Storage Heater Guide
We have compiled a wide range of information about storage heaters to hopefully answer all your questions – including the difference between old and new storage heaters.
- FAQs
- Tech Jargon
- Comparison
Welcome to Greenvision Energy’s Electric storage heater guide.
In the UK around 2.2 million households use electric heating rather than gas. This equates to around 8.5% of all homes. The majority of this is made up of storage heating, but, interestingly, most people who have storage heaters don’t know how to use them effectively or the best option to replace them with.
What is a storage heater?
Storage heaters are a good option for households who are not connected to the gas grid and need to use electricity as a heat source. Storage heaters work by drawing from the existing electricity (effectively, ‘charging’ like a very large rechargeable battery) and gradually releasing the stored electricity as heat. They are designed to take advantage of cheaper, off-peak electricity tariffs such as Economy 7, which make use of cheaper, overnight electricity rates to absorb and store electricity. Typically this is done using ceramic or clay bricks inside the heater, which retain heat and make heating the home during the day cheaper.
There are many different types of storage heaters, some of which are no longer manufactured so may not be a good choice for the long term. That is why it is important to research the best solution for your heating needs.
Are storage heaters right for my home?
Historically, storage heaters were recommended if your home didn’t have access to a mains gas supply. Today some people are looking to replace their central heating with Dimplex Quantum High Heat Retention Storage Heaters and some of the reasons are:
- Smart storage heaters are comparatively easy to install
- They don’t require regular maintenance or servicing
- They have a long service life, with some manufacturers offering a 30-year warranty and they will improve your energy performance certificate (EPC). This can make storage heating a particularly appealing option for landlords.
- It may be difficult or impractical to install central heating, which is the case in listed properties.
- Switching to electric heating is a better choice for the environment, especially when the electricity comes from renewable or low carbon sources.
- Heating our homes accounts for around 15% of the UK’s total carbon emissions(1) – so it’s a huge contributor to climate change. And if the government is to meet its target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, we need to find alternatives to fossil fuels (gas and oil) for heating our homes.
What are the different types of storage heaters & panel heaters for bedrooms
Dimplex Quantum High Heat Retention Storage Heaters
As the name implies, these are a “smart” version of the traditional storage heaters. Whilst they work in broadly the same way, the clay or ceramic bricks are encased in a highly insulated compartment which allows the stored heat to be released at pre-set times and temperatures. This means smart storage heaters can still take advantage of Economy 7 tariffs but provide much more flexible usage.
Old Style Storage Heaters
Old storage heaters work by drawing electricity at night, and storing it as heat in a ‘bank’ of clay or ceramic bricks to use the following day. they offer very poor energy efficiency, because the heater begins to lose heat as soon as it’s stored and you can’t set different times and temperature. Unlike smart storage heaters. Also old storage heaters can be expensive to run. Smart storage heaters are 27% cheaper to run.
Fan Assisted Storage Heater
Unlike traditional storage heaters which automatically release the stored heat, fan assisted storage heaters have a low speed fan. The fan draws air through the heater and propels the heat through a grill or vent usually situated at the base of the unit. Some models of fan assisted storage heaters may also have an adjustable speed so that you can control the rate at which heat is given out.
Panel Heater
Panel heaters are a great alternative to a storage heater for rooms that don’t require a lot of heat and have limited space. Ideal for bedrooms
Panel heaters use standard rate electricity and provide fairly constant heat when switched on. They are 100% efficient at point of use and are ideal for rooms that only need heating for short periods, although in compact, well insulated properties they can be used as a complete heating system.
What should I replace my old storage heater with?
The Dimplex Quantum smart storage heaters are the most advanced storage heaters in the world and the best alternative to old, inefficient storage heaters. This fantastic energy-efficient storage heater is recommended by the Government to improve your property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Due to its superior heat storage technology, the Dimplex Quantum is 27% cheaper to run than standard storage heaters and 47% cheaper to run than an electric convector.
Other benefits of the Dimplex Quantum
- 47% cheaper to run than a convector heater.
- 27% cheaper to run than standard storage heaters.
- Fully programmable to fit your lifestyle using the simple LED display.
- Thermostatically controlled – only releases heat when your home needs it, minimising costs.
- Attractive, state-of-the-art, compact design.
- Boost option available when you need extra heat.
- Smart Wi-Fi models available – Control your heating from anywhere in the world via your smart phone with an app.
What's the best tariff for my storage heaters?
The best tariff for storage heaters is ‘Economy 7 or ‘Economy 10. Electricity companies provide cheaper energy when demand is much lower (i.e during ‘off peak’). Essentially this means overnight or at weekends, when offices and factories aren’t using as much.
Simply put, the ‘Economy 7’ tariff provides seven hours of cheaper electricity overnight, whilst the. ‘Economy 10’ tariff does the same over 10 hours. Economy 10 was introduced for use with older, inefficient storage heaters because they tend to run out of heat in the evenings. E10 gives additional cheaper rates in the evening unlike E7. Note, you normally pay a higher rate for this.
Newer, modern high heat retention storage heaters, such as the Dimplex Quantum do not need an E10 tariff as they have superior insulation compared with old storage heaters and they are phenomenally good at retaining their heat. They work best on the E7 tariff, which is normally cheaper than the E10 tariff.
As tariffs become more advanced, alongside smart meter technology, it is quite likely that, in the future, we’ll pay a different price for electricity at multiple times of the day. So if cheaper energy, such as wind or solar, becomes available, the Dimplex Quantum has the technology already built into it to take advantage of these new smart tariffs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Storage Heaters
Smart storage heaters like the Dimplex Quantum may cost a little more to purchase than standard ones, but they are around 27% cheaper to run and will soon pay for themselves and go on to give years of lower energy bills. Even installing just one Dimplex Quantum will improve that all-important EPC rating and keep you warmer into the bargain.
‘Smart’ storage heaters such as the Dimplex Quantum will do the adjusting for you. Like standard storage heaters, they take advantage of off-peak electricity but crucially they can release the stored heat at preset times and temperatures via a sophisticated self-learning algorithm. It will calculate how long to charge the unit and at what rate to release the heat, depending on your lifestyle, weather conditions and your temperature requirements.
All storage heaters will emit a little heat after storage even in the output off position, but smart storage heaters hold their heat for longer because of their highly insulated compartment inside the heater itself. (A little constant background heat can be a good way of avoiding big peaks and troughs in temperature.)
Another advantage of smart storage heaters is their ability to charge only until full, not necessarily the whole seven hour off peak period used by standard storage heaters. Landlords in particular should choose carefully when installing or replacing existing storage heaters. The Dimplex Quantum smart storage heater is BEAB approved. This means you get an improved energy efficiency rating (EPC) for your rented property. From 2018 it will be illegal for private landlords to rent out any property with a rating of F or lower.
It may be difficult to get parts for very old storage heaters and call out charges for qualified electricians can be expensive. New modern high heat retention storage heaters are so much more efficient and controllable. In some cases it may be better to bite the bullet and upgrade and let’s face it, in the current climate, energy prices are only going to go one way.
Yes you can, but we would not recommend it as new storage heaters have more electronics and LED displays which could be affected by moisture. A heated towel rail can sometimes be the better option.
Older type models may contain asbestos. However asbestos was withdrawn in 1973, therefore, all storage heaters made since 1974 should be asbestos free.
Installing smart storage heaters is a quick and easy. It requires none of the disruptive plumbing work required to install central heating. Installation done by Greenvision can be completed in 1 day.
Yes, if you want to free up valuable wall space or have a piece of furniture you want to place where the old storage heater was, you can move the new storage heater to a new location.
New storage heaters are a lot more efficient than old ones and give out more heat. So, in some cases you may only require one new storage heater as opposed to two. This will free up wall space and reduce install costs. This will depend on the size of the room, how well insulated the room is etc
How to get the best out of old storage heaters?
Learn how to control your old storage heaters
We would recommend you watch the video from the Energy Saving Trust website which explains the best way of setting up your old storage heaters.
On older storage heaters, the input and output controls are usually found on top of the heater, or down the side.
How to use input & output controls on old storage heaters
You should adjust the controls throughout the year, to avoid using more energy than you need during the summer. And to make sure the heaters are storing enough heat to last you through the day.
Some storage heaters also come with a ‘boost’ setting, to give you an extra blast of heat if you need it. However, giving your home a ‘boost’ of heat often uses peak-time electricity, rather than the energy stored in your heater from overnight.
If you have more than one storage heater, you can control each one individually.
‘Input’ controls how much energy to store up overnight
The numbers on the input control typically run from 1 (low) to 6 (high). The higher the number, the more energy your heater will store overnight, and the more electricity it will use.
You’ll need to store up more energy during the winter nights, to make sure you’ve got enough heat to last throughout the next day. So, when it starts to get cold, keep the input dial at somewhere between 4 and 6.
In spring and autumn, keep the input dial somewhere between 1 and 3. You won’t need the heating on as much during the day by then, so you don’t need to store up as much energy overnight.
How to make your old storage heaters more efficient?
If you find your home isn’t getting warm enough, or you haven’t got enough heat to last you throughout the day, try turning the input dial up a little further overnight.
Over the summer, if it’s warm enough, you might not need any heating on at all. If that’s the case, switch your storage heater off at the wall. This will stop it from absorbing energy overnight and giving out heat during the day.
‘Output’ controls how much heat to give out during the day
During the day, turn the output control up or down to heat your home as and when you need to.
The higher you turn it up, the warmer it will feel. But by doing that, you’ll also be using up more of your stored energy.
By gradually releasing heat throughout the day at a low setting of about 1 or 2, you should have enough to turn it up in the evening, when it’s usually a bit colder.
Example schedule: Turn the dial to 4 to give your home a quick boost of heat in the morning. Keep it between 1 and 2 throughout the day. Turn it up to 5 at night if it gets a bit cold.
If you’ll be out during the day, remember to turn the output control right down before you leave, to avoid using up more energy than you need.
Always turn the output control down to 1 before you go to bed. Heating up your house overnight will cost more money. It will also use up more of your stored energy, so there’ll be less available for the next day.
In spring and autumn, keep the input dial somewhere between 1 and 3. You won’t need the heating on as much during the day by then, so you don’t need to store up as much energy overnight.
Need help or a quote
Call: 0115 854 7498 / Email: sales@greenvisionenergy.co.uk / Complete our online form
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