Introduction
As the temperature continues to drop for many of us, how we choose to stay warm during the winter becomes an important thing for us to consider. There are many different heating solutions available to us. This article will discuss the pros and cons of oil filled radiator heaters. These types of heating appliances are one of many electrical heating devices that we can use to warm areas of our house to give it a warmer more homely feeling. Particularly when it is cold outside it is great when we are able to remain warm and cozy inside as we listen to the wind howling outside. There are many different types of space heaters on the market today. These include things like gas or electrical convection heaters that heat air and then blow it round the room, electrical halogen style heaters that give off an intense glow that warms nearby areas and oil filled radiators that look like other typical types of radiator heaters that we are used to but this time being powered by electricity rather than steam or hot water as part of a central heating system.
How oil filled radiator heaters work
These types of electrical heating appliances take their power from electrical wall sockets. Even though the are called oil filled radiator heaters, a more appropriate name may be electrical oil filled radiators. You see they do not use the oil to actually power the heating units. The power comes from electricity that reaches the radiator via the electrical power cord that comes pre-attached to each oil filled heater device. Simply by un-winding this cable and connecting the plug to a nearby wall socket will allow the appliance to draw the power it needs to start warming your home. You may be wondering, why then is it called an oil filled radiator heater? This is a common question and one that has a straight forward explanation. As discussed, the power for these machines comes from the electricity supply. There is oil that is used by the radiator as part of its regular operation. Unlike a car, the oil is not required for lubrication or anything like that. Instead, the oil is used as a heat transferal fluid. The radiator draws electrical power through the cable into the heater. This power is used to warm up the heating coils within the oil filled radiator. The oil inside the heating appliance surrounds these elements and as they warm up, so does the oil. The fluid is a special kind of oil that is sealed within the radiator and should never have the opportunity to come into contact with the owner. If the oil did start to leak then the machine should be turned off immediately and returned to the point of purchase or a suitable service center to be repaired. As the oil’s temperature begins to rise, this heat is then transferred to the outer parts of the heater which then radiates out into the surrounding room. One of the many features of oil filled heaters is that the oil retains heat for long after the power has been cut off. This means that even after the device is switched off it will still have a warming effect upon the surrounding area.
Oil filled radiator heater pros
These heating devices have many positives. Firstly there are many different styles of oil filled radiators to choose from depending on your own specific circumstances. For example if you were looking for a central heating style of radiator by powered by electricity then the wall mounted oil filled radiators made by a company like Dimplex may be well worth investigating. The Dimplex OFX range are their premium brand of wall mounted oil filled radiator. They do come with an expensive price tag however also have a warranty and are made by a firm with a glowing reputation within the household heating industry. Other more common styles of oil filled heaters are the mobile type. Delonghi and Honeywell are two businesses that sell large numbers of these heating units. One of the most popular models at present is the TRD0715T which is a portable oil filled radiator heater manufactured by Delonghi. It retails for well under $100 and is also relatively cheap to run. The TRD0715T along with many other models in the Delonghi range is a portable heater that comes with wheels attached. This means that moving it from one room to another is very straight forward. Simply by disconnecting the power cord in one area, then wheeling the radiator to another part of the room or to a different room entirely before re-attaching the power cable, the heater can be used efficiently to warm only the specific area that you are working in. Oil filled radiators also have a range of safety features that mean that you can feel safe if you have to leave the unit un-attended. For example if someone accidentally knocks the heater over, the electrical power will automatically switch off. This is useful as it helps to reduce greatly the potential fire hazard that this may cause. Also if the radiator begins to over heat, again the power will automatically cut out. As the oil retains heat for long periods of time, even though the oil becomes very hot itself, it does not transfer all of this heat to the outside shell of the radiator at once so even though the radiator does become hot, it should not become so hot that accidentally touching the heater will cause a burn.
Oil filled radiator heater cons
Even though there are advantages to the oil retaining the electrical heat for longer periods of time, there are also disadvantages associated with this as well. When the power is switched on on an oil filled radiator heater, there is a time lag between this point and when the unit actually starts to give off heat. So for people who are looking for a machine that will provide instant warmth exactly when they want it, this may not be the best option.