Alert Electrical Limited

• Home
• Delivery
• Returns
• Blog
• FAQ
• Contact
• Careers

• Alarms & CCTV
• Heating
• Fans & Ventilation
• Shower & Bathoom
• Lighting
• General
• Sockets & Switches
• Bargain Basement

Heating – A Guide to Storage, Panel and Bathroom Heaters

Visit Our Heating Section To View Our Product Range

A portable 2kw convection heater is just one of the many heating options available to you

 

Introduction to Storage Heaters

 A storage heater is an electrical appliance which stores heat at a time when surplus electricity is available at a low price, usually during the night, and releases it during the day. Heat is usually stored in clay bricks or other ceramic material because of its low cost and high specific heat capacity.

Storage heaters are usually used in conjunction with a two-tariff electricity meter which records the electricity used during the off-peak period separately so that it can be billed at a lower rate. In order to derive any benefit from a storage heater, the house must be on a special electricity tariff. In the United Kingdom, the Economy 7 tariff is appropriate.

Storage heaters usually have two controls - a charge control, which controls the amount of heat stored, and a draught control, which controls the rate at which heat is released. These controls may be set by the user, or in some models are automatic and allow you to set the target room temperature using a thermostat.

Many units also contain a conventional electric heater which can be used to give a boost in heat output during the day. If this feature is relied upon too much, a lot of peak time electricity will be used and the storage heater will prove expensive to run.

Find out more about storage heaters on Wikipedia.

 

Different Types of Heaters

Most heating products from our electrical supplies store can be installed as part of a system or as single units, giving you complete freedom. Whether you're seeking a heating solution for domestic or commercial applications, a new build, refurbishment or a replacement we have the perfect heating product for you. To help you find the right product for your needs, here is a quick summary of the different options available:

·         Storage Heaters use inexpensive off peak electricity to store heat in a core of high density bricks. This heat is then given out during the day and evening. Insulation panels between the bricks and the outer core ensure there is plenty of heat all day long.

·         Electric Panel Heaters are ultra compact wall heaters which provide rapid heat and accurate temperature control at the flick of a switch. Panel Heater Controls are a range of accessories for panel heaters, providing improved control over running costs and better comfort and ease of use. Low Wattage Panel Heaters are particularly ideal for domestic use.

·         Fan Heaters are designed mainly for kitchens and bathrooms. Electric bathroom heaters are very compact, providing fast warm up and good air circulation.

·         Towel Rails and Towel Radiators provide the solution to year round drying and airing of towels. Selected models can be used for heating smaller bathrooms, and certain models can also be connected to a 'wet' central heating system.

·         Portable Electric Heaters are products which can be moved from room to room, for example fan or convector heaters.

 

·         Convector Heaters are ideal for domestic or commercial use and can be freestanding or wall mounted.

 

·         Dimplex Oil Filled Radiators are the original plug-in heater and, with a totally enclosed heating element, they provide a very safe and reliable room heater.

 

·         Fan Heaters are extremely light and compact, providing fast heat up for cold spots.

 

·         Multi Purpose Heating covers our MPH range which is suitable for a multitude of installations including lofts and greenhouses.

When it comes to installing heating in the workplace, Commercial Heating covers a wide range of products that are suitable for a variety of applications, such as air curtains, flameproof heating, air barriers and quartz spot heating.

 

FAQs

Can I put radiator covers over my heaters? 

No, we strongly advise against covering any of our heaters, as this will restrict the airflow through, and output of, the heater.

Can I install your heating products myself? 

Installed products e.g. panel heaters, storage heaters etc. should always be fitted by a competent person, preferably a qualified electrician, and must be installed in accordance with the current IEE wiring regulations. Most portable products however are supplied with a mains cable and plug and require no specialist installation.

What are the main benefits of purchasing a storage heater? 

Storage heaters are one of the most popular forms of electric heating, and because they use low cost 'off peak' electricity the running costs are low. Storage heaters are also cheap and easy to install, requiring no pipe work or flues. They have no moving parts or internal combustion, are virtually maintenance free and do not require an annual safety check.

What types of storage heaters are in your range? 

We have the widest range of storage heaters on the market. Ranges include heaters with manual or automatic charge control, combination models that include a convector heater, and fan assisted models for even greater efficiency and control.

Can I move my storage heater? 

This should only be attempted by a competent person or electrician. For safety reasons all electrical supplies to the heater must be switched off and all bricks removed before moving the heater.

Can I use a storage heater in a bathroom? 

Our mini storage heaters are all suitable for bathroom use.

Can I dry my clothes on my heater? 

You should never cover the surfaces of the heater or obstruct the air outlet grilles as this will cause temperatures of the product to rise and the safety cut-outs to operate. However a towel rail from our mini storage heater range is available as an accessory which provides a safe method of using a storage heater to dry clothes and towels. Please contact us for further details.

Can I paint my storage heaters? 

We do not advise the painting of any of our heaters. It is very difficult to obtain paint with sufficient quality able to withstand the high temperatures involved.

How can I heat my conservatory where there is minimal wall space? 

The EVS range of low profile panel heaters are ideal for low-level installations. It is important to size the heaters correctly.

Where in my house would panel heaters provide the best heating solution? 

Panel heaters provide instant, controllable heat and are suitable for any area. They are particularly suited to occasional use areas such as hallways or bedrooms and because they are splash-proof they are also suitable for bathrooms.

Do your heaters have a frost protection setting? 

Yes, all of our panel heaters and some other products incorporate a frost protection setting.

Are your towel rails approved for bathroom use? 

Yes, all our towel rails are IP-4 rated for use in wet areas.

Will your towel rails heat the whole bathroom? 

This depends on the size of your bathroom. All our towel rails will provide a certain amount of extra heat for the room, and the 'BR' range of towel radiators in particular could heat the bathroom by itself.

 

Reasons to Use Electric Heaters

Not only is electric heating very versatile, it also offers levels of safety, reliability, cleanliness and comfort unmatched by other heating fuels. Add low installation costs plus economic running costs and electric heating offers exceptional value for money.

Electric heating has a number of major benefits to both you and your customer over other fuels and this section is designed to help you understand these in more detail.

Click to find out more -> Why Use Electric Heating.pdf

In addition to the specific benefits listed, the long term future for electric heating is looking bright following the Government’s recent Energy Review (see: Energy – the issues > UK Energy Policies and Strategy > Energy Review) which has signalled an increased reliance on renewable energy sources and the need for a new generation of low carbon electricity generation sources.

This is a winning combination for electric heating as it will become cleaner and greener than it has ever been before, plus it is inherently renewable-ready. Electric heating is also very sustainable, bringing environmental, social and economic benefits to the community and these issues are all dealt with in more detail in the individual sections listed in the PDF download above.

Storage heaters in particular can be very cost effective if used properly. However, understanding the heater's mode of operation and using the heater effectively throughout the year takes more thought and planning than a central heating system.

Power switches

Off peak and peak power supplies to storage heater 

Newer installations will provide two separate power circuits, one for peak and one for off peak electricity, and two power switches on the wall next to each storage heater. These should be switched off during the summer when the operator does not want to store any heat overnight. During other months they should be switched on at all times – you can control the amount of heat that is stored using the controls on the storage heater unit.

Basic controls

Input and Output switches on a basic storage heater

Basic storage heaters have an input switch and output switch (also called heat boost on some models).

The position of the input switch should be changed to reflect how cold the night and following day is predicted to be. In the middle of winter, it is appropriate to turn the input switch to its maximum setting. The input switch is normally thermostatic, controlling the maximum temperature that the bricks are allowed to heat to overnight.

There is no need to touch the input switch on a daily basis if you are expecting the same sort of weather for weeks at a time. There is also no need to touch the input switch during the day as storage heaters only use electricity overnight when it typically costs less.

The output switch does require attention throughout the day either. Before going to bed, you should switch the output to its minimum setting. This keeps as much heat in the bricks as possible. Enough will leak out into the room to make it warm in the morning. Only in exceptionally cold circumstances will you require higher output overnight.

You may wish to slowly increase the output switch during the day to maintain the temperature in the house. Increasing the output will allow the heater to emit warmth. If the house is empty during the day because you are at work, the output should be left at a minimum all day and then turned up when returning home, in order to let more heat escape into the house.

Thermostatic controls 

A thermostatic storage heater will regulate the temperature in a room throughout the day. However, you may wish to switch the thermostatic switch to the minimum setting overnight to stop the room being kept at an unnecessarily high temperature when not in use.

Adapted from Wikipedia

Heater Comparison Charts

A storage heater manufacturer code comparison table:

Description	Newlec	Sector	Classic	Heatstore	R/W	Dimplex	Unidare	Sunhouse	Creda
0.9kw manual storage	NLSH6MN	STHS085	NC850WMANU	HSX6N	SH6M	XL6N	WMX706N	SSH6M	TSR6MW
1.7kw manual storage	NLSH12MN			HSX12N	SH12M	XL12N	WMX712N	SSH12M	TSR12MW
2.5kw manual storage	NLSH18MN			HSX18N	SH18M	XL18N	WMX718N	SSH18M	TSR18MW
3.4kw manual storage	NLSH24MN			HSX24N	SH24M	XL24N	WMX724N	SSH24M	TSR24MW
0.9kw auto storage				HSXA6N		XLS6N		SSH6A	TSR6AW
1.7kw auto storage	NLSH12AN	STHS170A	NC1700WAUT	HSXA12N	SH12A	XLS12N	WMS712N	SSH12A	TSR12AW
2.5kw auto storage	NLSH18AN	STHS255A	NC2550WAUT	HSXA18N	SH18A	XLS18N	WMS718N	SSH18A	TSR18AW
3.4kw auto storage	NLSH24AN	STHS330A	NC3300WAUT	HSXA24N	SH24A	XLS24N	WMS724N	SSH24A	TSR24AW
1.7+1.0kw auto combi	NLH3000	STHC170A		HSXC12N		CXLS12N	WMC712N	SSH12CW	TSR12ACW
2.55+1.5kw auto combi	NLH3001	STHC255A		HSX18CN		CXLS18N	WMC718N	SSH18CW	TSR18ACW
3.4+2.0kw auto combi	NLH3002	STHC330A		HSX24CN		CXLS24N	WMC724N	SSH24CW	TSR24ACW
2.55kw Fan storage				HSXAF18N		FXL18N	WMF718N		SFHA18
3.4kw fan storage				HSXAF24N		FXL24N	WMF724N		SFHA24