Anyone here used Economy 7?

[whiskygalore]

Have just moved to new place that has electric storage heaters with Economy 7. I know it works on the basis that it stores heat during the night and outputs it in the day. Thing is, if we're not in during the day, how do we go about setting it so that the heat starts at about 5 ish and stays on until midnight? As yet, have been unable to find a timer, just to switches on the heaters that are labelled Output and Input Can anyone help - purleeease? Thanks

[PhilLew]

I have a simmilar problem trying to get storage heaters to give out heat when required, as far as I have been able to work out the 'input' regulates the amount of electricity used during the night, the higher the input the more heat stored. The 'output' simply opens a flap inside the heater to let the heat out, opened a little it lets the heat out gradually all day, opened fully it lets all the heat out more quickly. However some of the heat leaks out all the time and I find that some days, when I return from work and open the output flap, all the heat has already gone! The system also appears to have no manual over ride or booster. Any other advice (except on grammer or spelling) would be most welcome.

[boognish76]

Basically, your storage heater is filled with heat-retaining bricks which heat up during the night when the electricity is cheaper and then give off heat during the day. Once the Economy 7 electricity switches off there's no way of keeping the bricks hot so I'm afraid you can't save up the heat 'til you get in in the evening. There are boost controls on the heater but I find them pretty ineffectual. There is also no way to over-ride the Economy 7 so that you can turn the heater on during the evening as the bricks take so long to heat up it just wouldn't be practical. I know what you're thinking - doesn't this mean that electric storage heaters are pretty cr@p then? Yes it does. I'd pull them out and get some free-standing oil-filled radiators if I were you.

[whiskygalore]

OK, so basically, I have to turn the heater on at the wall before midnight, so that it can do its stuff overnight, turn the output switch to its lowest setting before I go to work, turn it up when I get in from work and hope for the best? You're right, boognish, it IS cr@p! Unfortunately living in rented place, so can't get rid. Thanks, though.

[paulz]

Try getting a portablegas heater, the cylinders are pretty heavy to carry and you have to pay an initial deposit on them. You should be able to get going for around �100 see this site for details :http://www.mobilegas.co.uk/mobileheater/index.htm

[markus]

We had E7, we found it dreadful if you worked during the day like any normal individual. On a night when we needed it we had to supplement the heat with a electric heater. I would say get gas mounted wall heaters or central heating. Sorry

[lori99999]

Just leave the heaters turned on.  Make sure the input is set about halfway for this time of year and the output is switched off, otherwise by lunchtime there will be no heat left in the heaters.  They just go by themselves.  It is really trial and error to find a temperature that suits you.  We have had this heating for about 10 or 11 years and love it.  They are talking about making it obsolete soon and we don't know what will happen.  But anyway, just keep all the heaters on low and it creates an even temperature throughout your place.  If you leave one off when you open a door all the heat escapes.