storage heater controls

[katiecarol]

the flat i have just moved into has storage heaters which i have never had before and cannot change. it seems they are an old type as when ive looked at how to use the controls they are always talking input and output where mine are marked as room temperature (1 to 6) and auto-set control (1 to 6). i have looked on here but it's much the same and people saying nine times out of ten they are expensive. the expense is irrelavant as ive no choice to change and need to use them. can anyone advise? they are labelled creda automatic, they have no other markings.

i also have the hot water system which i believe is also economy 7 and dont understand the controls.

[Buenchico]

This might help:
http://www.southglos....B0364/0/HSG070077.pdf

Chris

[Maydup]

Good link there from Chris.

We have storage heaters and rarely change the dials. The main difference with them and any other heating systens is your inablility to turn them on or off or up and down as you need to.

You have to guess the temperature for tomorrow. If its winter turn the auto set up to the highest number and they'll get hot over night. If you turn the room temp dial up too that will let the hot air out for you quicker.

On a warmer day but where you want to take off the chill set the auto at 1 or 2 and don't open the room temp dial.

Whenever you use the room temp dial you are opening the vents to let the heat int your room. You must close them again before bed otherwise the heat will not store overnight for tomorrow but come out of the vents.

After all this we leave ours on medium unless its snowing and never open the vents. Once we're in summer we switch them off altogether.

Economy 7 heats them up between these times. (and your boiler maybe?)
• Eastern = 23:00 - 07:00am
• East Midlands = 23:00 - 07:00am
• London Electric = 23:00 - 07:00am
• Manweb = 00:00 - 08:00am
• MEB (mechanical meter) = Summer time - 01:00 - 08:00am Winter time - 00:00 - 07:00am (Radio teleswitch meter) = Summer time - 01:30 - 08:30am Winter time - 22:30 - 00:30am and - 02:30 - 07:30am
• Northern = 00:30 - 07:30am
• Norweb = 00:30 - 07:30am
• Scottish Hydro = ( All meters have different settings)
• ScottishPower = 22:00 - 08:30am
• Seeboard = 22:30 - 00:30 and 02:30 - 07:30am
• Southern = 23:30 - 06:30am
• SWALEC = (All meters have different settings)
• SWEB = (All meters have different settings)
• Yorkshire = 00:30 - 07:30am

[peter_jameson]

Hello katiecarol

Regarding your storage heater, the room temperature control is a thermostat that lets more heat out of the heater as your room cools down, or less as it heats up. It just operates a flap inside the heater allowing more or less air to pass through according to the ambient temperature. The other control adjusts the amount of 'charge' the heater gets when the cheap rate electricity switches on. The higher the number, the hotter the bricks inside will get, and the running cost will go up. If its set too low, then the heater will get cold before the next charge. If its set too high, then your room might get hotter than you need and you'll be wasting money. Try both controls at number three to start with and see how you get on.

Just a safety point about storage radiators: NEVER cover them or dry things on them. If you do, apart from being a fire risk, there is a thermal fuse inside that will blow and permanently disconnect the heater from the mains, making it useless until repaired.

Peter

[katiecarol]

thank you everyone, i didnt find the link myself when i looked but now you have showed me i have saved it for referance, to the other two guys thank you so much for explaining it in terms that i can understand. i am on e-on so i dont know my times but it gives me a routh idea to go on.