Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) has been in the United States since the early 70’s, and has been utilized in Europe since the 1940’s. This technology has been proven in many areas across North America to deliver great comfort; and, when combined with an off-peak, Time-of-Day or other preferential rate, low operating costs to make it the best cost heating option. ETS is a technology whereby off-peak electricity is stored as heat which is used for heating 24 hours a day. Many power companies offer an off-peak electric rate option that provides as much as 50% or more savings off of the standard electric rate for energy used during off-peak hours. ETS equipment utilizes the low off-peak electric rate to store a sufficient amount of heat to meet comfort requirements. Steffes ETS equipment available today includes room heaters, whole house forced air and hydronic heating systems, water heater controls, and commercial hydronic heating systems. Contact your power supplier to find out if off-peak electric rates are available in your area.

There are several ETS options available for residential homes. Individual room heaters can be used either alone or in conjunction with electric baseboard, cove heaters, etc. Room heaters are also used to replace wood stoves. Centrally ducted furnaces are used as a whole house stand-alone furnace. They can also be used as a supplement to a heat pump to offer even better efficiencies and lower operating costs. The hydronic systems are used to provide in-floor, hot water baseboard or radiators and can even provide ducted heating with the addition of an air handler.

Yes. Since Steffes heaters are storage devices, they can serve as a battery to harness renewable power generated from sources such as wind or solar. Steffes heating systems help fully utilize these variable generation resources to provide environmental benefit as well as help reduce our dependence on foreign oil imports. Check with your power company to see if they have any special incentives or electric rates related to using Steffes heating systems and controls with renewable or green power.

Steffes heating equipment can be run from a generator if desired. The generator must be sized for the amount of load connected to it. We recommend powering the blower/control circuit only off the generator. This allows the blower(s) to operate and use the stored heat from the brick core to heat the desired area. Contact a local generator representative for additional information and sizing of the generator needed for your application.

There are several factors involved in determining the correct size(s) of equipment for your application. A heat loss calculation should be performed to determine the appropriate model(s). The size of the area, construction detail (insulation values), number and size of windows and doors, and number of off-peak hours available, plus the climate of your area are all factors involved in making this determination. Contact a local dealer to ensure proper equipment sizing. Utilize the Steffes Dealer Locator to find a dealer in your area to ensure proper equipment sizing.

The cost of operation is directly related to the heat loss of the area and the off-peak heating rate available. The ETS equipment is 100% efficient like most electric heating systems; therefore, electric consumption will be very similar to an electric system. However, if your power supplier provides an off-peak electric rate of which the ETS system can take advantage of, you usually will experience significant savings over standard electric systems as well as fossil fuel systems.

See the Steffes Connect FAQ page or download the Steffes Connect User Guide for additional information.

The ETS equipment is generally sized to satisfy the heating requirements on the coldest days of the year. If sized properly, the equipment will satisfy the desired comfort 24 hours a day. The heater’s brick core which is used to store the heat is well insulated so static heat dissipation is minimized. The heating equipment can discharge heat even while it is storing heat during off-peak hours.

Like most heating systems, an onboard room temperature sensor (room heaters) or a  room temperature thermostat (centrally ducted and hydronic systems) is set to the desired comfort level. Heat calls from the thermostat trigger the heating system to discharge its heat into the area either by operating blowers to circulate air or by operating pumps to circulate water depending upon the system being used.

Steffes heating systems are well insulated, so most of the heat is retained in the brick core until needed. Some heat will radiate from the outer surfaces of the heating system; however, this heat usually is going into a conditioned space; therefore, the heat is not wasted. During shoulder months (October, November, March, April) of the heating season, it is important to regulate the amount of heat being stored in accordance with outdoor temperature to reduce the amount of radiant heat.

It is important to size ETS heaters appropriately to ensure you have adequate storage to meet the heating requirements of the area. In areas where the power company has a Time-of-Use (TOU) rate, you may purchase on-peak power for heating if the system runs short. If the system frequently runs out of heat, this is an indicator that the heating system is undersized for the application or servicing is required. Additional equipment, service to the existing equipment, or construction improvements to the building may be required to ensure comfort. Utilize the Steffes Dealer Locator to find a dealer, in your area, for servicing your heating system.

No. An ETS heater is strictly a heat storage device. Cool storage requires a different storage medium.

Steffes heating systems and controls are designed to provide many years of operation. Life expectancy depends on proper sizing, installation, and the environment the system is operating in. Steffes’ heating systems and controls have proven to be very reliable.

Steffes does not recommend purchasing or selling a used ETS heater. During regular operation of the room heater, the brick core will get up to 1,200°F/649°C. The longer the heater has been in use, the more fragile the insulation will become. Damage to the heater’s insulation package can result in a high-temperature air leak, which can result in a fire, property damage, personal injury, and/or death. Contact your dealer for additional information.

Steffes does not recommend moving a heater. The longer the heater has been in use, the more fragile the insulation will be. Keep in mind that the brick core of the heater will get up to approximately 1,200°F/648°C in normal operation. Therefore, damage to the heater’s insulation package can result in an air leak which can result in a fire.

There are times when the heater is being moved a short distance to change flooring. An electrician should move the heater to ensure the electrical wiring is disconnected and reconnected properly and to verify the brick core, insulation, and heater components are not damaged during the move. Consult the specifications for the approximate weight of the heater. The heater must always remain upright. Contact your dealer for additional information.

Since this environment is prone to more dust and airborne particles and may have varnish, paint, or other odors present, caution is recommended. Odor amplification and sooting issues can occur more readily in these types of environments. For this reason, Steffes does not recommend ETS heating for these types of applications.

You can recess the heater; however, the specified minimum clearances must be adhered to. Failure to comply with specific clearances for the model being recessed may cause operational difficulties resulting in a risk of fire. When recessing a heater with a digital display, Steffes recommends installing a remote room temperature sensor for proper operation.

The heaters are painted with a specially formulated high-grade urethane powder paint that is baked on to provide a high scratch and stain resistant, easy to clean finish. The neutral color selected blends with almost any background décor. Although the heaters can and have been painted in the field, painting over the factory paint will not provide the same durability and performance. If painting the heater, it is recommended to use a high temperature, automotive paint. Do NOT disassemble the heating system.

Room Heaters: Regularly vacuum around all sides of the heater. Check the back of the heater to make sure no objects have fallen behind it and the grill area to make sure there isn't anything obstructing air flow. Check all sides of the heater to be sure the required clearances are not being violated. NOTE: Objects should never be placed on top of the heater. No additional routine maintenance is required; however, having a professional service technician clean the blower periodically will decrease the likelihood of undesirable blower noise due to dust accumulation. As with most heating systems, air borne particles and odors in the room may be drawn into the heating system and oxidized. Since the room air passes directly through the hot brick core of the ETS heater, the oxidation process will change the properties of these particles and odors. Odors can be amplified; thus, it is recommended not to operate the heating system if odors such as those from paints, varnishes, or chemicals are present in the air. Allow the area to be completely aired out before operating the heater. As for air borne particles, after they have been oxidized, they are expelled back into the room and may accumulate on the heater or other surfaces. Over time these particles may appear as a black residue commonly referred to as soot. High concentrations of air borne particles from such things as aerosols, dust, candles, incense, pet hair, high humidity, smoke, or cooking can contribute to poor indoor air quality and accelerate this process. To minimize the black residue build-up, clean the outer surface of the heater on a regular basis. Wash the cabinet, only when cool, with a nonabrasive household cleaner.  Do not use scouring powders or furniture polish. Steffes recommends using Soft Scrub with Bleach ™ brand cleanser or an equal. 4100/4200 Series: Steffes forced air heating systems are easily maintained. The air filter in the return air duct of the system should be replaced on a regular basis to ensure proper operation and to maintain overall efficiency. No additional routine maintenance is required. If utilizing a heat pump or air conditioning system with the 4100 Series, the indoor coil of the device should be cleaned periodically as dirt accumulation may reduce system efficiency. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance and cleaning recommendations for these devices. 5100 Series: General cleaning of the system's cabinet should be conducted at the user's discretion. It is important to monitor water levels/pressure (PSI) as low water levels cause poor performance and possible damage to the system. Ask the installer of the equipment for information on how to measure these levels. If utilizing the Steffes Air Handler with the 5100 series, periodically check and replace the air filter. If a heat pump or air conditioner is interfaced with the Comfort Plus Hydronic, the indoor coil of these devices should be cleaned periodically, to maintain system efficiency. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning recommendation for these devices. Regular replacement of the air filter and cleaning of coils will provide better air flow and optimum efficiency and performance.

Steffes has manufactured multiple heating systems since 1987. Visit our Manuals & Warranties page to find whole house heating systems. If you have a room heater, check out this video on how to find the model and serial number.

Room heaters do not incorporate air filters. For whole house furnaces, Steffes recommends replacing the filter in the air handlers and return air plenum with a like filter. A higher quality filter can be used if preferred, but it must be the same size as the one Steffes originally provided. Current production utilizes a 20” x 25” x 2” air filter.

This is likely a form of soot or carbon. This residue is the carbon from burned airborne particles, which were drawn into the heater from the room and oxidized in the brick core. If you experience this on your room heater, we suggest cleaning the heater, when it is cool, with a non-abrasive household cleanser. "Soft Scrub with Bleach" brand cleaner is recommended.

You are likely experiencing odor amplification. The ETS system will draw room odors through the hot brick core. When the air containing odors is heated, the smell is amplified. It is suggested not to operate the ETS heater when painting, varnishing, or doing anything else which causes a higher-than-normal level of airborne fumes or aerosols. The air should be completely free of these odors before operating the heater again. If the odor you are experiencing is electrical in nature at all, power the heating system off at the breaker panel and contact a local dealer to have the system serviced. Utilize the Steffes Dealer Locator to find a dealer in your area.

During the manufacturing process, the order in which the components are placed into the cabinet of the heater ensure an excellent fit and seal of the insulation components. If the top of the heater is removed, that insulation package is disturbed and cannot be reassembled in the field due to safety concerns. The internal core temperature reaches approximately 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit in normal operation, so it is extremely important that the insulation package is not altered. Having an air leak at these high temperatures would constitute risk of fire, property damage, and/or death.