Plusg in oil filled radiator vs plug in 'oil free' radiator

Leven

Hi all,

I just went out to buy a plug in oil filled radiator. I came home with what I belatedly realised was a plug in 'oil free' radiator (1.5 kw Dimplex).

I am annoyed that I didn't notice that it wasn't what I wanted. Before I take it back, I am wondering if there is an expert here who could tell me whether the 'oil free' is more or less economical than the equivalent oil filled radiator?

If the running costs are likely to be similar, it will save me lugging it back to the shop.

Thanks in anticipation.

Jonesya

No difference in running costs - all electric heaters are 100% efficient.

27col

Whatever made you think that one might be more efficient than the other. As Jonesya says all electric heaters are 100% efficient. The only reason for choosing one over another is possibly convenience of use. This depends on the lifestyle of the user.
Oil free get hot very quickly and cool down very quickly. Oil filled take slightly longer to get hot but also take slightly longer to cool down. I have never seen that an oil filled heater has any obvious advantage over an oil free heater.

Leven

Thank you both for your help.

As you can tell, I know absolutely nothing about how electricity consumption works, but I was thinking that some items use more electricity than another in order to function. eg. a three bar electric fire would take more electricity than a fan heater (or vice versa) in order to heat a room to a specified temperature.

Please excuse my ignorance - but it is for precisely that reason that I posted on here - I am aware that I know nothing!

27col

Possibly you are confusing efficiency with heat output. A bigger wattage heater will heat a room more quickly. But it is not more efficient. It is just putting more heat into the room than a heater of smaller wattage.
To heat a specific volume of air to a specific temperature, requires a specific amount of energy. A bigger wattage heater will supply that amount of energy more quickly. A smaller wattage heater will take longer to supply that same amount of energy(heat).
In both cases the amount of energy will be the same.
I hope that helps.

Leven

Got it! Thanks.:) So as I understand it, the only thing that really makes a difference to running costs of these types of heaters would be a built in room thermostat. My oil free radiator has one, so now I'm ready to roll ..

Thanks again for your help

Furts

Leven wrote: »

Got it! Thanks.:) So as I understand it, the only thing that really makes a difference to running costs of these types of heaters would be a built in room thermostat. My oil free radiator has one, so now I'm ready to roll ..

Thanks again for your help

Dimplex is a respected brand but I am not not a fan of oil free radiators. Over the years I have found the durability and life expectancy of such radiators to be poor. They all seam engineered down to a low cost and quality.

I would be returning your product and getting an oil filled model - though avoiding the dross of dubious Chinese makes available through many outlets. Stick with a respected brand.

lstar337

Furts wrote: »

Dimplex is a respected brand but I am not not a fan of oil free radiators. Over the years I have found the durability and life expectancy of such radiators to be poor. They all seam engineered down to a low cost and quality.

I would be returning your product and getting an oil filled model - though avoiding the dross of dubious Chinese makes available through many outlets. Stick with a respected brand.

I agree with Furts, and would choose oil filled every time.

As well as what Furts has said above, I feel much more comfortable without an exposed heating element. Plus exposed element heaters tend to smell as any dust is burned off.

Gloomendoom

We have a couple of the oil free convector type heaters. They cost about £15 each and are both over ten years old.

I have another in my workshop that I bought in 1991 and, although a bit battered now, it still works perfectly.

They do give off a brief whiff of burning dust initially but it soon passes.

If I had children about, I'd probably rather have the oil filled type though as they have fewer orifices for things to be poked into.

Leven

I think I'll stick with the oil free now - I can't face repacking it and lugging it back to the store.

It seems pretty much swings and roundabouts as to which is best, though I would have preferred the oil filled version as I already do have one of those and I like it.

Thanks for the help everyone.

cajef

Had a Dimplex Cadiz oil free panel radiator in our conservatory for over three years, not the cheapest but built in timer and thermostat with no exposed elements plus a five year guarantee, can certainly recommend it as it is the only heating in there and we use the conservatory most of the year.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dimplex-Electric-Radiator-Electronic-Climate/dp/B002G0DE14/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1445260552&sr=8-3&keywords=dimplex+cadiz