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An old style of heating that is enjoying a new lease on life
OffPeak heaters store up heat when electricity is cheapest, then release the heat at times when you most need it. It is one of the most economical heating methods.
A typical modern OffPeak heater takes around 7 to 8 hours to fully charge to release enough heat for 24 hours. Because OffPeak power is available for up to 12 hours a day, it means you should never run out of heat.
As a rule of thumb, if you have installed an OffPeak Heat Bank (usually situated in living areas) that is the right output for your home, it will create a constant ambient temperature of around 16°C. The fan is then used to increase the temperature to a level that you require, which would typically be around 21°C.
OffPeak Midi Banks are storage heaters which are designed to give you background heat and can be found in bedrooms, halls and kitchens.
 Developed in Europe just after World War II the heat bank system was devised to allow electricity consumers to store heat at times of the day when power was least expensive. Heat was "saved" in specially designed bricks inside the heater.
Unfortunately the bricks were relatively inefficient at storing the heat. So when the air temperature was exceptionally low they only took the edge off the cold.
All that has changed over the past decade is the development of a much denser brick that can store up to about 700°C. The new OffPeak heaters also come fitted with charge controls, temperature sensors, safety cutouts and improved insulation for maximum efficiency and safety.
And for those who remember the OffPeak heater as being a bit of an eyesore clad in institutional grey or a teak finish, the new designs will come as a very pleasant surprise.
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Pros & cons
Pros
- Runs on OffPeak power.
- Economical running costs.
- Generally considered a comfortable style of heat.
- Much improved in the looks department.
- Different options for different rooms / heat delivery
Cons
- Not usually an "instant heat" system.
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