I have storage heaters in my living room, they're the Dimplex Duoheat kind. I understand the basic idea that they store heat during the Nightsaver hours and then release it during the day/evening. A couple things I don't understand though:
1) There are two power switches, one for the storage and one for the radiant heater. The instruction book says "to operate effectively both must be switched on at all times". Why would I need to switch the radiant heater on at all times, doesn't that defeat the purpose of storage heating? I have only been switching it on when it gets too cold in here - is that really making it operate less effectively?
2) I see on other threads people are talking about ... turn the input up and output down ... but this heater doesn't have separate "input" and "output" controls. There is a single control panel - and it isn't adjustable unless the radiant heater switch is on, so does it make any difference to the storage heating what level I set it to? And if so, how do I use it most cost-effectively?
In the bedroom, I have a regular electric heater which operates on a timer. I only put it on for about half an hour at night. I'm wondering if it uses up a lot of energy to keep the power switch permanently on for the sake of the timer, or if I should just manually turn the heater on for half an hour and then knock off the switch when I'm going to sleep. Would I notice any real difference in my ESB bill? (NB I don't have access to the meter.)
Sorry if these are stupid questions... new homeowner with no experience of electric heaters, me.