freestanding heaters - running costs

vanixo

Hi

Does anyone know what is the cheapest heating between....

• oil filled radiator
• traditional electrtic convection heater
• halogen heater

Any feedback will be much appreciated. Thank you very much.

:j

nomoneytoday

Look at the wattage of each. Each 1kw costs about 10p an hour to run.

So a 2kw heater would cost £4.80 a day... (2 x 10p x 24)

Donegal_Paul

I was thinking the same thing, our small workshop / unit is quite cold at the moment and we have a convection heater but i think these tend to be uneconomical, I was thinking about an oil filled one, i know they dont give instant heat but they are certainly the safest option i would have thought.

PasturesNew

I believe, but will stand corrected, that for a workshop type of situation you would be best with a halogen, which can be directed to heat the person.
You don't need the space heating, just the person working.

geordie_joe

PasturesNew wrote: »

I believe, but will stand corrected, that for a workshop type of situation you would be best with a halogen, which can be directed to heat the person.
You don't need the space heating, just the person working.

Only if the person stand still all day, if they move around they may move out of the "heated zone"

I would also look at keeping the heat in the room, insulation etc. May not be worthwhile if, say, the door has to be left open all day, or windows for ventilation. But it's always worth while looking at keeping the heat you've got before paying to create more.

Quincifer

Generally halogen heater are cheaper but they don't cover a wide area.
I have one for my lounge/bedroom and it covers that fine.

geordie_joe

Quincifer wrote: »

Generally halogen heater are cheaper but they don't cover a wide area.

How do you mean cheaper? Cheaper to buy or cheaper to run?

Poppycat

You measure how cheap a electrical item is by the wattage, ie 500w, 1kw, 2kw etc.

The difference really lies in how the heater distributes heat, ie fan, ceramics, oil etc.

I found the halogen heater very quick to give off heat and mine can be turn down in 4 settings. However I wouldn't say its any cheaper than any other heater in comparable watts

geordie_joe

Poppycat wrote: »

You measure how cheap a electrical item is by the wattage, ie 500w, 1kw, 2kw etc.

The difference really lies in how the heater distributes heat, ie fan, ceramics, oil etc.

I found the halogen heater very quick to give off heat and mine can be turn down in 4 settings. However I wouldn't say its any cheaper than any other heater in comparable watts

If you bought it at argos there's a 50/50 chance I bought the same one yesterday.

It's a 1.6kw so it should cost the same as any other 1.6kw heater to run. It also has 4 x 400w settings and gives instant heat.

After one day I can say I'm very pleased with it. I only really get cold when I sit at the computer or watch TV, the rest of the time I am moving around and warm enough. Didn't use the central heating once yesterday, apart from an hour in the morning before I bought the heater.

Poppycat

Yes I did get mine in Argos last Spring it was reduced. I seen them quite cheap even Morrisons had one cheap

Albirlaup

All electric heating is pretty much 100% efficient in the fact that 1kw of electric in will give 1kw of heat out. It is how you use it, or how it is wasted.
A hairdryer will never boil a kettle full of water - but a similar power kettle will quite quickly, but won't warm up the room like a hairdryer will.
Your space heaters (first two mentioned) will be equal at heating air in a room. The 3 rd one is "radiant heat" ie needs to be pointing at you to make you warmer, but will have little effect when you just walk into the room if you're not in front of heater. So if you're in the right place it will be hotter.... bit like being in the kettle!!
You must decide what you want it for and buy accordingly, bearing in mind a £20 1kw heater gives same heat as a £100 1 kw heater and with same running costs!