Dimplex storage heater burn mark

WIAWSNB

I'm with Qriz - that level of heat sounds dangerously excessive, although we do need to take into account that the rad was covered when it shouldn't be. But, wow, that's HOT! Dangerously so. 

I think it's good that your heater has gone kaput! 

Taking into account what you've said - eg "The panel heater would be on only once in a while, if I have guests coming in from the cold or something. I'm rarely just in the hallway" - it might be that a wall, or freestanding, panel heater, ideally oil-filled, and on a timer, might make more sense. It'll be much cheaper - literally only £25 on Fb Marketplace - take up less space, be safer (no melting jackets), and the £500 saving will pay for a decade of leccy for it :-)

So, what to do with the old storage heater? Some twi.. er, industrious, fellow will take it away for now't. Storage heaters are in demand. If the elements have blown - unlikely they all have - then they are a £enner a pop to replace. More likely is that the 'stat has failed, and that will be cheaper still. Not your problem - all you have to say is, "Working until yesterday when it suddenly wouldn't heat up. Free to chilly home - buyer dismantles and collects. Ta muchly."

Your new panel heater will be ~2kW, so simple plug- in-to-the-wall, via a digital timer, another £enner. 

 

danrv

mathilde said:

Can't get a new storage heater in same place because the wiring would have to re-done for two sources.

Looks like you have two sources available. The non-heating side of a modern storage heater is low power consumption so could run off a socket.

Scrounger

mathilde said:

I'm so grateful for everyone's help.

Yes I think there was something awry with the heater anyway because it was too hot to touch AND in any event it's *stopped working* this evening.  Likely due to the overheating. Gives out no heat at all despite still being turned on as usual. Usually its roasting this time of day (see above). 

So my options are now:
1. Calling the website linked above (thank you) I can get a factory refurbished replacement installed and old one taken away for £586. 24 month warranty. 

Can't get a new storage heater in same place because the wiring would have to re-done for two sources.

Or

2. Plug-in panel heater for £75, then a local electrician can de-install old E7 and install (well, fix to wall) panel heater for £280.

Option 3.  Reset the Thermal Cut-out.  Clearly its overheated because the vents were blocked by the jacket.

If the casing is getting too hot for your liking, turn down the 'Input' control. 


Scrounger

Swipe

Pretty sure there is nothing wrong with the heater. As a test, try covering yours with a thick towel during the daytime for 15 mins and you will actually see how hot the top will get if it is unable to breathe.

Swipe

Once the bricks are removed they aren't heavy at all and can be taken to the tip in the car. I've found use around the garden for the big bricks in an old one I had.

Spikeygran

I "tiled" the greenhouse floor with our old bricks.  Makes a great thermal store.  

WIAWSNB

Scrounger said:

mathilde said:

I'm so grateful for everyone's help.

Yes I think there was something awry with the heater anyway because it was too hot to touch AND in any event it's *stopped working* this evening.  Likely due to the overheating. Gives out no heat at all despite still being turned on as usual. Usually its roasting this time of day (see above). 

So my options are now:
1. Calling the website linked above (thank you) I can get a factory refurbished replacement installed and old one taken away for £586. 24 month warranty. 

Can't get a new storage heater in same place because the wiring would have to re-done for two sources.

Or

2. Plug-in panel heater for £75, then a local electrician can de-install old E7 and install (well, fix to wall) panel heater for £280.

Option 3.  Reset the Thermal Cut-out.  Clearly its overheated because the vents were blocked by the jacket.
If the casing is getting too hot for your liking, turn down the 'Input' control. 
Scrounger

I agree that's the sensible thing to do.
Almost certainly there is nothing majorly wrong with this heater, and a sparky - or competent DIYer or handy person - could sort it easily.
It's silly to replace an otherwise functioning SH especially if it's going to cost around £500.
Then the cosmetic issue can be sorted, and my previous choice of paint might struggle, so a specialist 'high' temp paint, of which there are plenty available, would do this.
I'd have thought that any safety stat would self-reset? But I don't know. If the SS is kaput, it's cheap and simple to replace.
With the cover off, the other controls can be checked and cleaned too.
Then, as Scrounger says, set the controls sensibly for what is a hallway that really just needs the chill taken off.
Qs - Mathilde;
1) what setting is the 'input' control set at?
2) when you turn the 'input' control.up and down, does it move smoothly, and can you hear it 'click'? 
3) what is the output control set at?
4) when you turn the output control up and down, can you hear a flap open and close?
5) make and model of SH?
This should be sortable pretty easily, and it should then be set so it never becomes that dangerously hot again - that melting temp was just bonkers. 

mathilde

Thanks for the responses.

I've never been able to control the heating. The knobs are stuck in the highest position. I only turn it on at the wall the day before if it's very cold and/or I have company.

Yes certainly the thermal cut-out could be repaired. However that leaves the damaged exterior. I've rung powder-coating services but they don't do storage heaters. I know some people would be comfortable using radiator paint on a storage heater but unfortunately that's not something I'm willing to do.

mathilde

It's not actually a Dimlez, rather a Creda Sensor Plus. (My others are Dimplex.)

WIAWSNB

mathilde said:

Thanks for the responses.

I've never been able to control the heating. The knobs are stuck in the highest position. I only turn it on at the wall the day before if it's very cold and/or I have company.

Yes certainly the thermal cut-out could be repaired. However that leaves the damaged exterior. I've rung powder-coating services but they don't do storage heaters. I know some people would be comfortable using radiator paint on a storage heater but unfortunately that's not something I'm willing to do.

That's fine.
If you aren't prepared to use paint, and fair enough, then that's that.
Powder-coating would almost certainly be prohibitively costly in any case, and you'd also need someone to remove the casings, and repair the controls - cannot possibly be worth it.
The choice would therefore appear to be between a replacement at around £500, or to buy a very good second-hand one locally, which I bet you can do for, ooh, £100 or less. 
You can almost certainly get rid of the current one for no cost, but will need to pay to have its replacement collected and set up. 
Or there's the option of an oil filled radiator, turned on as and when required. Very low initial cost, but you may be disappointed by the absent constant heat from a SH, and if you leave it on long term, it'll likely be noticeable in your bills.
However, if a low-wattage model, say 600W, would do the job of making the hallway welcoming, and you have it on a digital timer so it's off at other times, then it could actually be quite a good option.