Storage heaters – is this how they work??

OK, new house. We have two storage heaters, both with individual timers and both with "Input" and "Output" dials, is the following all correct and if not where am I getting it wrong?

– The bricks inside will only heat up during the night (to take advantage of Economy 7) regardless of what's on the timer settings
– The input dial will tell the heater how hot to make the bricks during the night
– The output dial will tell the heater how much of the heat to let out but only at the times allowed on the timer
– At night turn down the output dial so you're not just losing the heat built up when you're asleep

Have I got it about right or am I wide of the mark??

TIA, as ever, for any intel! 🙂

Depends on the heater, but yes.

Ours the output was simply how open the vents were, and input how hot the bricks got.

Others had a timer on the vent.

Cheers, bit confusing without an instruction manual etc!

Just reading my post back was wondering whether I *do* have to turn the output down at night if the timer is controlling when the heater lets out any heat?

That's basically it yes. However the ones I had leaked heat all over the place through the day so come 11.30 on a cold winters night they were stone cold, which was when you needed them most.

Bear in mind some houses have heaters that look like storage heaters but aren't. Our newbuild flat had them. They were in fact very good.

I've only ever seem the output control the vents, which had little effect on the actual heat they chucked out.

OK, thanks chaps. And regarding having to turn "Output" right down at bedtime? Does our set up possibly not need that given the output is dictated by the timers (so we think)?

THe fact is – you will have roasting hot rooms in the morning coz the bricks have been heated up all night no matter whether you turn down the output or not.

Come the evening, most of the heat will have gone and you'll freeze.

Keeps the house nice and warm when you're out all day………

Get rid of them.

Get rid of them.

And replace with? Given that CH wont be an option presumably as otherwise he'd already have it?

We found they worked suprisingly well, top them up with a normal electric heater if your staying up late in winter.

In fairness we do have CH in the rest of the house – these two storage heaters are in the conservatory. We didn't have the conservatory done ourselves so can only assume it was a cost thing that they didn't put rads in there when it was built. Right now I am happy to not spend any more money to be honest so am making do with what we have 😉