Storage heaters, for many years, have been seen largely as an expensive and inefficient alternative to other methods of 
heating your home. By far, a gas central heating system is still the most prevalent in the UK, but with gas prices constantly on the rise and the UK becoming evermore dependent on imports, people are starting to consider electric heating alternatives. Stylish, designer electric radiators have boomed in popularity, largely due to the sheer efficiency and level of control they offer, but where does the new technology fit in with storage heaters? Don’t rule them out yet…
So what are electric storage heaters?
You might hear an electric storage heater referred to as a ‘night storage heater’. In a nutshell, they are designed to work overnight when electricity is cheaper, store the heat they generate, and then release it during the day. When used in conjunction with an ‘economy’ tariff – available from all energy companies – they can make perfect economical sense.
You might hear these tariffs referred to as an ‘ECO 7’ or ‘ECO 10’ tariff, depending on which one you use (the number referrs to the amount of off-peak hours). These tariffs are designed to save you money and a storage heater is the perfect choice if that’s the way you want to go.
From Stiebel Eltron to Dimplex, there are a range of excellent manufacturers and products to choose from, all utilising cutting edge technology to bring the benefits of a storage heater into the modern world.
What are these ‘benefits’ we speak of?
Let’s assume that you’re on an economy tariff (as you should be if you’re opting for a storage heater – we’ll get to that in a second) and you currently have a gas central heating system. Why would switching to storage heaters be beneficial?
– For a start, they’re more flexible than central heating. You can opt to have various rooms at various temperatures, and you can turn them off and on individually with ease, helping to save money and cut down energy usage.
– No flue modernisation or installation is required, as with a gas fire for example, so there’s no expensive plumbing or pipework needed.
– Installation is quick and simple, making the investment more cost-effective and manageable.
– There’s no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning as there would be with a gas boiler.
– You can rest assured that you’re now heating your home in a more environmentally friendly way.
– If your home is occupied during the day, they were made for you. The natural release of heat happens steadily throughout the day but there’s no electricity usage (this happens on a night, when the rate is cheaper).
Why can’t you use storage heaters on a regular tariff?
Storage heaters are an excellent choice for the reasons outlined above, but you’ll struggle to feel the benefit on a ‘regular’ tariff. Here’s why.
On an economy or ‘eco’ tariff, your electricity will be much cheaper for either 7 or 10 hours through the night (let’s say, from 11pm to 6am). To balance things out, it’ll be slightly more expensive during ‘peak’ hours of the day. If you have storage heaters, they’re designed to take advantage of this new ‘off-peak’ rate through the evening, and they don’t consume any electricity through the day. On a standard electricity tariff, you’ll pay roughly the same across the board, and as a result, your cost saving through using a storage heater will be diminished considerably.
Storage heaters are an incredibly intelligent way of heating your home if the right ingredients are in play, and one such ingredient is an economy tariff. You storage heater will switch on at say, 11pm, when you cheaper rate starts and shut of at say, 6am, when it ends. During this time it won’t be dispersing any heat, just working quietly to store heat while you’re sleeping. Then, when you’re up and about, it’ll disperse heat gradually throughout the day, keeping your home nice and warm. The level of heat output can be increased or decreased depending on your preferences and which appliance you choose.
Before you choose a storage heater, be sure to shop around for the very best the market has to offer. Leading suppliers like Sunhouse, Dimplex and Stiebel Eltron have various products with multiple features, so while one storage heater might be perfect for one home, you may pick another one depending on your individual needs. If storage heaters aren’t for you, or you don’t spend much of the day at home, you can revolutionise your home heating system with energy efficient electric radiators. For more information about either, call 0330 300 4444 and speak to one of our friendly experts.
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Go Home Direct are here to bring you the very latest in energy news, views and opinions from across the UK. They are also suppliers of energy efficient electric heating solutions and are constantly assessing the market for the best products and the latest ground-breaking technology which they think will make a real difference to their customer’s homes. Go Home Direct are devoted to helping you reduce your carbon footprint and bring down your energy bills and they work hard to raise awareness of energy efficient products that can make all the difference. For more information on their range of heated towel rails or energy efficient electric panel heaters, call one of their friendly team today on 0330 300 4444 for a free assessment.