Can You Cover Storage Heaters?

Basics of Storage Heater

• The way storage heaters work is through clay bricks, concrete bricks, water reservoirs or oil reservoirs within the interior of the storage unit. These reservoirs are heated up through the use of an electrical heater that is buried inside of the unit along with the heating reservoirs. Once they reach a certain point, they are “charged” with heat and can then disperse the heat over a period of time via fans and vents.

Downside of Storage Heaters

• Normal heaters have continual heat coursing through them, but storage heaters rely on heated elements that then release the heat slowly, cooling as they release the energy. This results in an eventual loss of heat, and while the energy bill might be lower when using a storage heater, you will never have the same heat results as with a conventional furnace or baseboard heating system because the heat is continually dissipating and the reservoirs cooling.

Purpose of a Cover

• Building a box or putting a cover over the storage unit can help retain the heat during the initial charging of the unit, rather than allowing heat to continually disperse. This allows you to ensure the unit is completely charged and ready to go when you need it, and you can then open the cover or remove the cover to expose the storage heater and let it do its job.

Coverage Area

• If you are building a cover for a storage heater, you need to follow the manufacturer’s directions for the amount of empty space between the heating unit and any other elements. This will range depending on the heat manufacturer, usually between several inches to a full foot. Because the storage heater relies on internal units, it should never get hot enough to burn any material used as a cover. To be on the safe side, always follow manufacturer guidelines.