How Do Electric Storage Heaters Work?

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A storage heater with an electricity symbol hovering over it

The average cost of storage heaters is around €45.87 a month. In our complete storage heater guide, we'll go into the details and examine what a storage heater is, how they are used, arranging installation and possible savings you could make.

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What Is an Electric Storage Heater?

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Storage heaters, also known as heat banks, are wall-mounted heaters that draw electricity during the night time when energy rates are usually cheaper and store the electricity as heat in a bank of ceramic or clay bricks inside the heater.

The heat stored is then released over the coming day. Of course, to get any financial benefit from a storage heater, you will need to be on a Nightsaver tariff in order to take advantage of cheaper electricity at night.

Is a storage heater the same as an electric heater?

A storage heater is technically an electric heater, but not all electric heaters can be considered storage heaters. This is because while a storage heater does draw on the electricity supply, there are also many other types of electric heaters which convert the electricity to heat for releasing at that moment instead of storing it for later use, such as convection or fan heaters.

What Types of Electric Storage Heaters Are There?

A gold radiator

There are currently five different types of storage heaters:

  1. Manual Storage Heaters
    The most common and cheapest type, they absorb and slowly release heat energy. They lack a thermostat or timer, leading to potential heat shortages in the evening. Inefficient for those who need heating later in the day.
  2. Automatic Storage Heaters
    These heaters automate the storage and release of heat, with a timer function and a thermostat to prevent overheating. They ensure heat availability throughout the day, addressing the limitations of manual heaters.
  3. Automatic Combination Storage Heaters
    Combining automatic storage with a convection heater, these heaters offer flexible heating modes. They are useful for 'topping up' heat if the stored heat runs out prematurely.
  4. Fan-Assisted Storage Heaters
    Similar to manual or automatic heaters but include a fan to distribute heat more evenly. They typically feature automatic functions like timers and thermostats, helping to eliminate hot and cold spots in rooms.
  5. Quantum Storage Heaters
    The most advanced, resembling the difference between a Tesla and an old Ford Fiesta. They offer manual and digital control, are up to 27% more energy-efficient, and include a fan for heat distribution. Features include learning user heating habits, smart thermostat capabilities, WiFi connectivity, and smartphone control.

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How Do I Use an Electric Storage Heater?

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First and foremost, make sure you have a Nightsaver meter installed, as you will need another meter to record usage of cheaper night-time electricity. While you can still use a storage heater with a regular electricity tariff, we don’t advise it as you will pretty much eliminate any savings you could make by using a storage heater.

How Do I Use an Electric Storage Heater Efficiently?

In order to use your storage heater safely and efficiently, there are definitely a few things you should keep in mind.

  • Don't Cover the Vents
    Do not cover the vents of your storage heaters. Doing so will prevent heat from being radiated or dispersed into the room, and could also cause a fire.
  • Don't Let Curtains Get Too Close
    If your storage heater is below a window, do not have long curtains over the window. Even with short curtains, there must be a space of at least 15cm between the bottom of the curtains and the top of the storage heater. Curtains around or on top of the heater could present a fire hazard. Additionally, longer curtains will actually funnel the heat out the window and not into the room where it is needed.
  • Don't Forget About Efficiency
    Installing some radiator reflector sheets behind your storage heaters is an economical way to increase their efficiency by reflecting heat back into the room, instead of allowing it to be absorbed by the walls. This is particularly useful in the case of external walls which tend to be colder.

For more information on how to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to keeping your house warm and energy-efficient, we suggest you take a look at our guide on 101 ways to save money on your energy bills.

How Do Electric Storages Work Together?

An important point to note is that storage heaters work individually. While at first glance this may seem like a bit of a pain, it’s actually quite useful. It means that you won't need to heat unused rooms or will be able to spend less on certain rooms which are unoccupied for most of the day, for example, bedrooms.

You can then crank up the heat in the main communal areas such as the kitchen or sitting room. In order to use your storage heater, you will need to turn the switch on both for storing heat and releasing heat. Depending on which type of storage heater you have, you’ll also need to set the input and output dials.

How Do I Get an Electric Storage Heater Installed?

A silver electricity meter

Storage heaters should only be installed by a registered electrical contractor. Otherwise, if there is a fault, accident or fire caused by the heater, both the warranty and your home insurance could be invalid. Not to mention the potential dangerous complications that could arise, such as electrocution or fire.

Storage heaters are relatively simple, quick, and thus relatively cheap to install. The cost of installing storage heaters in your home is only a fraction of what installing a home heating system or underfloor heating system would cost. It is also much faster and more convenient to install as no piping needs to be retrofitted.

Installers will remove and get rid of any existing heaters and carry out any electrical work needed, such as rewiring existing connections or wiring in new connections.

How Much Does It Cost To Get an Electric Storage Heater?

This depends on which type of heater you buy, with manual storage heaters being much cheaper than Quantum heaters, for example. However, depending on the size and output capability of the heater, a storage heater and installation can cost between €469 to €660 per heater.

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How Much Money Can Electric Storage Heaters Save Me?

How much money you can save with storage heaters really depends on your usage and the size of your house, but the Irish company Storageheater.ie claims your heating bills could be lowered by a whopping 40% and typically central heating installation can also cost around €5,000.

How Much Could a Storage Heater Save Me on My Bill?

The average gas bill in Ireland works out at €805 a year, although 21% of this is usually for heating water, which storage heaters do not do. That leaves €635.95 used for heating purposes alone, so if your usage is average, that means you could be saving roughly €254 a year.

An average three or four bed house has around ten radiators, so it could cost you between €4,690 to €6,600 to get your house kitted out with storage heaters. In the long term if you opt for the lower end of the heater pricing scale, it would still take you at least 18 years to “earn back” the investment.

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What Are the Pros and Cons of Electric Storage Heaters?

Perhaps you’ve already decided that storage heaters are for you, you’re still on the fence about it, or you’ve ruled them out completely. Whatever your choice, it could help to consider all the pros and cons before making a firm decision.

Electric Storage Heaters Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Cheaper to run than other types of electric heating
  • Very quiet
  • Easy and quick to install
  • No plumbing or pipework needed
  • Newer quantum heaters can be very stylish
  • If one fails the others will still work, unlike if your boiler fails and you’re left without heating
  • No need to leave the heating on while away to avoid frozen or burst pipes
  • Very little maintenance is required

Cons

  • Electricity is still more expensive than gas
  • Manual storage heaters can cause overheated and underheated rooms due to a lack of control and timing
  • Most heat has been released by evening time
  • Rewiring may be necessary
  • A Nightsaver meter must be installed
  • Fire risk if clothes are dried on them or they are covered
  • Unless your heater has a convection setting, you can’t generate heat on demand
  • Top-up convection heating will be charged at an expensive daytime electricity rate

The services and products mentioned on this website may only represent a small selection of the options available to you. Selectra encourages you to carry out your own research and seek advice if necessary before making any decisions. We may receive commission from selected partner providers on sales of some products and/or services mentioned within this website. Our website is free to use, and the commission we receive does not affect our opinion or the information we provide.

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