Oil radiators - are they worth it?

lauranurse

I am asking this for my Mum, she has at the moment got an electric heater in her conservatory, but it doesnt do a very good job of keeping it warm and the noise it makes is really irritating. It also gives off a funny smell. I think from the dust that has gathered on it being burnt.

She is thinking of getting an oil filled radiator. Is it worth it, from a cost point of view and also, those of you who have one, will it do a better job of warming the room?

Thanks for your help!

julesgr

We have an oil filled radiator because the house we rent only has convector heaters on the wall that cost a fortune to run. My suggestion would be to get one with a thermostat that will cut out when the room reaches temperature and cut back in again just to bring it up to temp, therefore not working constantly and wasting money.

John_3:16

I have found it will always be costly heating a conservatory. The oil filled rad will not be as instant as the blower. You can always get a normal convecter heater that may heat a little quicker. If it is electric they will all cost the same per heat output. 1kw of power in gives 1kw heat out whatever you use.

CLAPTON

if you run any electrical heater at the same power for the same time then they will, broadly speaking heat up the space just the same (and for the same cost).

however, oil filled radiators are very safe (no exposed electrical elements and no fire risk if they are knocked over), no smell as no dust to burn off (unless left for a very very long time) and no noise.

EliteHeat

lauranurse wrote: »

I am asking this for my Mum, she has at the moment got an electric heater in her conservatory, but it doesnt do a very good job of keeping it warm

It is just about impossible to keep a conservatory warm in cold weather. The heat loss is enormous and a 2kW electric heater of any sort, has no chance.

Gambler

I'm having some centrail heating improvements carried out at the moment and we asked about a rad in the conservatory but they guy said it was a total waste of time and money as the heat would just disappear due to all the windows and roof.

He did however suggest a couple of the small Delonghi oil filled heaters would help. We only use the room during the day as it is our 2 year old's play room.

27col

Conservatories can actually get quite warm, even in the winter. Of course, this assumes that the sun is shining. The same lack of insulation which makes conservatories almost impossible to heat properly, ensures that the sun's rays will heat it quite well during the day. Even in the winter. If you want to use it at night, when there is no solar gain then it's going to cost lots. Our lounge is 30 ft long with two 8 ft wide patio windows, quite often on a sunny day in the winter the room warms up such that the thermostat stops calling for heat and leaves the rest of the house cold.

Gambler

27col wrote: »

Conservatories can actually get quite warm, even in the winter. Of course, this assumes that the sun is shining. The same lack of insulation which makes conservatories almost impossible to heat properly, ensures that the sun's rays will heat it quite well during the day. Even in the winter. If you want to use it at night, when there is no solar gain then it's going to cost lots. Our lounge is 30 ft long with two 8 ft wide patio windows, quite often on a sunny day in the winter the room warms up such that the thermostat stops calling for heat and leaves the rest of the house cold.

Yes we noticed this at the weekend it was too hot in there !! Wont be using it night, we just need something to take the chill off the room for a few hours during the day.

sheilavw

We had two in our conservatory last winter on low over night and they cost a fortune, our electric bill went up from £125 to £325 for a quarter. We are now buying a gas wall heater and having that installed

ormus

you only leave them on whilst actually in the room.
if you leave them on all night, then the lecky bill is going to be heavy.