Oil filled radiator - advice needed please

jackieblack

redbuzzard said:

TBH they go cold fairly quickly, they aren't storage heaters.

They are designed to be used unattended. They are radiators, designed to radiate, the fins provide the surface area to do it.  Test it before she comes.  I can't think of anything safer unless you want to leave the CH on all night.

If you really are worried about it, put a smoke alarm in there.

Thanks, I plan to test it when it arrives and experiment with the various settings. My central heating is old, noisy, not very efficient (and on it’s last legs tbh, the main reason I use it as little as possible, although I do have it on when she’s with me), hence needing something to supplement it overnight. If it’s safe to leave the radiator on overnight, that would probably be the best solution. The room does have a smoke alarm (recently replaced) and the baby monitor displays the temperature so I can keep an eye on how warm the room is.

[Deleted User]

Out of all the different types of domestic heating, I think I visit oil filled radiators least.

Anecdotal of course 

RobM99

How about a time switch as well? A plug-in-the-wall type.

MattMattMattUK

RobM99 said:

How about a time switch as well? A plug-in-the-wall type.

Make sure it is rated for the draw. 2.5kW heater at 230 volts is just under 11 amps, many timers are not rated for that as they are only designed for lights and have a 5 amp limit. The Tapo P100/P110 are rated at 16 amps so they might be a good option, though personally I would go for a heater with an inbuilt thermostat. 

matelodave

The heater that the OP has quoted from JL has an inbuilt thermostat and the heater is rated at 1.5kw = 6amps so well within the capability of a plug-in timer or something like a Tapo smart plug. 

redbuzzard

jackieblack said:If it’s safe to leave the radiator on overnight, that would probably be the best solution. The room does have a smoke alarm (recently replaced) and the baby monitor displays the temperature so I can keep an eye on how warm the room is.

Sounds as if you've got it covered:)  I quite understand your concerns, I have 2 granddaughters myself and I am very protective!

cymruchris

I wouldn't have any qualms about leaving a decent quality branded oil filled radiator on overnight. As others have said, they still cool quite quickly. The only way you'd get heat release overnight without power would be to use a storage heater - but they tend to be big and bulky (and often full of bricks) - and you'd have to remember to turn it on long before she arrived so it could build up it's heat reserve (by heating the bricks). The oil-filled certainly seems your best option - and for peace of mind although I'm confident you wouldn't need it - a smoke detector - but that'd be useful anyway in the grand scheme of things - as fire could start from any number of sources within the house. 

I recently bought a small unit from Black and Decker - it's tiny compared to many I've seen, but has a max wattage of 600w, and then steps down to 400w and 200w. I use it in a small room, where I switch it on at 600w, and then step it down to 200w as it gets warmer. That might be enough to keep the room comfortable without going crazy on the electric bill. You could pop that on a couple of hours before she was due to arrive. (Or use it through a smart-switch if you are up with the Amazon Alexa/Google home control style tech). 

jadey2024

I bought a delonghi oil filled digital the other day. I've used it in my room these past 2 nights. I use it for one hour or so before bed. 
I'm quite impressed. First night it took an hour to bring my average size bedroom up from 14.2 to 17.8. It was 16 deg at 8am next day.
Last night was a little different in temps. My neighbour was away flat below so think it made a difference as no heat coming up but my room was 13.1 and the oil rad brought it up to 17.1 after an hour and 10 minutes. It dropped to 15 deg by 8am. I have it set to max 2 kwh setting and I can set to the temp which is 21 deg.
So for me, an hour before bed is all I need.

Just to edit I put it on about 12.30am. So it would likely drop lower by morning these temps if I put it on much earlier but then I think 2 hours would all but be needed if I put it on about 10pm if I wanted to retain the same sort of temps by morning. 

markin

All electric heaters are 100% efficient, The oil heater is safer but you still don't want it near the cot or anything to fall on top of it, or a kid to touch it.

If you turn it off, It will still be cold by 6am

daaave

I bought a 2kw electric oil filled radiator in the summer, along with a few warm clothes, in preparation for the winter.

I live alone in a large flat with not great insulation, no gas, ageing/semi-nonfunctional storage heaters and an Economy 10 tariff.

I’m on a very low income, currently.

My plan was to just heat my bedroom during the economy 10 hours and hopefully have it retain heat for the non-e10 periods. Oh, and use some insulation on the window.

The reality is, within half an hour of turning it off, it’s lost almost all the heat.

However, it’s still a great little heater and during this very cold weather, I can leave it on permanently on the lowest setting, with the thermostat about 30% (from min to max) and it doesn’t cost that much.

Keeps the room about 18.5c, which is fine for me.  The rest of the flat is freezing. My overall bill this month will be about £100, or £33 after the Rishi bonus.

My plan worked out rather well.

I was a bit concerned about fire safety, especially as the manual said to leave a 1 meter gap around it (not practical!) and also not to leave it unattended.

however, I had the firefighters round to install a fire alarm the other day and asked them if they thought it was a risk. They weren’t concerned & said they’d never seen a fire caused by an oil filled radiator in their long careers. So I’m happy for now leaving it unattended, on low, at least until this cold snap eases.