What are the Best Storage Heaters?
Compared to a traditional storage heater, modern electric storage heaters not only use less electricity but they can charge at night during off-peak hours and save you money on energy bills which is why they are often listed as the best electric heating system to have.
In this article we will discuss how high heat retention storage heaters work and why Elnur HHR (similar to Dimplex storage heaters) are the ideal choice for many households that use electric heating and smart meters.
Let’s find out what best storage heaters have to offer!
Do You Qualify for the Best Storage Heaters Installation as Part of the ECO4 Grant?
Below list includes some basic criteria that can qualify you to recive ECO4 grant to upgrade your electric heating system. If the below apply to you, then it is likely!
- Home Owners
- Whose properties are heated by electricity
- And who receive qualifying benefits
Which is the Most Efficient Electric Storage Heater?
Which are the best storage heaters to buy? Here at UK Energy Support, we install modern storage heaters from Elnur as we believe these are the best around. They come with plenty of features that can help you heat your home with minimum effort and save you money on your electricity bills simultaneously.
Using the Elnur Gabarron HHR as an example, these features include:
- Warranty (length vieries per model).
- High heat retention.
- Distributes electric heating with fan assistance.Daily and weekly programming available.
- Technology that detects open windows (with window sensors)
- Technology to reduce energy consumption
- IEM technology
- Is class I insulated
- LCD backlighting
- Integral energy manager for heating bills
- Featuring Adaptive Start
- Three preinstalled modes (Comfort, Economy, Frost-protection)
- An accurate safety thermostat within 0.1 degrees Celsius
- Meets Lot 20 requirements.
- In a 24-hour period, it is suitable with two off-peak tariff periods
Are New Storage Heaters More Efficient?
Typically a traditional room heater runs on electricity to heat its internal ceramic elements at night and then release the heat during the day.
In terms of efficiency, responsiveness, and controllability, the latest storage heater models have been improved to provide you with energy efficiency warming and to lower your carbon footprint. In other words high heat retention storage heaters are more efficient in comparison to an old storage heater and can heat your home using less electricity.
The newer models can hold more heat for extended periods, with better insulation ensuring heat is released only when needed, usually via fan-assisted systems. Old standard storage heaters (or manual storage heaters) no longer compare to the modern energy efficient heater of today.
A modern storage heater, in comparison to old storage heaters, gives you more control over when and how much heat you want to provide in your home while reducing your heating bill, which a standard storage heater would not be capable of to the same degree. Newer storage heaters are the way forward in multiple types of efficiency (low running costs meaning cost efficient) over older storage heaters.
Are Storage Heaters Expensive to Use?
You will not need electricity to warm your home during the day since they radiate the stored heat output from the night throughout the day. Storage heaters are considered an excellent long-term investment since their operating costs are kept low, meaning you can save on your electricity bills if you manage your electricity usage well.
The average hourly running cost of a 2kW storage heater is 13p, assuming that you use it only for a lower rate tariff. It is cost-effective to heat your home with storage heating if you work from home.
In the UK, electric storage heating costs range between £150 and £200 for a basic model. These energy-efficient heating systems are more expensive up front, but they save on running costs in the long run.
However, if you meet the requirements for the ECO4 grant listed above, you might be entitled to a free storage heater fit to replace your older room heaters, which is great news!
If you are unsure whether you qualify, click below to answer a few questions and find out.
Do Electric Storage Heaters Use a Lot of Electricity?
Small electric storage heaters typically consume about 1kW of power when charging heat, while larger ones can draw closer to 3kW. Although that’s a lot of electricity, remember that is the maximum amount of power it will consume, so the minimum energy efficiency rating is much better. Storage electric heaters that store enough heat ceases energy usage when the stored heat is sufficient which is why some argue they are the best electric heating system.
Are Storage Heaters Worth Replacing?
It can be a difficult decision to make when deciding to replace your old radiator with an electric storage heater for home heating, but here are some benefits of the best electric storage heaters today:
- Saves significant amounts of energy
- Control via WiFi
- Easy and convenient meter reading
- Utilizing energy surpluses efficiently
- User-friendly control panel
- Week-by-week scheduling
- Charging off-peak
- Quiet heating
- Virtually maintenance free
- Often heating runs solely from cheap night time electricity
- Avoids recent sky high gas prices
How Do I Qualify for Free Storage Heaters?
You need to meet certain requirements to apply for a free storage heater. You can receive one through The Electric Storage Heater Replacement Grant as a part of the ECO4 government grant.
It is a simple process to start here, look at the qualifying benefits below:
Energy Company Obligation lists the following benefits that are now being accepted to get a new storage heater (see the table).
Suppose you meet one of these criteria benefits. In that case, you can then move on to filling in the form, which will allow one of our qualified surveyors to complete an assessment of your home and install the best electric storage heaters for your needs!
Heating your home couldn’t be easier and couples with a significant saving if you qualify for free installation!
ECO4 Qualifying Benefits for best storage heaters
- Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) - income based
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - income related
- Income Support (IS)
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Pension Credit Savings Credit
- Working Tax Credit (WTC)
- Child Tax Credits (CTC)
- Universal Credit (UC)
- Housing Benefit
- Child Benefits
- Warm Homes Rebate Scheme
Step 1
Use the eligibility checker below to determine if you are eligible for the best storage heaters installtion
Step 2
One of our Energy Advisors will contact you to schedule a non-obligation survey
Step 3
If survey is succesful we will arrange an installation at your convenience
Step 4
With an upgraded, energy-efficient home, you can now enjoy lower energy bills.
Are Best Storage Heaters Better Than Electric Heaters?
You might be thinking: what are the best night storage heaters? Are storage heaters better than electric ones? The features that are common in the best night storage heaters include:
- Boost function
- Fan assist
- Programmable heating schedules
- Thermostat external temperature control
- Remote control
Overall, the best part of electric storage heating is its cost-effectiveness and energy-saving efficiency.
What is the Lifespan of a Storage Heater?
Are Economy 7 Storage Heaters Any Good?
What are the best storage heaters for Economy 7? Well, economy 7 heating is a low-cost energy tariff that is used when the demand for electricity across the nation is low, so the energy costs are lower. Because they use cheap evening and night electric rates to store heat, economy 7 storage heaters are a very popular way to heat homes through night tariff. By doing so, they can heat their homes cost-effectively, reduce their energy consumption, and lower operating costs.
Are Night Storage Heaters Expensive to Run in the UK?
Night storage heaters with 1.4kW can cost around £50 a month to run. The estimate assumes the heater will be charged during seven hours overnight at off-peak rates.
Using an electric heater during off-peak hours can save you a lot of money on your electricity bill compared to using a standard electric radiator. Your running costs depend on the wattage you select.
An example of a great night heater could be the Elnur Ecombi WiFi Controlled Storage Heater, with 2.6kw wattage. This is an excellent option for energy efficiency (which has been through rigorous independent testing) and therefore is accepted by the government to be installed and funded through ECO4 scheme.
It can heat an area of 18 square metres, so those in open-plan homes will be pleased with its performance. This device’s integrated energy manager (Elnur’s invention) controls how much heat is used during the day and accordingly adjusts how much of that heat is stored at night in off peak times, making it the most energy-efficient device on the list. The room has a built-in precision thermostat that will regulate the temperature, so it has a backup heater for extra cold moments.
Additionally, you won’t need to worry about a stuffy room at night because the thermostat controls the temperature while charging.
On top of that, it can be remotely controlled and monitored via a mobile device via WiFi so that you can keep track of where your energy is being utilised. We call this the storage heater of today.
What is the Difference Between a Storage Heater and a Radiant Heater?
This is the way to go when you want your house or office to remain at a specific temperature throughout the day. Storage heaters are beneficial because they are low cost (due to it collecting off peak energy), use less electricity to run, and radiate heat throughout the room.
Radiant heaters (or electric radiators) on the other hand emit infrared radiation that travels through the air. Generally speaking they are powered by plugging them into an electrical outlet and can be wall mounted. As the electrical power is transferred inside the socket, it becomes heat energy and a bit of sound energy, wasting energy and causing some heat loss. Once the room has been heated with this charged heat, the socket can be closed.
Radiant heaters have several drawbacks, such as using electricity when needed which means you can’t benefit from lower nigh electricity tariffs. They are more expensive to buy, and not covered by Energy Company Obligation so you can’t get them fo free. Finally they only radiate the area in front of them because of the panel heaters used as heating source so they are not ideal for those extra chilly moments.
You will be better off if you best buy storage heaters today or even better get them at no cost to you through ECO 4 scheme funded by the energy suppliers! Check your eligibility for a free one now!