Storage heater not heating up but powered

[brianmoooore]

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, I've seen where the thermostat is faulty and operates shortly after powering up, so the heater hardly gets any heat charge.

That's why I made my last post. I vaguely remember coming across the same at you once when fault finding a storage heater.

 

[westward10]

You need to measure resistance at the supply terminals to verify the appliance circuit.

 

[jjjinx]

You need to measure resistance at the supply terminals to verify the appliance circuit.

done that, then i measured the resistance at the element while turning the control, then I measured the voltage between L-N & L-E across the element

 

[Mark K]

At the consumer unit / fuse box, if the heater is switched on, you should see the appropriate resistance (e.g. around 24 Ohm) between L & N for the outgoing circuit (be sure you have the correct circuit, and not seeing some other load). If not, then it is just a matter of working back through the circuit and the heater wiring itself. Faults tend to be an open circuit in the isolator/FCU, an open circuit internal thermal cut-out, faulty thermostat, also if there is any timer/contactor in the circuit not working.

If all appears good but the bricks don't seem to heat up, I've seen where the thermostat is faulty and operates shortly after powering up, so the heater hardly gets any heat charge.

I think this maybe my fault. I stuck my snout near the vent and could feel a tiny amount of warmth after switching on but then it soon got cold again.- will open it up and check thermostat - thanks for you post.

 

[Rockingit]

I think this maybe my fault. I stuck my snout near the vent and could feel a tiny amount of warmth after switching on but then it soon got cold again.- will open it up and check thermostat - thanks for you post.

You might want to be careful doing that - the last storage heater I had to actually fully replace had gone pop because the old boy had pee'd into it. Yep - you read that right! All the internal insulation blanket was sopping wet with urine. That was not a fun job.

 

[littlespark]

You might want to be careful doing that - the last storage heater I had to actually fully replace had gone pop because the old boy had pee'd into it. Yep - you read that right! All the internal insulation blanket was sopping wet with urine. That was not a fun job.

You lot are trying to make me ill?

Between this, and badeggs finger injury… 🤢

 

[oscar21]

If its not got warm since Feb 2022 then its a safe bet it doesn't work by now.

Moving on though a multimeter with decent AC amps measurement is great in situations like this, put the meter in-line with the supply and if there is a good few amps of current then there must be heat. We had it with an immersion heater once, client was adamant that she didn't have any hot water yet the cylinder cupboard was always warm and the multimeter read 12A until you turned the thermostat off. The immersion heater was obviously doing it job, where that heat went though was a job for the plumber to sort.

 

[Mark K]

You might want to be careful doing that - the last storage heater I had to actually fully replace had gone pop because the old boy had pee'd into it. Yep - you read that right! All the internal insulation blanket was sopping wet with urine. That was not a fun job.

I am an old boy myself - don't recall peeing in it - but then I suppose I wouldn't remember anyway. I see a replacement thermostat is over £80-00 - would it be too dangerous to bypass that -(I can control the onn/off period) - would this be the same as having the thermostat set to full on?

 

[DPG]

If its not got warm since Feb 2022 then its a safe bet it doesn't work by now.

Moving on though a multimeter with decent AC amps measurement is great in situations like this, put the meter in-line with the supply and if there is a good few amps of current then there must be heat. We had it with an immersion heater once, client was adamant that she didn't have any hot water yet the cylinder cupboard was always warm and the multimeter read 12A until you turned the thermostat off. The immersion heater was obviously doing it job, where that heat went though was a job for the plumber to sort.

Just be careful though - a lot of multimeters have a 10A limit.

 

[oscar21]

Just be careful though - a lot of multimeters have a 10A limit.

Yes, mine has a 20A AC limit, most multi meters don't do AC amps at all apart from maybe the mA range. Its a Proster one, had it for years, I cant even read the lables on the dial properly anymore.