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Storage Heater Operation

  • 26-10-2010 11:40am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,037 ✭✭✭


    Hey All, this is going to seem like a very odd question but any help or advice is much appreciated.

    So myself and the other half have just moved into a new apartment which has storage heaters and we're having a bit of difficulty getting them working properly. We've asked the landlord how they work but he says he has never used them so doesn't know and he said we should find out from the previous tenants, who have moved to a new place in the same complex, but we can't seem to get in touch with them so I thought maybe someone here could help.

    Neither of us have ever used storage heaters before but I understand the basic principle of them; they build up the heat at night during off peak electricity hours and then release it during the day. I'm sure there are various different types of storage heaters so I've included a couple of photos of the dials on ours.

    We have two slightly different types in the apartment:

    XHKW6.jpg

    The one above doesn't have a separate timer dial. All it has are the two dials in the picture, the one on the left is the output level and the one on the right the input. I assume this means there's no way of setting a timer on this one? This also has a separate little fan box on the bottom which has a separate switch on the wall which can be used at any time, although I'm guessing this uses quite a bit of electricity.

    mZo8f.jpg

    The one above, as you can see, can be set to timer or just used manually. The whole of the timer dial turns so I'm not sure exactly how it works, maybe someone could help me out? This one can be used at any time either but I'd rather just use it as a storage heater so as to go easy on electricity use.

    87987.jpg

    Another problem we've had a couple of times is that we've had the heaters on overnight to heat up but then in the morning they're stone cold. They could obviously be faulty/broken, which we will get checked out if that turns out to be the case. But I thought maybe there might be some other explanation so I had a look at the trip switches. The photo above shows the section for the heaters but it means absolutely nothing to me. Maybe someone might understand it and be able to explain it to me?

    Last question. The problem I see with storage heaters is that both of us are out at work all day and we only really need the heating to come on about an hour before we come home, rather than wasting it and having it on all day. Is there any way to do this on the first type of heater shown above? I had assumed not but obviously I don;t have a clue what I'm talking about so I may be wrong.

    Sorry for the long post. Thanks for taking the time to read it and thanks very much in advance for any advice/help offered!


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 951 ✭✭✭robd


    The first type is a standard storage heater. The input control refers to how much you want to charge the storage heater at night. The output control refers to the rate of output/discharge. I usually have the input at max or 6 in my case and output at 3 or mid. This is supposed to fully charge and boost discharge at night. Can't say it really does that. Main problem with storage heaters is they are designed to charge at night when electricity is given to you at a discount and discharge right through out the day (when you're not there). Standard storage heaters have no timer, there's a switching signal from meter I think that turns them on at night. The fan itself shouldn't use much electricity, it's just away of getting unit to discharge more.

    The 2nd one looks to just be an ordinary heater. Generally these are put into bedrooms, while the storage heaters are put into living rooms. There's no way to use them as a storage heater. There are combi units which do both, but I'm assuming this isn't one (unless it has a separate control like 1st unit). There's usually a mark beside timer wheel to indicate current time. You turn dial till current time is against mark. Push thinks in for on or leave out for off and switch to timer. Else just turn it on with manual as needed.

    Storage heaters are usually very fat (i.e. are full of bricks so stick out far from wall). You should be able to tell difference by advice above and controllers.

    The 3rd pic looks like a control unit. Not familiar with these as I my units are all independent. Looks to be a way of boosting or reducing charge during day and night though.

    You've identified the drawbacks with storage units. No I'm afraid to turning on when you wish. Hate them myself.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,037 ✭✭✭conf101


    Cheers for that robd. Think the ones in the bedrooms are just standard heaters then like you say, they're much thinner than the storage heaters.

    Have to agree with you, I'm really not keen on storage heaters at all.

    Anyone able to explain the dials in the control box, or are they something I should never need to adjust?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 652 ✭✭✭jeckle


    As far as I know those dials are to do with the water temperature for your immersion heater, so you would have no need to go near them. They certainly have nothing to do with your storage heating.

    The only advice I'd give your regarding the large storage heater in the living room would be to turn the output control down to the lowest level at night when you are going to bed. Doing this will store as much heat as possible. In mild weather, the room might be warm enough in the evening time without having to adjust the output control from this setting at all. During very cold weather you can adjust the output control to a higher level when you come in from work, which will release more of the stored heat.

    You can adjust the input control by trial & error, depending on your heating preferences & on how cold the weather is. Bear in mind that if you do adjust it up or down, in reality you really will not feel the benefits of the adjustment until the day after, when the full nights storage adjustment has taken effect.

    The heater in your living room is a combi heater, so there should be another control & on/off switch on the heater which allows you to use it as a convector heater (similar to the ones in your bedrooms). You may find that you'll need to use this as the evening goes on & as your stored heat runs out, especially in very cold weather. Just be aware that you are using more electricity when this is on.

    There should be two mains switches (with red lights) on the wall close to the heater. One of these controls the power to the storage heater. When the red light is on the storage heater is storing the heat. It should be coming on at around 11pm & going off at around 7am. Sometimes it may come on & go off at different times, but this is an issue for ESB, but you are still charged the night rate.

    The other mains switch controls the power to the convector heater part of the storage heater, so this would need to be switched on if you want to use it, as well as the on/off switch on the heater itself.

    Storage heating is anything but ideal, but most apartments seem to have it installed as standard, so it's just a case of making the best of it I suppose.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,037 ✭✭✭conf101


    Thanks Jeckle.

    Yup the one in the living room has a separate switch for the storage heater and the convector heater. Have to say, the convector heater is about as effective as plugging in a cheap hair dryer and leaving it on but I guess we'll have to make do with it!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12 uglybetty


    I have the exact same as your first picture in my living room. We find it best to put the input to the highest (6) and put the output at the lowest because it gives out heat anyway. If we are cold when we come in from work in the evening we put the output up to higher.

    Does anybody know actually if a timing could be installed on this storage heater? We usually go to bed around 10.30-11 so we put it on then but to get the benefit of cheap electricity we should really be putting it on at midnight and turning off at 7am. Anybody had a timer installed on it?

    Thanks!


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