Storage heaters
Storage heater cold in the morning: what to check first
A safe, practical order for checking the controls, off-peak supply and heater before buying parts.
Check whether it is one heater or the whole property
If every storage heater is cold, a shared off-peak supply, contactor, timer or consumer-unit issue is more likely than several heaters failing at once. If only one heater is affected, its controls, thermal cut-out or elements move higher on the list.
Safe checks you can make
Do not remove covers. Check the heater display, input setting and any clearly labelled wall switches. Look at the off-peak consumer unit for an obvious tripped device, but do not repeatedly reset it if it trips again.
- Confirm the input or charge setting is not at minimum
- Note whether the display has power during the day
- Check whether hot water also failed overnight
- Record any error code before switching anything off
When testing is needed
A qualified electrician can test the 24-hour and off-peak supplies, protective devices, internal elements and controls. This identifies whether the energy supplier, fixed wiring or heater needs attention.
Safety note
Do not remove electrical covers or work on fixed wiring unless you are competent to isolate the circuit and prove it dead. If a breaker or RCD trips again, leave the affected circuit switched off and arrange testing.