Best top up heating

iammumtoone

My oil filled radiator has died

I am not sure whether to replace it or get something else.

I use it morning for about half an hour and sometimes in the evening if I am feeling cold as I like the direct heat (I sit next to it ). I never turn on the central heating in the morning but it goes on in the evenings.

I see you can now get oil free radiators, does anyone have any experience of these? I like the sound of them as the oil filled one is very heavy to move about. My other option is just to buy a cheap fan heater.

Any advice or recommended products gratefully received.

My central heating is a very old system, single wall radiators, no thermostat. It takes a couple of hours before it heats the house up hence why I use the oil radiator in the morning (if its cold enough), I know they are expensive but I am only heating one room and not the whole house for 2 hours before I feel any benefit.

Lady321986

In our front porch which as no c/heating I opted for a timer oil filled radiator that's free standing. It's great when it's in use but the room gets very cold so doesn't last and is very small. If it's to warm you I'd probably get a fan heater as it provide instant heat.

Although I get really cold even with the central heating on for hours and so in have bought a fleece heated sofa throw from Amazon recently and it's brilliant and costs 1p every 3 hours. It's variable so you turn it up and down depending on temp you prefer. I guess you could even put it over your duvet for warmth but I have a 1p a night elec blanket

If you ever wonder about costs Id suggest speaking to an energy efficiency team like the one British Gas offers. They even give advise to non BG customers (I've used them on enquiring about dehumidifiers) but all suppliers or should offer this service.

Gloomendoom

We just use a couple of cheap 2 kw convector heaters if we need localised heating.

They are very lightweight and, unlike fan heaters, silent in operation.

iammumtoone

thanks have read about those heated throws, they sound perfect for the evenings.

I just need to sort something for the mornings as it is really cold in the house first thing and I need something to take the chill off whilst I am getting ready for work.

HappyMJ

iammumtoone wrote: »

thanks have read about those heated throws, they sound perfect for the evenings.

I just need to sort something for the mornings as it is really cold in the house first thing and I need something to take the chill off whilst I am getting ready for work.

You're not really going to heat the whole house economically for such a short period of time.

Personally I'd use the electric fan heater directed straight on to you for the 10-15 minutes that you're getting ready for work.

missbiggles1

I'd suggest a mobile calor gas heater, they really chuck the heat out and warm a room very quickly.

matelodave

Mobile Calor heaters push out loads of condensation unless you have plenty of ventilation. We bought a house where the previous owners had one as they couldn't afford the ancient storage heating- mould everywhere and Calor gas isn't cheap either.


My suggestion would be another oil filled rad, if you were happy with it, but a fan heater would heat you up quicker if all you want is a quick boost in the morning. Alternatively a cheap convector heater - do not be tempted by any of these clay cored Fischer heaters.

missbiggles1

matelodave wrote: »

Mobile Calor heaters push out loads of condensation unless you have plenty of ventilation. We bought a house where the previous owners had one as they couldn't afford the ancient storage heating- mould everywhere and Calor gas isn't cheap either.


My suggestion would be another oil filled rad, if you were happy with it, but a fan heater would heat you up quicker if all you want is a quick boost in the morning. Alternatively a cheap convector heater - do not be tempted by any of these clay cored Fischer heaters.

The OP is only using a heater for an hour or two at a time so condedentation is unlikely to be a problem. We've always had one as back up/top up heating and never had any problem with condensation. I find that fan heaters are noisy and dry the air and oil filled radiators warm up very slowly.

savemoney

The heated throws are great if you want some comfit whilst reading a book or watching tv etc.

If you need a cheaper heater just seen this on hotukdeals @ £12.99 for a convector at Home bargains

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/2000w-convector-heater-12-99-home-bargains-2373328

System

I find running the PS3 works well...

iammumtoone

I've got one of the home bargains convector heaters.

I don't like it as much as my old oil radiator, it doesn't get so hot but for the price difference I think I made the right choice. It will be fine for now until I see another cheap oil radiator (my previous one was an aldi/lidl special, it lasted nearly 10 years for about £40:))

Really stupid question alert! Will my new 2000W heater cost the same to run as the old 2000W oil rad, i am assuming it will? and extremely embarrassed I have to ask the question