Why Don't Night Storage Heaters Use Water?

[martinwinlow]

Hello.

Given that water has over 4 times the specific heat capacity of 'concrete', why don't hight storage heaters just use water rather than their 'special' bricks? Ergo, you get 4 times the heat energy capacity for the same volume!

You could even just leave them empty until they are delivered and save a fortune on shipping costs!

Someone (preferably who knows what they are talking about) please satisfy my curiosity...

MW

 

[muh3]

Good question. My guess because you can only heat water to 100deg and it starts boiling, it also expands with heating and it would probably need refilling every so often.

 

[bernardgreen]

As muh3 has said The "bricks" can be heated to a temperature much higher than 100 deg C

 

[IT Minion]

They're also far denser than water. One number I saw was 4 times the density. Since specific heat capacity is by KG that's very important and zeros out the advantage of water.

 

[ajohn]

We had some when we moved into the house we are in now also the usual type. They were simple - no thermostatic vent. A low rate top up was also included mid day. Same as the usual econ 7 rate.

This kept the house warm 24hrs a day - which is a bit of a catch with storage heaters, Rapid house heating times aren't easy to achieve with them.

 

[Mrs Ten Names]

Hello.

Given that water has over 4 times the specific heat capacity of 'concrete', why don't hight storage heaters just use water rather than their 'special' bricks?

There are some that do, they're called radiators.