Storage Heaters Buying Guide

To enjoy the money-saving benefits of storage heaters you will need to make sure you are using a night-time electricity tariff such as Economy 7. The Economy 7 tariff charges lower rates for electricity used overnight – typically between the hours of midnight and 7am. The time period for which the reduced rate applies varies from region to region, and may change depending on the time of year, so make sure you check the details of your tariff before setting your storage heaters to charge.

Whilst electricity used during this period is charged at a cheaper rate, any electricity used during the day will be charged at a more expensive rate than that offered by standard energy tariffs. The day time rates offered with an Economy 7 tariff can be as much as double the night time rates offered with standard electricity tariffs. Because of this, consumers using the Economy 7 tariff should aim to minimise the electricity they use during the day. Fitting electrical appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers with timers can help, allowing you to set your appliances to run overnight.

Suppliers may offer a range of economy tariffs with different pricing schemes. Economy 10, another popular night time tariff, is similar to Economy 7 but also offers a cheaper rate for a three hour period in the afternoon. This allows storage heater owners to recharge their heaters to make the heat last longer into the evening.

You can change your electricity tariff by contacting your electricity supplier, or using a price comparison site to find the most competitive Economy 7 rates for your area.

To save money with the Economy 7 tariff you need to be using at least 40% of your electricity in the cheaper night time bracket.

The best candidates for an Economy 7 tariff are those homes which have storage heaters and a hot water tank. Because hot water tanks heat up water overnight to be used during the day, they share similar benefits to storage heaters when used with an Economy 7 tariff. However, many other factors will impact the usefulness of an Economy 7 tariff in your home; in many ways, it is your lifestyle and work schedule which will best determine the most economical energy tariff for you.

If you are at home during the day, Economy 7 can be a good choice because you can take advantage of heat and hot water that has charged up overnight. Heat levels will cool towards the end of the evening, making Economy 7 a better choice for people who prefer early nights and early mornings.

If you are out of the house during the day, Economy 7 may not be the best choice because you will not feel the advantage of the heat which is released during the day. You may be able to save money by using a more controllable heating system on a standard energy tariff.

Alternatively, if you work unusual hours and are commonly awake, active and at home between midnight and 7am, you may be able to use Economy 7 to your advantage. You will be able to feel the benefit of your charging storage heaters and use all your electrical appliances whilst enjoying the lower electricity rate.

People who may benefit from an Economy 7 tariff include:

• People who are retired
• People who work from home
• People with nocturnal lifestyles

Locations which may benefit from an Economy 7 tariff include:

• Small offices
• Museums
• Shops
• Libraries
• Schools
• Waiting rooms
• Other public buildings open during the day
• Eco homes with a surplus of night time electricity

Storage heaters will only be an economical choice for your property if you are on a night time electricity tariff. If you do not think the Economy 7 tariff is right for your property, we recommend choosing an alternative to storage heaters.

Storage heaters are designed to take advantage of the Economy 7 tariff: created to save money, they are not inherently energy efficient. If reducing your energy usage is as important to you as reducing your heating bills, you may want to read more about the way energy is used in storage heaters before you make your decision.

Like most electrical appliances, storage heaters are 100% efficient at point of use. In other words, all the electricity used by your storage heaters will be used to generate heat. However, the storage heating process itself is inherently inefficient. Storage heaters work by heating up large bricks inside the heater body using cheaper night time electricity. These bricks retain their heat throughout the day, heating up the air as it circulates around the room. Due to the nature of these heated bricks it is very difficult to control the heat output of storage heaters, and heat will “leak” from the heaters from the moment they begin charging: bringing you heat all through the night, throughout the day and into the evening.

Most households do not want or need this constant level of heat and would be able to save energy by heating their homes as and when needed with radiators or on-demand heaters. The “all or nothing” heat of storage heaters is usually only an efficient choice if you are regularly at home during the day.

Storage heaters are also very difficult to control. You cannot take advantage of the advanced digital programming facilities designed to improve the efficiency of other forms of heating. The most advanced storage heaters do use a thermostat to control room temperature, but these thermostats do not reduce the heaters’ energy consumption because they operate after the heaters are fully charged.

Storage heaters heat using convection only, unlike electric or central heating radiators which also heat using radiation. Radiated heat is more efficient than convected heat because it travels directly from the heat source to the occupants of the room. Convection relies on heated air to transfer warmth – air which is easily lost through draughts and open doors.

In short, storage heaters are one of the least efficient electric heating solutions on the market. However, modern storage heaters incorporate a range of energy saving features which can help to make storage heating smarter and more controllable.

Manual storage heaters are the most basic type of storage heater. Charge intake and heat output must be adjusted by the homeowner – there are no automatic components. Most manual storage heaters are controlled by two adjustable dials on the body of the heater.

The charge intake dial controls how much heat is stored. When the weather is cold you should set the dial to maximum to make sure you have enough heat to stay warm all day. When the weather is warmer you can reduce the charge intake and use less energy. The heat output dial controls the rate at which heat leaves the storage heater. On a high setting heat will leave the storage heater faster, providing higher room temperatures but using the stored energy faster. On a low setting your room temperatures will be lower, but the stored heat will last longer. A low setting is the best choice if you’re going to be out of the house during the day, but a high setting may be necessary when the temperature drops.

Manual storage heaters require you to constantly adjust your heating: as soon as you forget, you may be wasting energy or risking a cold evening. If you want to economise and purchase cheaper manual storage heaters, we recommend placing them in the rooms you use less often – such as guest rooms or personal offices.

Automatic storage heaters use intelligent air sensors to adjust charge intake and heat output automatically.

Once you have chosen a comfortable heat setting, your storage heaters will automatically adjust their charge intake to ensure they can maintain your comfort temperature no matter what the changes in the weather.

This ensures you stay warm during unexpected cold snaps and prevents you wasting energy when the weather is warmer. Automatic storage heaters can help you save up to 15% over manual heaters.

Automatic storage heaters are the most reliable choice for the busiest rooms in your home. They are also recommended for offices, care homes and public buildings because they do not require specialist knowledge to operate.

Most storage heaters include a safety thermostat which prevents the heater over-heating during the charging process. However, only the most advanced storage heaters feature room temperature thermostats which actively and accurately control heat levels during the day.

Storage heater thermostats are necessarily more complicated than thermostats on electric radiators or central heating boilers. Thermostats on these more responsive heating solutions simply cut power to the heaters when they sense the room temperature rising above set levels. But because storage heaters do not use power during the day, storage heater thermostats must physically control the heat output of your storage heaters – allowing more air into the heater when you need the temperature to rise and obstructing heat output when you need the temperature to drop.

A thermostat on your storage heaters gives you more comfortable room temperatures and can make the heating charge last longer.

Combi storage heaters have built-in convection heaters which can be switched on in the event that your storage heaters run out of charge. The convection heater is fully controllable and can provide you with your desired level of heat for as long as you need. However, the convection heater runs off daytime electricity which is charged at a higher rate if you’re using an Economy 7 tariff. Combination storage heaters provide a useful backup which can become expensive if relied upon too often.

Fan assisted storage heaters use an integrated fan to draw air through the heater and spread warm convected heat around the room.

This has two significant advantages over standard static storage heaters. Firstly, the fan can be thermostatically controlled, giving you more control over your room temperature. Secondly, fan assisted storage heaters can be equipped with more than double the insulation used in static storage heaters. This is because the fan forces the air in the room to make contact with the hot bricks inside the storage heaters – whilst static storage heaters must keep their hot bricks somewhat exposed to ensure their heat reaches the air. Better insulation helps the storage heaters retain their charge more effectively, giving you comfortable heating for longer.

However, fan assisted storage heaters come with the same drawback as combination storage heaters. The fan heater element runs on higher rate daytime electricity, so you will have to balance the energy saving benefits with the running costs of the fan.

A safety thermostat prevents your storage heaters over-heating whilst charging. The thermostat monitors the temperature of the storage heater as it charges and will cut power if the temperature rises above the safety limit. All storage heaters should be fitted with safety thermostats.

Functioning storage heaters will be hot to the touch but should not cause injury. However, if you are fitting storage heaters in a home with young, elderly or vulnerable people you may want to consider fitting your storage heaters inside safety cages.

Never purchase a storage heater without a warranty. A warranty is the manufacturer’s promise that they will fix or replace your storage heaters if they malfunction within a set time after purchasing. The length of warranty offered is a good indication of the heater’s quality. You should look for a warranty of at least 2 years when purchasing storage heaters.

To be sure that your storage heaters meet the required safety regulations you should always check their safety accreditation certificates. As a minimum, your storage heaters must carry the CE mark. This is the manufacturer’s declaration that the heaters meet the minimum requirements set by the European Council. Ideally, your storage heaters should carry the BEAB mark. The BEAB mark indicates that the heaters have been manufactured in an inspected factory and have been tested and assessed by approved third-party experts.

Modern storage heaters do not contain asbestos.

Storage heaters, like all heaters which heat using convection, have been known to exacerbate allergies. Storage heaters work by warming the air as it circulates past the hot bricks inside the heater body. This means that any dust inside the heaters will be distributed around the room, which can aggravate people with dust allergies or asthma. You can reduce this risk by dusting your storage heaters. Storage heaters with integrated fluff filters will also reduce disturbed dust.

If you have reduced mobility, make sure you choose a storage heater with easy reach controls. Because storage heaters continue to be popular amongst older generations, very few storage heater manufacturers situate the controls anywhere other than at the top of the heater – within easy reach with no need to bend.

Storage heaters release heat from the moment they begin charging. That means that a storage heater in your bedroom will kick out heat from midnight onwards. If you are comfortable with a background level of heat while sleeping this might be an ideal arrangement. However, if you prefer a cooler sleeping environment you may want to choose another form of heating for your bedroom.

All storage heaters must be floor mounted and secured to the wall. Storage heaters are very heavy so the bulk of the weight will be taken by the feet resting on the floor. Securing your heaters to the wall prevents them falling over.

Storage heaters should be installed by a professional electrician. You can expect to pay your electrician around £45 to install a single storage heater or an hourly rate of between £25 and £50 if you are installing multiple storage heaters.

Installing storage heaters is a quick and easy task that requires no plumbing work. It’s cheaper, faster and less disruptive than fitting central heating.

Not all storage heaters can be fitted in bathrooms. Electric appliances for bathroom fitting must carry an IP rating of at least IPX4 if installed within 0.6m of a bath or shower. Check individual product details and the manufacturer’s guidelines regarding suitability before making your purchase.

Storage heaters are very heavy. Depending on the size of your storage heaters, they may weigh anything from 40kg to 400kg. Due to their weight, storage heaters are delivered on a pallet. You will need to have someone on hand to sign for the heaters and move them into your property. We strongly recommend using two people to lift each storage heater to avoid injury.

You should dust your storage heaters regularly to reduce the circulation of dust around your home.

Storage heaters, like other convection heaters, may occasionally cause wall blackening. This can occur when particles of dust come into contact with the hot bricks in the heater body and get burnt. The hot air which carries the dust circulates upwards from your storage heaters which can cause sooty deposits to collect on the wall. Regular dusting will reduce this problem. Fitting a shelf just above your storage heaters can also help deflect the dust. Blackened walls can be scrubbed clean or painted over.

Storage heaters are very safe. They cannot produce carbon monoxide so they do not require annual servicing.

Storage heaters are carbon neutral at point of use. Used with green electricity they offer an entirely carbon free heating solution. However, storage heaters plugged into the mains will use electricity generated from a variety of power plants – including fossil fuel burning power stations.

On the one hand, storage heaters, like other electric appliances, are 100% efficient at point of use. In other words, 100% of the electricity they use is used to generate heat. However, charging up at night and releasing heat during the day is an inherently inefficient process. The constant leak of heat from the onset of the charging process throughout the day means that much of the electricity your storage heaters use goes towards producing heat that you do not want or need.

For truly energy efficient electric heating we recommend choosing heating products that are fully controllable; electric radiators, underfloor heating and infrared panels allow you to make major energy savings by reducing your energy usage to what you really need.

To make the most sustainable choice for your home, look out for storage heaters manufactured from recycled steel or aluminium.

If you generate your own electricity you may find storage heaters a useful choice because they can use surplus electricity generated overnight. If your home uses wind turbines or hydropower, you will probably find you generate a large amount of electricity overnight which may be difficult to use. Homeowners can export their self-generated electricity out to the National Grid, but this is rarely an economical option: at the time of writing, it costs 15p per kWh to use electricity from the grid, while exporting your electricity will only get you 4.64 p/kWh.

Storage heaters offer a carbon neutral heating solution that can make use of this surplus – and unlike users on an Economy 7 tariff, you can top up your heating during the day without paying a premium.

Conservatories can be difficult to heat efficiently because the high volume of glass offers very little insulation against heat loss. If you are planning to use your conservatory in the colder months you may want to choose a more powerful radiator than the wattage calculator recommends for the room size. This will ensure you have enough power to stay warm in your conservatory despite heat loss through the windows.

Storage heaters for bathroom installation must have an IP rating of at least IPX4. This ensures the storage heaters are adequately protected against splashing water. Always defer to the manufacturer’s guidelines concerning product installation in bathrooms.

Hallways can be difficult to heat because convected heat will naturally rise and collect at the top of your stairs. The best way to ensure an even spread of heat across both levels of your hallway is to use two storage heaters: one at ground floor level and one at the top of the landing.

Many homes which use storage heaters do so because they do not have a supply of gas. But electric heating today offers many other options which may be more economical than storage heaters if you live a busy in-and-out lifestyle. The superior controllability offered by alternative electric heating methods may even make electric heating the best choice for homes with supplies of both gas and electricity.

Electric Radiators

Electric radiators work very similarly to central heating radiators, delivering radiated and convected heat moderated by a digital thermostat. They are fully controllable, allowing you to set customisable heating schedules in each room. Their energy saving potential often makes them cheaper to run than storage heaters – despite using standard electricity tariffs. A good choice for families with busy lifestyles who are often out of the house during the day.

Panel Heaters

Electric panel heaters are cheaper alternatives to electric radiators. Like storage heaters, they heat purely by convection. This makes them less efficient than electric radiators. Panel heaters make a good budget choice for rooms you use less frequently, such as guest rooms and personal offices.

Infrared Panels

Infrared panels are luxury electric heaters which deliver heat purely by radiation. This is a comfortable form of heat which feels like the warmth from the sun. Infrared is a very efficient choice because, unlike storage heaters which heat purely by convection, very little heat is lost through draughts or the natural circulation of air. Infrared panels are slimline and stylish and can be customised with the image of your choice.

Underfloor Heating

Electric underfloor heating uses electric cables to warm the floor beneath your feet, radiating heat upwards into the room. Unlike most other forms of heating, underfloor heating warms from the floor upwards – keeping your house warm where it matters. Underfloor heating is also practically invisible, in many cases raising the floor level by as little as 2cm, and can be retro-fitted without digging up the floor.

Combined Electric Heating Systems

The beauty of electric heating is that it allows you to mix and match your heating products. Perhaps you want underfloor heating in the bathroom, a panel heater in the spare room, an infrared panel in the bedroom and radiators everywhere else? Electric heating gives you unlimited scope to create a personalised heating system for your home. Storage heaters cannot be so easily combined with other electric heaters because an Economy 7 tariff will make it expensive to run other heaters during the day.

Gas central heating is the most common form of heating in the UK – and for good reason. Gas central heating systems are relatively efficient, they deliver comfortable levels of heat, and gas is usually available at cheaper rates than electricity. However, the major disadvantage of gas central heating is that installation can be slow, expensive and disruptive. It is much easier to replace radiators in an existing central heating system than it is to install a new central heating system in a house which has previously used storage heaters.

Central Heating Radiators

Gas central heating radiators deliver heat through convection and radiation. Thermostatic valves allow you to change the temperature on each individual radiator, whilst a central thermostat moderates the flow of hot water from your boiler to control the overall heat output of the system. Gas central heating radiators are less controllable than electric radiators but may work out as the cheaper option because of the lower cost of gas. Installing new central heating radiators is an expensive and disruptive process which requires the services of a plumber.

Underfloor Heating

Gas underfloor heating uses water filled pipes beneath the floor to radiate heat up into the room. Like electric underfloor heating, this effectively warms your rooms from the floor upwards, giving you the full benefit of all the heat produced. Piped underfloor heating must be fitted beneath existing floors so can be very expensive to install in existing houses. Centrally heated underfloor heating is usually only an economical choice when installed during the build stage of a new property.