During the winter months, it is essential to understand how to effectively control your home's heating systems. For many, this means learning how to properly use their storage heaters. In this blog post, we will be discussing how to set your storage heater correctly, how to identify a faulty thermostat, and how to maintain a constant heat in your rooms.

Common mistake (see image 1)

One common mistake many people make is setting their storage heater incorrectly. This can result in losing all your heat and can cost a lot of money to run. Contrary to what you might think, there is no benefit to having the OUTPUT (the left dial on your heater) turned all the way to max. The OUTPUT dial controls the mechanical opening and closing of a flap, and turning it clockwise will let out more heat in one go. To avoid wastage and unnecessary costs, avoid setting your heater this way.

Check your thermostat (see image 2)

A faulty thermostat can be a common issue with older storage heaters, but fortunately, it can be a straightforward fix. Before the cold sets in, it's worth taking some time to check if your thermostat is working properly. Here's a simple way to do it:

  1. Adjust your INPUT (the right dial on your heater) down for a day.
  2. The following morning, if you come to the heater and you can't lay your hand on it because it's far too hot, this could be a sign that your thermostat is faulty.

If the thermostat is not switching off, you could be sitting with a heater just heating solidly for 8 hours of Off-Peak rate. Even on a cheap rate, this adds up over a few months. Therefore, it's worth doing this check as soon as possible, before the cold sets in.

Maintaining a constant heat (see image 3)

For most rooms, to maintain a constant, comfortable heat, you can follow this typical setting:

Keep the OUTPUT (left) dial turned down to about the 8/9 o’clock position and leave it. Only use the INPUT (right) dial to set the amount of heat you want out of the heater. However, be mindful that turning the INPUT dial won't increase the heat straight away. You'll have to wait a day to see the benefit, which is, unfortunately, one of the biggest issues with storage heaters.

Understanding how to use your storage heater effectively can help keep your home warm and comfortable during the colder months without causing a spike in your electricity bills. Remember, the key is to set your heater correctly, ensure your thermostat is working, and adjust the settings to maintain a constant heat.

If you have any issues or further queries, don't hesitate to get in touch with us www.grdirect.co.uk/contact

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