big stack of bricks inside, and the unit is insulated to retain the heat.

They then release the heat during the day, there's usually some control over how much.

So my guess is that the room temperature setting regulates how much heat is released.  The fan setting will activate a fan to kick out more heat than convection alone.

The boost switch usually switches the heating element back on if it's not warm enough.  But this will use peak-rate electricity, so only use that if you really need to.

The two mains switches - I'm guessing that one connects to peak leccy, the other connects to off-peak?  I may be wrong on that one, so please don't take it as gospel.

This is a generalised summary of how most storage heaters work, apologies if it's not too much help.

You say you're in a flat - do your neighbours have the same heaters installed (very often each flat will have been built the same)?  If so, could you ask them how to use the heater, or they may even have the original manual you could borrow.

casper_gutman

Like any storage heater, the idea is to use cheap rate electricity - usually overnight on an Economy 7 tariff, though there are also Economy 10 tariffs with more off-peak periods. 

I think the "boost" switch turns on an additional convection heater, which will use peak rate electricity for when the stored heat isn't doing the job for you.

The "fan" setting probably operates a fan to give a burst of warming from the stored heat and/or from the additional "boost" heater. If you've never used the heater, so there isn't any stored heat, you could try switching on the fan. If it blows cold air, it probably does use the stored heat (obviously it must use peak rate heat to power the fan). If it blows hot, you'll know it's actually using more expensive peak rate electricity. 

Assuming you're actually on an Economy 7 tariff, I'd try setting the thermostat fairly low, and leaving the fan and boost switches off initially. See what that does for you the next day. Setting the thermostat too high might mean you're toasty warm in the morning but all the stored heat is used up by the afternoon.

If you're not on Economy 7, then (a) you should probably get on it given that you're home has storage heaters and (b) in the meantime, you might as well just use the "boost" button as the energy cost isn't time dependent and you might as well get more controllable heating when you want it.

macman

So, basics: are you on an E7 tariff and dual rate metering? If not, then yes, it will cost a lot to run.
Presumably you have just moved into the property?

Username1890

macman said:

So, basics: are you on an E7 tariff and dual rate metering? If not, then yes, it will cost a lot to run.
Presumably you have just moved into the property?

Thanks for the responses! Yeah I'm on economy 7 and moved in fairly recently.

I have really high ceilings and pretty poor insulation from my windows so the heater, even with the fan, boost etc on the highest settings doesn't even make my living room warm. It is going to be a long winter lol. 

Mutton_Geoff

The instruction manual is here - https://www.manualslib.com/manual/33202/Creda-703055.html