Efficient oil filled radiator heaters
Oil filled radiator efficiency is an important consideration for people who want the best oil heater. There are a wide range of makes and models to choose from for example the Dimplex mk1 as well as other manufacturers' models such as the Delonghi safeheat oil filled radiator. Things to think about before purchasing one of these styles of electrical heaters or any other type of portable space heating appliance are both the cost of the actual unit itself as well as the expected fuel costs. Different appliances will of course have different running costs. At the same time it is only reasonable to expect that heaters that are capable of warming larger areas may well incur larger fuel bills.
Oil filled radiator heaters vs electrical fan heaters
Both of these types of heaters are electrical heating appliances. Of course both have the capability to warm rooms or spaces and it really comes down to a question of personal preference as to which is better. It depends on what your heating needs are as to which would be the smarter choice. With advances in technology, both styles of heating units do not waste much energy. The difference is in how they output heat. Oil filled radiators draw power from the electrical power output socket in the wall. This electrical energy is converted to heat energy within the heating elements of the oil filled heater. The heat from the coils begins to warm the special oil that is contained within the radiator which then begins to warm the outside metal of the portable or wall mounted unit. There is of course going to be a time lag between switching the power on and the warming effect being noticed within the room. However with the electrical fan style heater they begin warming the area much quicker than the oil filled radiator heater style units. The warm air will be flowing round the room almost as soon as the machine is turned on. So how quickly you want or need the heat of your house to be raised may be more important than energy efficiency. These days most heating appliances are relatively fuel efficient therefore assuming that both these types of appliances are built well there is not really any difference in their fuel efficiency. The difference that is apparent however is the speed at which their heat comes into effect. Not only this, there is also the question of how quickly or slowly their heating effect disappears. While it is known that oil filled radiator heaters do take longer to warm up than electrical fan heaters it must also be remembered that the oil within the unit will retain its heat and continue to have a warming effect upon the surrounding air even after the power has been turned off. So for a quick blast of warmth, electrical fan heaters may be a superior option however for a sustained warming effect, an oil filled radiator is a better idea.
Oil filled radiator heating efficiency
These kinds of wall mounted radiators or portable heating solutions are energy efficient to the extent that because the oil that is stored within the radiator has only the external walls of the radiator to pass its heat on to, there is no where for the heat to be lost. Using one of these appliances or any other heating unit for that matter in a room with open windows or open doors or anywhere that heat can be lost will mean that the heat that is being produced is also going to escape and appear to be wasted. With electrical heaters it is fine and for fuel efficiency's sake preferable for there to be no easy escape routes for the heat that is produced. Letting heat out via an open door simply means that the heater will have to be on a higher setting than is necessary should the door be closed. That said, for people using gas powered fan heaters, even though they are outwith the scope of this article, it is necessary to bring some fresh air into the room because some of the fumes that they produce when the gas is burning can have a toxic effect.
The efficiency of oil filled radiators is increased by their design. As technology improves and new design ideas are utilized oil filled heaters are better able to transfer heat from the machine to the surrounding air. An example of this is increasing the external surface area of the unit. For example dimplex portable oil filled heaters have a variety of designs. Their OFX range is heating appliances that are wall mounted radiators. These look almost exactly the same as central heating radiators but with one important difference. Central heating radiators get their warmth from hot water being pumped around the system however that is not the case with Dimplex OFX units. They all have a power cord attached to them that must be connected to an external electrical power supply.
Another factor that can be used to make an oil filled radiator more efficient is by deciding to use a portable space heater rather than the wall mounted variety. This is because a mobile oil filled heater can be moved from place to place and taken with you as you move around the house. Not of course every time you decide to get up and make a cup of coffee or go to the bathroom but instead left in the lounge while you are there reading a book or watching TV and them taken through to your bedroom if you are going to get ready for bed. What makes this efficient is that rather than having to heat a whole room, which is admittedly nice but potentially slightly wasteful, a portable oil filled radiator heater can be used to just offer extra targeted warmth to the part of the house or room that you are in.
Particularly in smaller rooms, efficient oil filled radiator heaters can provide the warmth that is necessary to keep you feeling warm whenever it starts to get cold.