Heat accumulator

Do you need a heating source for your house or for a specific room? Not sure if storage heaters are the right choice for you? Is it true that heating with thermal storage is no longer up-to-date? We clarify to make your purchase decision easier. Heating is important, because in the winter months we like to withdraw and spend the long evenings comfortably at home. However, a warm environment is a prerequisite for this. Heating costs are constantly increasing and buying the right system should be carefully considered. All heating systems have advantages and disadvantages, including thermal storage. Depending on the needs and consumption profile, thermal storage can still be an attractive alternative.

What are heat accumulators?

Heat storage devices are devices that store excess thermal energy for a certain period of time and retrieve it later. If you install one or more heat accumulators in your heating system, you 'conserve' the heat once it has been generated and the energy is not lost so quickly. With storage heating, also known as night storage heating, you can optimally use electricity outside of the expensive peak times.

TIP:

Storage heaters are designed for either wall mounting or floor mounting. Installation is often easier than with other heating systems.

The devices are fully-fledged heaters for homes and businesses. Floor-standing devices are larger and usually have more storage capacity. Wall mount devices are narrower and need to be lighter. Their performance is usually lower.

How does a heat accumulator work?

The operating principle of the heat accumulator is easy to understand and the structure of the devices is relatively simple. This type of electric heater contains an electrically powered heating element and storage media. These are usually ceramic bricks or clay bricks. These materials can store a lot of heat. Typically, the storage heater heats with cheap off-peak electricity and stores the heat in the storage media. This is then released again over several hours to heat rooms. The heat is distributed in the room via so-called convection currents. Warm air rises out of the heater at the top and cooler air flows in from the bottom. The cool air is warmed up by the heater and rises again, while the previously warmed air cools down and sinks to the ground. A cycle is created which distributes the heat evenly throughout the room.

If you look at this principle over the course of a day, the basic idea of this heating method quickly becomes clear.

The storage heater consumes (cheap) energy at night and is 'charged' in the morning. During the day, the bricks slowly release the heat and cool down. As a result, the heating output also decreases. In the evening most of the heat is gone, but the house, apartment or room has been comfortably warm for many hours. Such a heater is therefore suitable for the home office or other rooms that are used regularly during the day. If the walls have a certain storage capacity, the heating output still has an effect. There is no doubt that the principle of night storage heating leaves a lot to be desired in the evening. Charging at night is not optimal for a cozy evening in front of the TV. Of course, modern storage heaters nowadays have sophisticated control systems and power regulators. This allows you to regulate both the storage and the heat output and optimize it in terms of time. However, this does not change the basic principle.

In combination with a solar system, the charging curve and the heating times can be shifted. If you have the opportunity to use solar energy, the storage tank can be charged during the day. Depending on the weather, orientation and performance of your system, the charging of the storage media at midday leads to a high heating output in the afternoon and evening and decreases again during the night. With this variant, the rooms may not be sufficiently heated in the morning and up to midday.

Which comfort functions do thermal storage tanks offer?

To optimize performance, modern storage heaters, their controls and housing are becoming more and more efficient. Manufacturers also keep offering innovations in terms of operation.

• Fans support the room air distribution
• Thermostats regulate the room to the desired temperature
• Smart charging controls enable the amount of heat to be stored as required
• WLAN connection allows control via telephone and voice assistant or integration into the smart home

What are the advantages of thermal storage compared to other heating methods?

Heat accumulators are comparatively easy to install and do not require regular maintenance or servicing. The service life can be several decades without incurring any significant costs. If the installation of a gas heater or other heating fails, for example due to monument protection, the heat storage tank is often an alternative. If you purchase cheap green electricity or produce the electricity yourself using your own solar system, the heat storage tank has a very good CO2 balance.

Is heating with a storage heater expensive?

Heating rooms is always associated with costs. Whether it is expensive or inexpensive depends less on the actual invoice amount. The decisive factor is the relationship between calorific value and costs. The question is therefore: Does heating with thermal storage make economic sense for me? Things like acquisition costs, installation costs, operating costs, maintenance costs and repair costs come into play here. The optimal solution depends on the individual circumstances and your consumption profile.

Image: Glen VFE 60K heat accumulator

Is heating via thermal storage right for me?

You should think carefully about whether an electrically operated storage heater is right for you. One thing is certain: Electricity will generally become more expensive in the future if you are dependent on energy suppliers. However, this also applies to many other energy sources such as gas and fossil fuels. A heat accumulator may be the optimal solution for your specific application. It is important to precisely assess your needs.

• Do I need the heat every day or just occasionally?
• What time of day do I need the heat?
• How long do I need the heat?
• What output does the heater have to have? How many devices do I need?
• Do I get a cheap off-peak electricity tariff?
• How will electricity prices develop in the future?
• Can I integrate a solar system?
• Do other types of heating (wood storage stove, heat pump, gas boiler) make more economic sense for my needs?
• Would alternatives be feasible at all? Would there be a gas connection? Does the house have the requirements for an oven?

Here in the shop you can get devices from various manufacturers such as AEG, Glen, Vaillant and Stiebel Eltron. All devices offer high quality and different storage capacities. So you are sure to find the right model for your needs.

Catalogue content:

Item overview:

• Dehumidifier
• Electric heating
• Electric storage heater
• Heat accumulator
• Night storage
• Night storage heating
• Storage heater

from the following manufacturers:

Manufacturer overview catalogue Heat accumulator:

• EHT AEG
• Glen
• Stiebel Eltron
• Vaillant