Paraffin heater

robchoc

I'm considering purchasing a paraffin heater for my room.  Would this be cheaper than running my central heating on GAS to just heat one room in my house?
Where is the best place to purchase a paraffin heater and where is the best place to purchase paraffin for heating that will not break the bank?
Thanks

Farway

There are additional problems to consider with paraffin in a room, ventilation is one of course, as is condensation, careful you don't have unintended consequences

Section62

robchoc said:

I'm considering purchasing a paraffin heater for my room.  Would this be cheaper than running my central heating on GAS to just heat one room in my house?
Where is the best place to purchase a paraffin heater and where is the best place to purchase paraffin for heating that will not break the bank?
Thanks

Have you seen something which makes you think heating by paraffin is cheaper than mains gas?

Start by finding out how much it costs to buy paraffin in your area....

mmmmikey

Hi, firstly I'd echo the caveats above about ventilation and condensation. I've only ever used a paraffin heater in a greenhouse before and I was quite surprised to see that you can get them for indoor use. If you Google "paraffin heater uk" you'll see a few online retailers.

As far as running cost is concrened, on a kWh for kWh of heat output basis, paraffin costs a similar amount to the October price for natural gas. The saving would come from only heating the room you're in and depending on the size of the house, how well insulated it is, etc. could be quite worthwhile if you have a bigger, older property which is drafty and not well insulated. But if you have a modern, well insulated and draft proof house you may well find the central heating a better option, and also you'd need to think carefully about whether it would be sensible to use a paraffin heater in this kind of property. Something to consider is how controllable the paraffin heater is - if it's a question of "3kW or nothing" you might fnd it ends up expensive to run if you end up opening windows and doors to regulate the heat.

You can buy paraffin in 25litre containers from central heating oil merchants around here for about £1.20 to £1.40 a litre depending on how much you buy.

dunstonh

I have multiple Bialladin bowlfires for heating but I only use them in my workshop or when we sit outside on a cooler summer night.  I love using them as they create an ambience from a different era.  I use them along with various vapalux/Bialladin lanterns for outside lighting or when taking the bin out.

 I wouldn't use one in the house though.  They require significant ventilation if you plan to do that.   And I do it because I appreciate using them.  Not because it saves money. It won't save money.  

And in the case of the lanterns, using a torch would be cheaper and quicker.  There is something about walking the quarter of a mile each way, in complete darkness dragging the bin in one hand and holding the lantern in the other. 

Astria

They are OK if you use them outside, or with sufficient ventilation.

To use them inside you need to have the actual heater in a well ventilated area or outside, bring in cool air, warm it and then output the warm air to the room required. This typically means it's non-portable or not easily portable however.

mmmmikey

Astria said:

They are OK if you use them outside, or with sufficient ventilation.

To use them inside you need to have the actual heater in a well ventilated area or outside, bring in cool air, warm it and then output the warm air to the room required. This typically means it's non-portable or not easily portable however.

Hmmm - all interesting stuff.  My first reaction to reading this thread was "I don't think you can use them indoors" but when I Googled it I saw that you can buy paraffin heaters that are CE approved, advertised for indoor use and look a bit like gas cabinet heaters. The Bialladin bowlfires look more appropriate to a greenhouse, drafty workshop, etc. than they do for indoor use.  Not sure if the post quoted here refers to the "old fashioned" paraffin heaters of the type that used to be common in greenhouses where there was no electricity supply, or the ones specifically desgined for indoor use that I found through Google?

Astria

mmmmikey said:

Astria said:

They are OK if you use them outside, or with sufficient ventilation.

To use them inside you need to have the actual heater in a well ventilated area or outside, bring in cool air, warm it and then output the warm air to the room required. This typically means it's non-portable or not easily portable however.

Hmmm - all interesting stuff.  My first reaction to reading this thread was "I don't think you can use them indoors" but when I Googled it I saw that you can buy paraffin heaters that are CE approved, advertised for indoor use and look a bit like gas cabinet heaters. The Bialladin bowlfires look more appropriate to a greenhouse, drafty workshop, etc. than they do for indoor use.  Not sure if the post quoted here refers to the "old fashioned" paraffin heaters of the type that used to be common in greenhouses where there was no electricity supply, or the ones specifically desgined for indoor use that I found through Google?

Newer paraffin heaters might be like gas fires and boilers now - as long as they have a flu they'll work safely in doors. Whether I'd actually want one if I had GCH or a gas fire is another matter though!

mmmmikey

Astria said:

mmmmikey said:

Astria said:

They are OK if you use them outside, or with sufficient ventilation.

To use them inside you need to have the actual heater in a well ventilated area or outside, bring in cool air, warm it and then output the warm air to the room required. This typically means it's non-portable or not easily portable however.

Hmmm - all interesting stuff.  My first reaction to reading this thread was "I don't think you can use them indoors" but when I Googled it I saw that you can buy paraffin heaters that are CE approved, advertised for indoor use and look a bit like gas cabinet heaters. The Bialladin bowlfires look more appropriate to a greenhouse, drafty workshop, etc. than they do for indoor use.  Not sure if the post quoted here refers to the "old fashioned" paraffin heaters of the type that used to be common in greenhouses where there was no electricity supply, or the ones specifically desgined for indoor use that I found through Google?

Newer paraffin heaters might be like gas fires and boilers now - as long as they have a flu they'll work safely in doors. Whether I'd actually want one if I had GCH or a gas fire is another matter though!

I'm very much on the same page as you here. The thing that has intrigued me is that the ones I saw online - e.g. at toyotomi.co.uk don't have flues and are described as odourless and safe to use indoors. If the reality matches the marketing description they look like an inepxensive form of portable heating, compared for example to gas cabinet heaters or electric heaters. I'm wondering if it's just a case of these aren't common in the UK because there's never been a compelling reason to use them before?

Imperial1847

Not perhaps with this instance but I can see the fire brigade being very busy this winter as people try "alternative" methods of heat.

daveyjp

mmmmikey said:

Astria said:

mmmmikey said:

Astria said:

They are OK if you use them outside, or with sufficient ventilation.

To use them inside you need to have the actual heater in a well ventilated area or outside, bring in cool air, warm it and then output the warm air to the room required. This typically means it's non-portable or not easily portable however.

Hmmm - all interesting stuff.  My first reaction to reading this thread was "I don't think you can use them indoors" but when I Googled it I saw that you can buy paraffin heaters that are CE approved, advertised for indoor use and look a bit like gas cabinet heaters. The Bialladin bowlfires look more appropriate to a greenhouse, drafty workshop, etc. than they do for indoor use.  Not sure if the post quoted here refers to the "old fashioned" paraffin heaters of the type that used to be common in greenhouses where there was no electricity supply, or the ones specifically desgined for indoor use that I found through Google?

Newer paraffin heaters might be like gas fires and boilers now - as long as they have a flu they'll work safely in doors. Whether I'd actually want one if I had GCH or a gas fire is another matter though!

I'm very much on the same page as you here. The thing that has intrigued me is that the ones I saw online - e.g. at toyotomi.co.uk don't have flues and are described as odourless and safe to use indoors. If the reality matches the marketing description they look like an inepxensive form of portable heating, compared for example to gas cabinet heaters or electric heaters. I'm wondering if it's just a case of these aren't common in the UK because there's never been a compelling reason to use them before?

Anyone who burns hydrocarbons for a significant period of time in a small room with no ventilation may not walk out of it.

Even these heaters need adequate ventilation.