Oil filled Radiators

BubbleOfLife

I was browsing through a catalogue that came today in the post, to find 2 items that cought my attention, Oil filled Mini Radiators (700W and 1500W).
According to the insert, it costs, and I quote, 'just 5p per hour (700W based on standard rate)'.
Would they be cheaper to run than my current British Gas run central heating system?
Has anyone tried them?

moonrakerz

I assume these are electric.

Electric heaters are 100% efficient, so if it says 700W it will produce 700W (0.7kW) of heat.
A kWh of electricity will cost you 10-12p, so this fire will cost you 7-8p an hour to run. BUT, 700W is not very much heat you will need an awful lot of these heaters. "Mini" radiators produce "mini" amounts of heat.

Electric heaters are fine for occasional amounts of heat, where you have no C/H or when it is not worth running the central heating.

Generally, if you have gas C/H - use it !

BubbleOfLife

The catalogue's insert is misleading.

Thank you.