Electric Storage Heating

[clarahenders]

Having just bought a flat which has this heating system, I would like to know how safe they are. I've been told by the previous owners that they dont require regular maintenance or annual servicing. Apparently they also have thermal cutouts for overheating. Just curious about safety of them, as they heat overnight to a very high temperature and wonder if its safe to leave them on overnight when i'm out.

[rojash]

Storage heater are a bit like hot water bottles. Overnight, when electricity is cheap, they heat up and store the heat. which they then radiate even after the power is removed. They are very safe, but a fairly cr@ppy concept, as, as you have discovered, they are at their hottest when you least need it, and once heated, you're stuck with them warming the room, even if it turns out to be a warm day.

[Libellule77]

Totally agree with rojash - they are a rubbish concept ! I just moved into a house with electric storage heating, and was finding that even after turning the output right down during the day when I was out to conserve the heat, by mid-evening there would be very little heat left.

I don't use them anymore, instead I've opted for a portable oil filled radiator - this gives instant heat, and has a timer so I can time it to come on an hour before I get back from work so my house is all toasty !

[khana]

Having previously had storage heaters in my old home, I to did not rate them.
I moved house a few months ago though and not having the option of gas or oil, I had to put storage ones in.
Things have obviously moved on, as the new ones are just fantastic. For a start they look just like normal radiators (the old ones were just were fugly). They also allow you to turn them on during the day if you need that extra heat, however, I've found that as long as the door is kept closed when your in and out of the room then your kept nice and snug.