Best portable heater option / most economical

redsclubbedup

Our central heating is pretty old, and in our living room, we have a lovely victorian cast iron rad - problem being it get incredibly hot, but gives out very little heat

as such we are currently running an electric heater in the room (convection one borrowed from my girlfriends work)

We are looking to get a more economical one, as my old man has said that the electric convector ones are very expensive to run

so my question is - what is our best option ?

Tesco do a halogen heater £15: http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.209-3646.aspx

and Lidl have oil filled ones for £30 from Monday

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/SID-AFE8B00A-7A28EBC1/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_15993.htm

I am just wondering, which will heat the room best (we use it from 5.30-10 most nights! and also which will be the more economical to run

being as it is an old house we have high ceilings, and the stairs aren't enclosed either !!!

macman

All electric heaters have exactly the same efficiency (100%) and so cost exactly the same to run for the same kWh rating-so it makes no difference to your running costs whichever you choose.
An oil filled rad will hold the heat a little longer, but is slower to warm up. Your choice.
It would be more economic to sort your CH out or install a larger rad. Electric heating (non-E7) is about 3 times more expensive to run than gas CH.

HappyMJ

As you have high ceilings and the stairs are not enclosed I'd be inclined to go for the halogen one to heat you rather than the space. Although electric heating is all 100% efficient the different types of heat make the difference between the running costs. If you have the money I'd get one of each the room sounds big enough to need two radiators anyway. Then you can use each as required.

The halogen heater is 1200W so multiply 1.2 by your electric rate.
The LIDL oil filled varies from 800W to a total of 2500W has a thermostat and frost protection so would be good for some background room heat.

claaiiree

from experience, oil heaters are a more efficient and economical, as after the heater is switched off the room stays in constant heat but with an electric heater it does not warm the room properly, it just gives you instant heat.,
definately go for the one from lidl, looks like a brilliant buy and I am off to buy one on the 13th too. thanks

macman

claaiiree wrote: »

from experience, oil heaters are a more efficient and economical, as after the heater is switched off the room stays in constant heat but with an electric heater it does not warm the room properly, it just gives you instant heat.,
definately go for the one from lidl, looks like a brilliant buy and I am off to buy one on the 13th too. thanks

They are not, a 1kW oil filled rad has the same efficiency and running costs as a 1kW convector or a 1kW halogen!

Cardew

claaiiree wrote: »

from experience, oil heaters are a more efficient and economical, as after the heater is switched off the room stays in constant heat but with an electric heater it does not warm the room properly, it just gives you instant heat.,
definately go for the one from lidl, looks like a brilliant buy and I am off to buy one on the 13th too. thanks

As said above, ALL electrical heaters have exactly the same efficiency.

Whilst oil filled radiators retain heat after power is disconnected, they take longer to warm up and produce heat.

The result is that the total heat output is exactly the same as any other heater.

khampson

Oil filled heaters are cheaper to run

hubpages.com/hub/Electric-Heaters--The-Differences-Between-Convection-Heaters-And-Conduction-Heaters

Cardew

khampson wrote: »

Oil filled heaters are cheaper to run

hubpages.com/hub/Electric-Heaters--The-Differences-Between-Convection-Heaters-And-Conduction-Heaters

As they say during pantomime season - "Oh no they are not!!!"

Oil filled heaters have exactly the same efficiency, and cost exactly the same to run(i.e. heat output for the money) as any other heater.
- and your link doesn't suggest oil filled heaters are cheaper.

andyrpsmith

khampson wrote: »

Oil filled heaters are cheaper to run

hubpages.com/hub/Electric-Heaters--The-Differences-Between-Convection-Heaters-And-Conduction-Heaters

This hubpages article really answers the real questions that most people are asking when they post about which heater is most economical. The continual replies about 100% efficiency and all heaters of the same KW rating cost the same (when on full) are true but only help in telling you the obvious. It is a helpful warning that spending hundreds or even thousands of pounds in fancy electric systems is unlikely to be worthwhile when we all know that electric heating is 100% efficient.

People want to know how well the different types will meet their need and this will depend factors other than just the KW rating. Some of the key factors are:

The KW rating: (needs to be sufficient for size of room)

Thermostat: (vital for varying the output and reducing unnecessary costs. Costs to run will depend heavily on this setting)

Variable heat settings: (to ensure flexibility and reduce costs)

Timer: (to ensure flexibility and reduce costs)

Type: Radiant, cheap convector or oil filled (impact on how room is heated and how you feel)

Size of room: (match heater KW output options to ensure comfortable heating)

Insulation & Draft proofing: (major impact on running costs, heater needs to balance heat loss when room up to temp. Double glazing and cavity wall insulation provide a massive impact)

Heater Set up: (Vital to get the most economical running, the combination of setting the right thermostat point, use of a timer, the right power level - some heaters can select between varying power levels to maintain a set level at minimum cost)

Electricity Tariff: (significant impact on overall costs, I moved from 14p per unit to 8.6p and reduced costs significantly - as a heavy electric only user)

Cardew

andyrpsmith wrote: »

This hubpages article really answers the real questions that most people are asking when they post about which heater is most economical. The continual replies about 100% efficiency and all heaters of the same KW rating cost the same (when on full) are true but only help in telling you the obvious. It is a helpful warning that spending hundreds or even thousands of pounds in fancy electric systems is unlikely to be worthwhile when we all know that electric heating is 100% efficient.

People want to know how well the different types will meet their need and this will depend factors other than just the KW rating. Some of the key factors are:

The KW rating: (needs to be sufficient for size of room)

Thermostat: (vital for varying the output and reducing unnecessary costs. Costs to run will depend heavily on this setting)

Variable heat settings: (to ensure flexibility and reduce costs)

Timer: (to ensure flexibility and reduce costs)

Type: Radiant, cheap convector or oil filled (impact on how room is heated and how you feel)

Size of room: (match heater KW output options to ensure comfortable heating)

Insulation & Draft proofing: (major impact on running costs, heater needs to balance heat loss when room up to temp. Double glazing and cavity wall insulation provide a massive impact)

Heater Set up: (Vital to get the most economical running, the combination of setting the right thermostat point, use of a timer, the right power level - some heaters can select between varying power levels to maintain a set level at minimum cost)

No dispute with any of the above - all points are relevant.

The method of delivery of heat will obviously vary with the different heaters. However the bottom line is that the amount of heat/warmth/BTu produced by all heaters for, say, £1 is the same; and it is this that many people seem not to appreciate and hence is far from obvious.

rich_jtg

Cardew wrote: »

As they say during pantomime season - "Oh no they are not!!!"

Oil filled heaters have exactly the same efficiency, and cost exactly the same to run(i.e. heat output for the money) as any other heater.
- and your link doesn't suggest oil filled heaters are cheaper.

But surely, in an average real-life situation, an oil filled radiator with a thermostat (which most seem to have) would be generally more cost effective to heat a room.

A halogen one would be left on constantly, or until someone realised it was getting a bit hot in the room... normally, at a higher temperature.

I would say however that a halogen one would probably be better if someone was looking for localised heat.