storage heaters

[Daave]

i have "storage heaters" in my flat,

i have half worked out how they work and have heat but i also have floor length curtains that hang on and over the heater units,

is it safe to have the curtains drawn over the heaters, will they catch fire? if its not safe then why the hell did my landlord fit floor length curtains?

[Ethel]

I think it is totally pointless having full length curtains over any heater - the heat just will not get into the room.

If the heaters are functioning correctly, the curtains will not catch fire, but the thermostat will cut out, stopping the heaters working.

I found this:

You should never cover the surfaces of the heater or obstruct the air outlet grilles as this will cause temperatures of the product to rise and the safety cut-outs to operate.

So you need to shorten those curtains!

This site provides useful information and a telephone number:

http://www.dimplex.co.uk/consumer/faq-storage. htm

[Daave]

excellent thankyou!

[spudqueen]

I think that storage heaters store heat during the night when electricity is (was?) cheaper and then lets it out during the day. A bit pointless if you ask me!

[tigga]

The electricity can be cheaper overnight but you have to contact your electricity board and ask them to put you on that tarrif, i think its called 'economy 7' and works out much cheaper when used in conjunction with storage heaters, a good move for the winter.

[golfpratt]

one problem with storage heaters there is a thermal fuse in curcuit if over heated this will bolw then no heating will take place during the alloted hours also heat out put during the day is a mecanical shut off not electrical

[knobbynonuts]

Just a few things to ad here storage heaters do not have thermostats they have thermal cut outs that work in a slightly differant way to thermostats, you have 2 controls on them called an input and an output the input controls the amount of heat that you charge it with over night ie 1 to 6 1 being the lowest setting and 6 being the highest as if it is being very cold overnight and the output you should switch that to zero at night but it will always let heat out anyway. when you need heat gradually switch the output
up when you need extra heat but by the end of the night you will probably find the heat has run out as they tend to let the heat out during the night and day even when you have the output on zero and to cut a long story short they are crap and you need to adjust each one every night and day but the long curtains drawn over them should not cause any probs and if the windows behind the curtains have sound insulation then most of the heat will be retained.

[Garethcnmjones]

See how it works...

https://www.youtube.com/user/CNMOnlineUK