High bills since installing storage heaters

Talk Electrician Forum

Help Support Talk Electrician Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Techstride

New member
Joined
Jan 22, 2025
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Location
UK
Hi all,

I recently had storage heaters installed in my home, hoping to save on energy costs and take advantage of off-peak electricity rates. However, since their installation, I’ve noticed a significant increase in my electricity bills, and I’m really concerned.

The heaters are supposed to store heat overnight when electricity is cheaper, and release it during the day. But despite using them as intended, my bills have been higher than expected. I’m wondering if I’m doing something wrong or if there’s a better way to use them effectively.

Here’s what I’ve noticed:
  • The heaters seem to use a lot of electricity during the night, even though I’ve set them to charge only during off-peak hours.
  • During the day, it doesn’t feel like the heat lasts long enough, so I end up turning them on again or using other forms of heating.
  • I’ve tried adjusting the settings, but I’m still not getting the results I hoped for.
  • I’ve also heard that if storage heaters aren’t maintained properly, they can be inefficient.
Has anyone else experienced this after installing storage heaters? What changes did you make to reduce your bills? Should I be considering other types of heaters, or is there a way to optimize the use of my current ones?

I’d love to hear your experiences and any tips you might have!

Thanks!
 
Hi all,

I recently had storage heaters installed in my home, hoping to save on energy costs and take advantage of off-peak electricity rates. However, since their installation, I’ve noticed a significant increase in my electricity bills, and I’m really concerned.

The heaters are supposed to store heat overnight when electricity is cheaper, and release it during the day. But despite using them as intended, my bills have been higher than expected. I’m wondering if I’m doing something wrong or if there’s a better way to use them effectively.

Here’s what I’ve noticed:
  • The heaters seem to use a lot of electricity during the night, even though I’ve set them to charge only during off-peak hours.
  • During the day, it doesn’t feel like the heat lasts long enough, so I end up turning them on again or using other forms of heating.
  • I’ve tried adjusting the settings, but I’m still not getting the results I hoped for.
  • I’ve also heard that if storage heaters aren’t maintained properly, they can be inefficient.
Has anyone else experienced this after installing storage heaters? What changes did you make to reduce your bills? Should I be considering other types of heaters, or is there a way to optimize the use of my current ones?

I’d love to hear your experiences and any tips you might have!

Thanks!

How was your home heated previously?

Modern storage heaters are rather complicated so if they are using daytime electricity you probably need to turn up the required temperature so it heats more at night

What make and model are they?
 
How was your home heated previously?

Modern storage heaters are rather complicated so if they are using daytime electricity you probably need to turn up the required temperature so it heats more at night

What make and model are they?
Hi, I bought this home 6 years back with some old heating system installed. I had to call the electrician and got it fixed. Wiring was a bit old too. So I had to install a new gen storage heater Dimplex brand.
 
Last edited:
New Gen storage heaters use a combination of off peak stored heat and real time daytime electric to top them up. they may be more comfortable and less prone to running out of heat than old storage heaters but they won't be cheaper.

For the price you paid you missed a golden opportunity so swap to an air to air heat pump that would have used about 1/3 the electricity of any form of resitance heating.
 
The OP only installed one new Dimplex, much less than a whole ASHP install - rads, pipes, tanks etc.

If the OP values his warmth over expense he will swap from Economy 7 to Economy 10, which tops up at Low Rate during the day and during the evening.
 
Top