What is this?

somerandomusername

It's located in a little cupboard close to the kitchen, it's been switched off from the day I moved in and it doesn't appear to do anything. I'm guessing it's where a boiler or water tank used to be or something?

Can I safely remove it from the wall and either put a blank cover over the socket?

Andy_L

Its a small electrical heater. Possibly used to turn the cupboard into an airing cupboard.

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6662150/what-is-this

It is a tubular heater. Might be used to keep an airing cupboard warm after the hot water cylinder has been removed, or might have been installed originally in an electric-only property.

The heater could be removed if you don't want/need it. But the fused outlet plate can't be replaced by a blanking plate without making an alternative arrangement to safely terminate/connect the cable(s) inside. The safest would be leaving the fused outlet plate as it is.

daveyjp

Its a low wattage background heater.

Keep_pedalling

It is a low wattage heater. Someone probably used that space as an airing cupboard in the past. It should be off the ring main, so if you replace it with a blanking plate you will need to make sure the cables behind it are terminated correctly. Alternately you could replace it with a standard 3 pin outlet.

twopenny

These are great in the winter when coats get wet. Dry the coat as much as needed and store in the cupboard to thoroughly dry. Trousers too.

It also makes coats lovely and warm to put on on a cold day.

A friend's parents had one back in the day and I still remember how lovely it was to put on a warm coat. Little things that can cheer up dark winter days 🙂

somerandomusername

Thanks everyone.

I thought airing cupboards were notorious for causing damp though as the damp air has nowhere to go in the cupboard? There's no vent or anything…

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81945678#Comment_81945678

The clothes/bedding/towels should be "dry" before they go in the airing cupboard. The idea is the warm space keeps them in a drier condition, rather than in a normal cupboard where they can absorb atmospheric moisture. There's no vents because the idea is to retain as much heat as possible.

A drying cupboard/room is different - that is for wet or damp clothing, but needs to be ventilated or fitted with a dehumidifier.

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81945678#Comment_81945678

You are right. Since most cupboards are unheated, the warm moist air from the rest of the house can condense in there from every time the door is opened. Usually it isn't an issue as the cupboard will be pretty much at the same temp as the surrounding room, and - if it's used regularly - that 'ventilates' it with enough air changes - it's pretty much like the rest of the room.

However, that would change quickly if you put anything damp in there, clothes that are not fully 'cupboard dry'. That's where that wee heater comes in - it's probably only around 30W or similar, but that bit of extra warmth will/should keep the cupboard dry by raising the temp a bit higher than the surrounding room.

Although the cupboard isn't 'ventilated' as such, it also isn't airtight, so there will be a constant trickle of air from the room getting in around the door.

What do you intend to use it for?

Eldi_Dos

If a previous owner was a bit of a gardener the cupboard could have been used for bringing on bulbs and seeds.Think getting Hyacinth, Amaryllis blooming in time for Christmas Day.

Not a technique used much these days with the avaiability of ' prepared ' bulbs and warmer and less draughty homes.

Arctos

The wall batten above the heater suggests it may have once been an airing cupboard. With modern heating systems there may not facility for airing. We had a combi boiler installed a few years ago. The old boiler was sited elsewhere in the house, but there was a hot water cylinder in our large airing cupboard. No need for the cylinder with the new boiler and that could be installed in the airing cupboard. We have a small radiator added into said airing cupboard - very useful. An airing cupboard without circulation may not be a good plan.