Storage heaters

[soozmac]

does anyone know how storage heaters work? I've just moved into a new flat, which has one in the living room. It has 2 dials on the top, one saying input, and the other output. I was told by someone that I needed to turn it on so that it could store overnight and then the heat would be released the next day. But when I switched it on at about 9pm yesterday, it already started heating up, and was still pumping out the heat this morning. What is the most economical way to use this stupid big clumpy thing?

[ummmm]

Storage heaters are rubbish. They work by heating up something inside them through the night when electricity is at it's cheapest and then they release the heat during the day.

[soozmac]

yes, I am aware of how they're supposed to work, but why was it already warm after I'd just turned it on last night (and still pumping out the heat this morning at 6am) when it should be storing overnight, to then release during the day? If no-one is in during the day, how can I best manage the heat output? My boyfriend turned the output dial down, thinking that it would stop the heat still being pumped out after we'd gone to bed, but it was still roasting this morning. What are these dials for?

[ummmm]

Sorry I don't know. But I think this problem tended to be why people hated them. They are just to hard to control

[Pea Pod]

If the weather is cold turn your input to maximum,this should work on a thermostat switching itself off at the right temperature. At bed time switch out put to minimum setting, Likewise when you are out through the day put it at minimum. When you come home turn it up for instant heat.

[Snowy Owl]

Once you get to grips with them, they are OK. Check to see if your electricity company will give you a free explanation of how they work along with a free wiring check. Ours did when we moved and had storage heaters for the first time. If not, it may pay you to get an electrician to do the explanation for you.

[buildersmate]

Right, it works like this.
There's a stack of bricks inside that store lots of heat. The casing around the outside is insulated to stop that heat getting out (too quickly).
The input setting controls the amount of heat going into the bricks during the night, as Peapod says. Higher setting = higher temperature reached inside by the bricks before the thermostat cuts out.
The output setting adjusts a mechanical flap in the outer casing that allows more heat out. Higher setting = bigger gap, so higher rate of heat getting out from the inside.
Most storage rads work on Economy 7 tariff, this allows you access to cheaper electricity at night, when no-one else wants it. That's when the heating up should occur. Some tariffs have an afternoon boost for a couple of hours, say 2-4pm. This was done to try and overcome the valid criticism that these systems have most heat output capacity in the mornings (when many people don't want the heat as they go out to work) yet are running out of energy by early evening (when folks return to home). Yours may have this.
What is not possible is that it is using cheap Economy Seven electricity if it is heating up at 9pm in the evening - are you sure it is connected to a dual tariff, cheap meter????

Armed with that basic info, you should now be able to fiddle with the controls to try and get the optimum solution for when you want heat.

[antiguru]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/How-it-Works/Qu estion231526.html

[soozmac]

thanks a lot, you guys, that's really helped!