Wattage measures the maximum power output of your storage heaters. The wattage you need to heat each room will vary depending on the size of the room, the quality of its insulation and the location of your property. You can use our storage heater calculator to work out the required wattage for each room in your house.
You’ll need to select a storage heater or combination of storage heaters that adds up to the total required wattage. For example, if your room requires a 5kw wattage you could use a 1.7kw and a 3.4kw storage heater.
Note that the total wattage in this example would be 5.1kw. If you can’t find a combination of heaters which adds up to the required wattage, it’s always better to go for a higher wattage. Under-specifying your heating can leave you with insufficient charge to heat your rooms. Choosing a more powerful heater guarantees your comfort all year round, and still gives you the option to save energy by reducing the power output when the weather gets warmer.
It’s important to consider the available space in the room when choosing heaters to make up your required wattage. Perhaps a 3.4kw storage heater would adequately heat the room – but maybe two 1.7kw heaters would make better use of the space?
Before purchasing, make sure you’ve accurately measured the wall space and checked the dimensions of your chosen product to ensure that the heaters will fit.
Don’t forget to check the depth of your storage heaters, especially if you’re installing them in a walkway or near a door. Storage heaters are much bulkier than conventional central heating radiators, usually measuring between 15 and 20 centimetres deep.
To enjoy the money-saving benefits of storage heaters you will need to make sure you are using a night-time electricity tariff such as Economy 7. The Economy 7 tariff charges lower rates for electricity used overnight – typically between the hours of midnight and 7am. The time period for which the reduced rate applies varies from region to region, and may change depending on the time of year, so make sure you check the details of your tariff before setting your storage heaters to charge.
Whilst electricity used during this period is charged at a cheaper rate, any electricity used during the day will be charged at a more expensive rate than that offered by standard energy tariffs. The day time rates offered with an Economy 7 tariff can be as much as double the night time rates offered with standard electricity tariffs. Because of this, consumers using the Economy 7 tariff should aim to minimise the electricity they use during the day. Fitting electrical appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers with timers can help, allowing you to set your appliances to run overnight.
Suppliers may offer a range of economy tariffs with different pricing schemes. Economy 10, another popular night time tariff, is similar to Economy 7 but also offers a cheaper rate for a three hour period in the afternoon. This allows storage heater owners to recharge their heaters to make the heat last longer into the evening.
You can change your electricity tariff by contacting your electricity supplier, or using a price comparison site to find the most competitive Economy 7 rates for your area.
To save money with the Economy 7 tariff you need to be using at least 40% of your electricity in the cheaper night time bracket.
The best candidates for an Economy 7 tariff are those homes which have storage heaters and a hot water tank. Because hot water tanks heat up water overnight to be used during the day, they share similar benefits to storage heaters when used with an Economy 7 tariff. However, many other factors will impact the usefulness of an Economy 7 tariff in your home; in many ways, it is your lifestyle and work schedule which will best determine the most economical energy tariff for you.
If you are at home during the day, Economy 7 can be a good choice because you can take advantage of heat and hot water that has charged up overnight. Heat levels will cool towards the end of the evening, making Economy 7 a better choice for people who prefer early nights and early mornings.
If you are out of the house during the day, Economy 7 may not be the best choice because you will not feel the advantage of the heat which is released during the day. You may be able to save money by using a more controllable heating system on a standard energy tariff.
Alternatively, if you work unusual hours and are commonly awake, active and at home between midnight and 7am, you may be able to use Economy 7 to your advantage. You will be able to feel the benefit of your charging storage heaters and use all your electrical appliances whilst enjoying the lower electricity rate.
People who may benefit from an Economy 7 tariff include:
Locations which may benefit from an Economy 7 tariff include:
Storage heaters will only be an economical choice for your property if you are on a night time electricity tariff. If you do not think the Economy 7 tariff is right for your property, we recommend choosing an alternative to storage heaters.