Why you Should Consider Upgrading your Fan-Assisted Storage Heaters

Fan-assisted storage heaters have been around for over 40 years. They work by ‘charging’ during the night, when electricity is cheaper from the grid. They heat ceramic or concrete blocks within the heater, then stop charging during the day. Then, they release the stored heat throughout the day when you need it, using a fan assisting dissipater to regulate the temperature of the room.

If you’ve got fan-assisted storage heaters, you’ve probably got a two-tariff meter. You can see if you have one by seeing if you have two numbers on your meter with a day and night rate stated on your bill. You can also tell that you’ve got a two-tariff meter by identifying the numbers ’02’ as the first two digits on your MPAN number.

Why should I upgrade my fan-assisted storage heaters?

Storage heaters have improved a lot since they were first produced. If you’ve got old heaters, they will be costing you money. New storage heaters are much better insulated, meaning that they hold more heat in. You can also control how you release the heat much better, whereas in the past the heaters would just release heat over the course of the day.

Benefits of fan-assisted storage heaters

There are plenty of benefits to upgrading your current storage heaters. We’ve compiled a list so you can make an informed choice.

Better insulated

Having better-insulated storage heaters means that you will save money on your electricity bill. New fan-assisted storage heaters store more heat than older ones due to better insulation, so you won’t spend as much money on electricity to get the same amount of heat out.

Easier to control

Older storage heaters were difficult to control and would often let heat out continuously during the day. Newer fan-assisted storage heaters are more controllable, so you can keep rooms warm when you need them to be and cool when you’re not using them.

Compatible with solar electricity

Storage heaters are compatible with solar electricity. Since electricity is a carbon-intensive fuel, it’s well worth considering pairing your heaters with solar panels to generate heat for your home. You can power your heaters with the electricity you generate from the sun. This way, you’ll see your bills decrease since the energy you produce from the sun is free. And you can also rest assured that you’re doing your bit for the environment.

Disadvantages to fan-assisted storage heaters

Like every heating system, there are also drawbacks to storage heaters. Find out what they are so you’re aware of everything before you make your decision.

Not as efficient as gas

Electricity is much more expensive than gas, so using a gas boiler is usually cheaper. You will pay more to use your appliances, including your heaters, than you would if you were using gas. Unless you can use your appliances mostly at night, when the tariff is cheaper, you will spend more money heating your home to the same temperature than if you had a gas boiler.

Not good for allergy sufferers

Although the fan in the heaters make them better at distributing heat, it means that fan-assisted storage heaters are not good for allergy sufferers. They blow dust around the room, which could cause problems for allergy sensitive people, no matter how much you clean.

If you’re not sure whether electric heating is for you, take a look at our pages on oil boilers and gas boilers.