storage heaters

Er, not using an economy 7 storage heater in the day?

I was hoping there was some way to re-wire the timer or trick it into thinking it is night to work during the day as oposed to the cheap night tarif. As some days its cold and by 2pm the heat is all gone.

Turn them off the night before so they don't store any heat?

Ah!

O.K. - some storage heaters used to come with a 'boost' function which did this. You would presumably need additional wiring to the main meter if they still put in a seperate meter and wiring for the economy supply. The answer may be that you do not have the correct type of storage heater. Otherwise, perhaps as you suggest you can just alter the timer on the heater. Alternatively, just get a fan heater - are you sure that a storage heater is the most efficient way to heat the room with electricity using a day time tarrif?

Sorry I think I was mixing up what I meant there David.

You could fit a changeover switch between the E7 and normal circuits. But why bother.

If they are cold by 2pm you haven't set them up correctly. A lot of people just set everything to maximum, sweat from 7am to 2pm then freeze all evening. Turn them down. Personally I found E7 srorage with a couple of Dimplexes set on a low stat were perfectly adequate for my flat.

Al.

This is a problem with storage heaters. You may have to increase the 'charge' setting the night before, and ensure that the 'output' control is fully closed (minimum) before going to bed. The output control affects how quickly the heat is released from the heater; if you let all the heat out in the morning then there won't be any heat left by the afternoon.

This is why houses with storage heaters have an electric log fire in the lounge, to top up the warmth in the evening.

You can get combination storage heaters which have a secondary heating element inside the panel operating on peak-rate electricity. They are more expensive and need peak and off-peak wiring to them.

Remember that peak-rate daytime electricity is usually significantly more expensive than off-peak, and costs more than ordinary electrity on a single-rate tariff.

Owain

That is why they are a complete waste of time and money, plus you pay far more than anyone else during the day on Economy 7. You can't just turn a heater on in the day - so you need to know which rooms to heat in advance and then regulate that heat accordingly. I would NEVER have them. So many people are mis-sold storage heaters. if you run then in the day be expecting a HUGE bill.

As said already - set it up properly and, if that's not enough, get a fan heater. You don't want to recharge the thing on day rate electric, you want some heat. A fan heater can warm a room up in a few minutes.

In student digs, I used to be able to get a storage heater to keep my room warm until evening if I kept the door and curtains shut during the day. And that wasn't on full charge either - it that would roast me alive as I slept if I did!