How Long Does a Storage Heater Take to Heat Up?
This is part of our complete guide on operating storage heaters.
A common heating solution in homes, storage heaters offer cost advantages by using off-peak electricity. Storage heaters work by storing heat during off-peak hours, typically during the night, and then release that heat during peak hours.
Drawing electricity off the grid, ceramic bricks within the heater are heated, and the air is released when it is needed, using a fan or natural convection. That way, a home can be heated during the day, without using any additional electricity. Storage heaters can be controlled by a timer and thermostat, and this kind of heater provides a cost-effective heating solution, but does the time storage heaters take to warm up present an inconvenience?
What Happens During the Time Storage Heaters Take to Warm Up?
When you turn on your heater during the day, the heat comes on automatically. That is because the bricks within the heater have stored heat overnight. Typically, storage heaters take in energy for about seven hours, in order to heat up completely. Then, over the next 17 hours, they release that heat. This usually means that the heater is charging and heating up from midnight to 7am during the winter, and 1am to 5am during the summer.
How Long do Storage Heaters Retain Heat?
The amount of time a storage heater holds onto heat depends on many factors, including the size of the area being heated and the quality of the heater itself. If your home is not well-insulated, your storage heater may lose its heat more quickly than it would in an adequately insulated space. Generally, storage heaters hang onto their heat for about 12 hours before it begins to dissipate.
Can These Times Be Adjusted?
Storage heaters usually have two controls, which can be used to change the amount of time that electricity is being pulled, and can help you operate your heater more effectively. The input control is also sometimes called ‘charge’, and this controls how much heat is stored overnight. The output, or ‘boost’ control opens and closes the heater’s flap to allow heat out.
Some heaters work with a thermostat that automatically opens and closes the flap depending on the temperature of the room. If you turn the input to maximum during cold weather, you can store more heat. Similarly, turning it lower when the weather gets warmer can save electricity. Keep the output control on a low setting during daylight hours, and on the very lowest setting if you are not going to be at home. Then, in the evening, you can turn it back up when you need it. When you are going to bed, turn the output back down again, and turn the input up so that you can charge the heater overnight.
Be aware that if you increase the output hours, you will, of necessity, need to increase the input hours, which means drawing electricity during peak hours and having higher energy costs. On the other hand, being judicious with your settings, lowering input and output when you are not going to be home or if your home is small, can reduce your electricity consumption and, by extension, your bill.
Contact MPC Energy
MPC Energy has over 30 years of experience and is a trusted name in home energy improvements across the UK. We specialise in insulation, heating systems and eco-friendly solutions, offering high-quality products, exceptional service and superior craftsmanship. Our nationwide services aim to enhance home efficiency through the Energy Company Obligations Scheme and other programmes. Contact our Clydebank office in West Dunbartonshire for bespoke energy assessments and installation to fit any budget.
For more information about our services, contact us via our website or call to speak to one of our energy consultants at +44 141 951 7887.
