Editing Storage heater (section)

== Using storage heaters ==
Storage heaters can be cost-effective if used properly, but control may be trickier than fuel-fired systems.

=== Power switches ===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:StorageHeaterTwoPowerSwitches.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Off peak and peak power supplies to storage heater]] -->
Storage heaters generally require two power circuits, one for on-peak and one for off-peak electricity, and two power switches, which are switched off during the summer when heat is not required. During other months the off-peak switch can be left on at all times, with the on-peak switch being used when insufficient energy has been stored during off-peak times. The amount of heat that is stored can be altered using the controls on the storage heater unit.
Normally the on-peak will have a fuse as it is part of another circuit. The off-peak will just be a switch as it has a dedicated circuit.
Some installations work on off-peak electricity only and cannot be switched on during the day.

=== Basic controls ===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:StorageHeaterInputOutputSwitches.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Input and Output switches on a basic storage heater]] -->
Basic storage heaters have an input switch, and an output switch, called ''heat boost'' on some models.

The position of the input switch may be changed to reflect how cold the next day is predicted to be. The input switch is normally [[thermostat]]ic, cutting off the charge when the room reaches a certain temperature overnight.<ref>Dimplex CXLSN Operating Instructions page 2</ref> The exact setting needed will depend on the size of the storage heater, the desired room temperature during the day, the number of hours that this needs to be maintained, and the room's rate of heat loss under a given set of circumstances. Some experimenting may be needed to find the relationship between forecast outside temperature and best input setting for a particular room. Most storage heater users follow simpler guidelines; for example, in the middle of winter, it is often appropriate to turn the input switch to its maximum setting. There is no need to touch the input switch on a daily basis if the same sort of weather prevails for weeks at a time. There is no need to touch the input switch during the day, as storage heaters only use electricity at night.

The output switch may require attention throughout the day. Before going to bed, the operator should switch the output to its minimum setting. This keeps as much heat in the bricks as possible. Enough will leak out into the room to make it warm in the morning. Only in exceptionally cold circumstances will the operator require output overnight. The operator may wish to slowly increase the output switch during the day to try to maintain the temperature in the house. Increasing the output will allow the heat to convect out of the heater. If the house is empty during the day, the output should be left at a minimum all day and then switched up when returning to the house in order to let more heat escape.

Many storage heaters also have a mechanically-controlled automatic output switch. In this case, if the manual output switch is '''not''' set to minimum overnight, the damper will automatically close (as if the output switch had been set to minimum), and then the damper will re-open after a time delay; this time delay is measured by the gradual drop in the heater's core temperature, and is therefore longer if the core temperature started higher due to more charge. The delay can also be biased by the output switch's setting.<ref>Dimplex CXLSN Operating Instructions page 3</ref>  Some output switches that are set up this way are marked "early" and "late" as well as "closed" and "open"; the minimum "closed" setting corresponds with "early" and the maximum "open" setting corresponds with "late". These output switches can be controlled manually by ensuring they are closed at night and opened when desired, or they can be left to automatic operation by not closing at night.

=== Thermostatic controls ===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:StorageHeaterThermostatic.JPG|right|250px|thumb|Thermostatic controls on a more advanced storage heater]] -->
A thermostatic storage heater will automatically regulate the temperature in a room throughout the day. However, the operator may wish to switch the thermostatic switch to the minimum setting overnight to lower the room temperature. If the room is empty during the day, it is better to keep the thermostat at the minimum setting and then increase the setting when the room is occupied in the evening. Some thermostatic heaters also make use of on-peak electricity when there is not enough stored heat to maintain the requested temperature; the user may wish to be aware of this and lower the settings.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-02-15 |title=Test The Water Heater Thermostat |url=https://waterheaterpicks.com/steps-to-test-the-water-heater-thermostat/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420112336/https://waterheaterpicks.com/steps-to-test-the-water-heater-thermostat/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |access-date=2022-03-09 |website=Water Heater Picks |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Fan-assisted storage heaters ===
Fan-assisted storage heaters employ an electric [[mechanical fan|fan]] to drive air through the heater rather than relying on convection. The fan is usually controlled by a [[thermostat]] which allows the user to set the desired room temperature. The use of the fan means these heaters can be [[Thermal insulation|insulated]] more than other models, and therefore lose less heat due to [[heat transfer]] at times when heat is not required (such as when the room is not occupied, or at night).