Cheapest to run portable heater?

Cardew

Vibrant wrote: »

For long periods in a room, a thermostatically controlled electric oil filled radiator is best IMOP, as it gives a nice steady heat and is probably the most economical, because of the way it delivers the heat.
I find the halogen heaters uncomfortable, as they heat you directly, but that is just MIOP, others may like them.
The big advantage of electric heaters, is that they are cheap, so you can try all the types to see which you like. Or better still borrow them and try them.

Oil filled radiators would be many people's choice of an electrical heater, however they are NOT any more economical than any other type of electrical heater.

It can be stressed enough that all electrical heaters are 100% efficient and give out EXACTLY the same amount of heat for the same input - and hence cost.

Vibrant

Hi Cardew,

While I know that all electrical heaters are 100% efficient, some are cheaper to run, because of the way they deliver the heat.

For example, a fan heater stirs up the air and if thermostatically controlled, it feels cold as soon as it switches off, so you tend to turn the thermostat up a bit more.

Convector heaters take longer to get to temperature, but drops as the thermostat kicks in and out are less noticeable, so a lower thermostat setting is comfortable.
My personal favorite is the oil filled radiator, because the buffering effect of the oil evens out the temperature better than a normal convector.
I find convector heaters (oil or otherwise) are the best option if you are using the whole room.

If sitting watching telly, or something similar, a halogen, or old fashioned bar fire is a good option. One bar is sufficient to keep you warm and toasty. But they are not much use if you are moving about the room, or if there are many people, unless you don't like your kids

I've tried all the types over the years and they all have advantages and disadvantages, depending on what you want to use them for.

Incidentally, I had a quote a few years ago, from Wibo for their heaters, it was so high I nearly fell off the sofa laughing. It was a shame really, they are nicely made and a good design, but the clay core idea, just does the same job as a oil filled radiator.
If they had been around the £50 mark, I would have bought a few.