What can I do about electric storage heaters...Dimplex?

Question

I have been informed that I can not have them replaced by a standard electrician and I know that I can not cover them with a radiator cover...

The other problem I have is that they have no timer and little in the way of a thermostat...they are either on or off and only work at certain times of the day....not much good in the middle of winter...

Any Ideas?

I have no gas to my property so central heating is not likely, The electrician said he wasnt allowed to deal with them because they run on a different electricity supply or something....

Answer 1

Why can't u have them replaced by a standard electrician, who said that? it's a 10 minute easy job to swap one...

They just need replacing with a modern version, but they are expensive going from 116 - around 350 pound each, easy to wire to the existing economy 7 supply and the bricks just drop in...link to Dimplex = http://www.dealec.co.uk/acatalog/Storage_Heaters.html


Edit - I think that electrician needs a head test, Economy 7 is just a cheaper tarif from your main supply that means it's cheaper during the night, i have wired them into new properties before, obviously he just doesn't wanna carry the bricks, ask some other sparks (Yellow Pages) see what they say - call one out and ask him to check your existing ones out to see if they are knackered or not, if they are dinosaurs then simply replace them...gheez! next we will have plumbers saying it's 50% more cos the pipes are painted green...

Answer 2

Contrary to some answers, storage heating is not anymore expensive than Gas (The cost of gas is quite high at the moment) The main problem with these types of heaters is that a lot of people haven't got much idea on how to operate them properly. Take time to read the manual if it has been left or ask the previous owners or association staff how to work them. Once the stored heat is out that's it, but if you adjust the heater correctly (input/output controls) this stored heat can last a very long time. Modern heaters are also much slimmer than the bulky older models and look pretty good. The yearly cost is difficult to calculate as it will depend on how often it's used by you personally.

Answer 3

Sounds like you are not using them poperly. My storage heaters are brilliant but they have to be the correct size for the room and you need to set them properly. An ordinary electician can remove and replace a storage heater. These days you can buy combi storage heaters and they have a booster which you can turn on at any time but I do not have any experience of these.

Answer 4

You seem to misunderstand the operating principle of storage heaters, while not the most flexible or perhaps the cheapest to run, they do operate fairly well if sized and operated properly. They do have a timer, its part of the control system next to your meter, The operation of the thermostat and boost control needs to be understood and set properly. I suggest that you contact Dimplex who will send you operating and setting instructions, tell them the model of heaters from the silver label usually on the right hand side end panel.

If they are very old, they are are simple change over for any electrician. The hardest part is usually carrying the bricks up six flights of stairs!!!!

Answer 5

storage heaters are useless as they charge up at night on the cheaper electric tariff and discharge the heat during the day.if you can't have a boiler and radiators installed i would change the storage heaters for convector heaters these also cannot be covered but at least you will be able to control them.also you need to check that you have the correctly sized wiring and circuit breakers for these heaters.

Answer 6

There are electric central heating boiler available these days, very small and supposed to be efficient, have a look on heatrae sadia website and talk to a sparks who does plumbing or a plumber who is part p, they will know. I wouldn't listen to anyone who doesn't have a qualification in plumbing or electricity.

Answer 7

they are called storage heaters because they store heat in the encased bricks powered by cheaper electricity through the night they should have two controls input and output/boost, the reason you cant change them is due to the power supply only been through the night, you would have to remove them (very heavy) blank off the supply outlet and rewire normal supply electricity to a conventional heater via a socket,or get a combi boiler and rads

Answer 8

Storage radiators are very inefficient and expensive way of heating your flat.There are much better systems available today that do a much better job.

Have a look at the link below, as they also offer their own installers who will come and fit the system usually in a day.

http://www.kalirel.co.uk/index.html