What are electric storage heaters?

Few home heating innovations have impacted home energy efficiency as much as electric storage heaters. Not only can modern models improve your home’s energy efficiency and keep it warm when it’s most needed, they can also offer major cost savings.

So, what exactly are electric storage heaters? How do they heat our homes, and what are some of the biggest things to consider if you want one for yourself?

Key Takeaways

• How do electric storage heaters work?
• Are storage heaters expensive to run?
• What are the upsides of a storage heater?
• What else should I know about electric storage heaters?
• How do you keep storage heater costs down?

What are electric storage heaters, and how do they work?

Electric storage heaters are modern heating systems designed to build a store of your home’s heat during off-peak hours (night) when electricity rates are cheaper.

They use ceramic bricks and other thermal materials to retain this heat and gradually release it throughout the day, so you don’t have to use more expensive electricity rates during high-demand periods.

This is a much more cost-effective way to heat your home than keeping your gas boiler or central heating during expensive periods.

Are storage heaters expensive to run?

With a cost-effective tariff, like the Economy 7 Tariff, good home insulation, and efficient use patterns, running a storage heater can be an inexpensive way to warm up your home.

What are the upsides of a storage heater?

Electric storage heaters offer a range of benefits that can help you improve your home’s heating efficiency and reduce costs.

Cost-efficient

Storage heaters use cheap, off-peak electricity to store heat energy that would be more expensive to generate during the day. This keeps your heating costs low compared to a standard electric heating system.

Heat individual rooms

You can install individual storage heaters in each room, letting you customise the heating to your routine and preferences and not waste it on unoccupied rooms.

Low maintenance

Storage heaters need little maintenance compared to more traditional heating systems like gas boilers as they have fewer moving parts and simpler mechanisms. They also don’t need annual safety checks for potential gas leaks or carbon monoxide emissions.

What else should I know about electric storage heaters?

While electric storage heaters come with great benefits for homeowners looking to heat their homes for less, it’s good to have the full picture.

To fully take advantage of an electric storage heater, it’s important to plan your home heating needs ahead of time and around off-peak hours. This requires some forward-thinking and regular adjustment to keep up with your daily schedule and any changes in the temperature outside, which can be tricky for some.

How do you keep electric storage heater costs down?

You can keep costs related to your electric storage heater down in many of the same ways you would with other traditional heating systems. This includes:

• Being efficient with storage and release – Build up a store during off-peak hours and, when releasing the heat, keep it low initially and increase it gradually as needed.
• Cost-effective tariff – Choose a cheaper electricity tariff that takes advantage of off-peak rates, such as the E7 tariff.
• Think “schedule not constant” – Only heat rooms when you need to, and turn them down when not in use. If it has one, use the timer on your storage heater to automate this.
• Weatherproof your home – Seal any drafts and cracks to keep heat loss to a minimum.
• Layer up – Wear warmer clothes indoors when not using as much stored heat, such as in the morning when your heater first starts.

Get your own electric storage heater with Grant Store

If you’re looking for more effective and cost-efficient ways to warm your home, an electric storage heater may be for you.

With decades of experience in the field and hundreds of positive Trustpilot reviews, Grant Store is the team you can count on.

Get your no-obligation quote or check your eligibility for the ECO4 grant scheme to see if you can get your storage heater for less – or even free – today!