Storage Heaters Vs Combination Radiators For many people in the UK, electric heating is associated solely with storage heaters – an invention that was hugely popular in the latter part of the 20th century and one that most people will have had access to at some point. In recent years however, storage heaters have been superseded by electric combination radiators, a type of heater designed to operate more like a conventional central heating radiator. But how do these newer models compare with their predecessors, and are they better?
Storage Heaters Storage heaters first came to prominence during the 1970s and were designed to take advantage of cheap, nighttime electricity introduced by energy companies at the time in the form of the Economy 7 tariff. Storage heaters contain heat-retaining firebricks that are heated by electric elements. Historically, these were installed to charge during the night (utilising cheap electricity) to emit stored heat throughout the day. Each heater is fitted with input (used for charging) and output controls, and will provide good background heat. The biggest drawback to storage heaters (besides being rather bulky and heavy) is the fact that they require an element of weather forecasting in order to ensure sufficient heat is stored, but no energy is wasted. The unavoidable heating of a property during the night is also a significant issue.
Combination Radiators The Electric Heating Company: Block 5, Unit 40, Third Road, Blantyre Industrial Estate, Blantyre, G72 0UP Tel: 01698 820 533 Website: http://www.electric-heatingcompany.co.uk/
Electric combination radiators, like those offered by the Electric Heating Company, are essentially the storage heaters of the 21st century. While these are designed to be direct acting, the internal construction means that they do share similarities with their predecessors and offer partial storage benefits. These electric radiators contain internal heating tablets (similar to firebricks) consisting of EHC patented Magmatic Heat Retention Tiles that feature chrome-nickel steel heating conductors. The tiles are designed to reach full temperature within 30 minutes and provide 40 minutes of heat for every 10-minute charge thereafter. The biggest benefit of electric combination radiators over storage heaters is their ability to work around the lifestyle of the user, minimising energy usage, and keeping running costs down. In addition to this, radiators come in a wide range of sizes and styles and are more aesthetically pleasing. There are also options to spur wire models into an existing storage-heating socket or plug into a standard three-pin socket – this gives radiators much greater versatility. While storage heaters were beneficial in their day, technological advancements in electric heating products make combination radiators the present – and future – of home heating.
The Electric Heating Company: Block 5, Unit 40, Third Road, Blantyre Industrial Estate, Blantyre, G72 0UP Tel: 01698 820 533 Website: http://www.electric-heatingcompany.co.uk/