Best Oil Filled Heater 2017

Oil filled heaters are a great way to heat cold spots in your home

When looking for a space heater, it’s difficult to find one that fits all your needs. Having said that there is one type of space heater that is just great for many applications. The oil filled heater.

They’re energy efficient, effective, and safe. Unlike standard radiator heaters, oil-filled heaters are portable. They operate by plugging into an outlet rather than having to hook them up to a complex system.

However, finding the perfect oil-filled heater for your home isn’t as simple as going to your local department store and purchasing one. Finding a high-quality oil-filled heater could mean the difference between heating your home efficiently and cost-effectively, or spending much more than necessary. There are so many models to choose from, it’s difficult to figure out which one is right for your home.

In this article, you’ll find the information you need to make an informed decision. You’ll find out how an oil-filled heater works, as well as how to choose the one right for you. This article will inform you of what can go wrong with an oil-filled heater, too.

We also hope to give you some simple troubleshooting information. We hope this will help you figure out how to fix your heater without having to call the manufacturer a million times.

How do Oil Filled Heaters Work?

Oil-filled heaters or radiators will look like the old-fashioned radiators, but they’re a lot smaller. They’re made up of fins or columns that join up together, sometimes with an open space between them. These fins or columns join together at the bottom, and the front of the unit is fitted with a control panel. Some oil-filled heaters are constructed to be a single, flat panel.

Unlike the traditional radiators, oil-filled ones are mobile. They connect to an ordinary wall plug, so they’re able to be moved anywhere they’re needed. Most of them have handles for you to carry them, and the larger models have wheels to position them easily.

Inside the fin or the column is diathermic oil. The most common concern with these heaters is whether or not you have to refill the oil, and the answer is no. The oil is not a fuel, but rather a heat reservoir. Therefore, it will never be used up. It will continue to circulate through the heater as long as it’s being used.

Here’s a brief review of how these heaters work.

The warmed oil begins to circulate around the fins, the heat is then transferred to the surrounding air

1. The electricity is sent to a resistor inside the heater, which will turn the energy into heat.
2. The diathermic oil absorbs the heat inside the heater.
3. While the oil heats up, it starts to circulate throughout the columns or fins.
4. While the oil movies through the fins, it transfers the heat to the fins.
5. While the fins heat up, they radiate heat into the area. This heat circulates through the room using natural convection in the air.

How to Choose the Best Oil Filled Radiator

In this section, you will learn about the different models, features, benefits, frustrations, installation, and maintenance of the oil-filled heater.

The Different Types of Oil Heater

All oil-filled heaters work the same; however, that doesn’t mean all oil-filled heaters are the same when it comes to quality. When you’re purchasing an oil-filled heater, you want to look for safety features above all else.

Heaters designed with wider fins and longer heating tubes help the heat spread out over a larger surface area, which will radiate heat more efficiently. Look for a heater with a taller fin because this will be cooler to the touch than a smaller heater, but it will produce the same amount of heat for the space it’s in.

If style is important to you, then you may want to look for a heater that is wall-mountable or will fit in with your décor. Remember, price does not necessarily translate to quality, so be sure you look for a heater that will fulfill your needs while giving you peace of mind.

Key Features of Oil Filled Radiators

• Temperature Settings – Oil-filled radiator heaters often have a swivel knob to set the temperature, a specific setting of high or low, or specific temperature settings with a digital display. The one your unit has will depend on the brand you purchase, as well as the amount of money you’re willing to spend on your heater. Some come with a comfort setting that allows you to keep a room between 68 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which can save you a lot on your energy bill.
• Thermal Shutoff – To protect your children and pets from accidental burns, most heaters have rounded designs that put off enough heat to heat a room, but they don’t have a hot surface temperature. The heating elements are completely enclosed to prevent any direct contact, so everyone stays safe. To protect your family and home, these units have automatic shutoff functions to cut the power to the unit if the heater gets too hot.
• Antifreeze Setting – If you’re using your heater in an area where pipes may be prone to freezing, some heaters come with a feature that’s automatic. When the temperature reaches below 44 degrees Fahrenheit, the heater will automatically turn on to keep the room from getting too cold.
• Timer – Some units will come with a timer so you can set different temperatures for different times of the day. For example, you can set the temperature to be a little lower at night and increase in the morning, so you don’t have to get out of bed to cold floors!

The Advantages of Owning an Oil Filled Heater

This brief video gives a summary of the benefits of oil filled heaters. Following it we look at a more comprehensive list of why oil filled radiators are one of the best space heaters to purchase.

• Silent – Traditional space heaters with exposed heating elements use fans to blow the hot air around the room. Oil-filled heaters do not have fans, and the only noise you’ll ever hear one make is a gentle clicking sound as the thermostat adjusts and the unit turns on or off. You most likely won’t notice it.
• Humidity-Friendly – Oil-filled heaters don’t use fans to circulate the air around the room; therefore, they won’t dry out the air in your home.
• Energy Efficient – Electric heaters are just about 100% efficient, which means all the energy they use is converted into heat. Oil-filled heaters don’t have to provide power for a fan motor, so they’re even more efficient than conventional space heaters.
• Slow to Cool – Even after the power has been turned off, oil-filled heaters continue to radiate heat.
• Thermostat Controllers – Once your room reaches a comfortable temperature, your heater will automatically turn off or on to maintain that temperature, rather than running constantly. This saves you money and keeps your rooms from overheating.
• No Refills – There’s no need to replace the oil in these radiator heaters because the oil is never used as fuel.
• Portable and Compact – These are lightweight, easy to move heaters, and most are small enough to fight beneath a desk safely.
• Non-Scorching Surface – The metal surface can get warm to the touch, but it’ll never be hot enough to burn you if you brush against it accidentally.
• Unexposed Heat Elements – The heating elements are sealed within the fins of the heater, so there isn’t a chance it’ll touch anything flammable. This makes them safe for children and pets.
• No Vents or Grilles – Oil-filled heaters are completely enclosed, so there isn’t a need to worry about debris or dust getting inside of them, as well as little fingers poking through exposed grilles. In addition, there's no concern about blocked air flow through intake or outtake vents.
• No Fumes or Gas – Because these heaters do not burn oil or gas, they’re completely safe to use inside.
• Safety-Features – Most models have built-in overheat protecting features and tilt-switches that will turn your heater off in case there is a problem.

Matters to Consider before Buying an Oil Filled Heater

As with any product, there are some frustrations with oil-filled heaters. Fortunately, most of their advantages override these frustrations, but you should still be aware of them. The following list give you an idea of some of the frustrations of using oil-filled heaters:

There are many advantages to owning and using an oil filled space heater, but it is also worth looking at the drawbacks of owning these space heaters too

• Longer to Heat and Slower to Cool – Oil-filled heaters will take longer to heat up than a traditional fan-forced heater. They have to heat the oil first, and then warm the air around them. Fan-forced heaters will deliver an immediate blast of hot air, but they tend to dry out the air at the same time. In addition, oil-filled heaters take a little longer to cool down. Some see this as a disadvantage because they find it might get a little warmer than wanted in a room.

• Large – Oil-filled heaters are larger than the traditional portable heater, which can be a problem in very tight spaces. However, there are now tabletop oil-filled heaters, which might help with space problems.

• Heavier – This type of heater is a little heavier than their forced-air counterparts. However, most models come with wheels to make them easier to transport around your home.

What about Installation?

When it comes to portable oil-filled heaters, there isn’t a lot of concern when it comes to installation; however, some do have questions about the oil and basic installation matters. When you take the heater out of its box, make sure to put the wheels on the bottom. Usually, these snap into place without tools.

The other question many people have is whether or not they need to put oil into the heater. The answer is no; you do not need to put oil into these heaters. They do not burn the oil as a fuel, but rather, they use the oil as a means of circulating the heat around the fins of the heater.

If you ever see oil coming out of the heater, then stop using it immediately and take it to a repair center or call the manufacturer for instructions on how to repair or replace the heater.

Maintenance Issues

The good news is oil-filled heaters are pretty much maintenance free. Other than checking for leaks and making sure the power cord is in good shape before you turn the heater on, there isn’t much.

The one thing you do want to keep in mind is dust can gather on the metal fins, so be sure to clean them off with a damp cloth before you start the unit. This won’t obstruct the unit’s operation capabilities; however, the dust buildup can create an odor when the unit is turned on.

Summing It All Up

Oil filled heaters are economical, portable and an effective way to supplement the heating in your home

Oil-filled heaters are one of the best types of portable, supplemental heaters to purchase because they are low-maintenance, very safe, and economical. The operating cost of these heaters is very low, so you save money on your main heating bill without having to use too much electricity. The design of these heaters is truly genius when it comes to circulating heat around a home without causing discomfort and concern.

When you purchase an oil-filled heater, you’ll find many options available to you. While some people would prefer a heater with a specific temperature setting, not all oil-filled heaters come with this option. In addition, some come with a timer while others do not.

These settings really depend on your preferences because, when it comes to safety, all oil-filled heaters have the safety options that keep them from overheating during a malfunction, and they’re all relatively cool to the touch. Some will fit on a countertop or a desk, while others do better placed on a floor.

Of course, the smaller ones that go on your countertop will heat a smaller space, while the larger floor models tend to heat larger spaces. Choose the heater appropriate for the space you want to heat to get the maximum efficiency out of it.

The DeLonghi brand of oil filled heaters are definitely the most recommended. The best portable oil-filled heater is the DeLonghi EW7707CM Safe Heat 1500W ComforTemp Portable Oil-Filled Radiator. With 1500 watts of power, this heater can heat large rooms to 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, or more, easily. It operates relatively silently and has very few noise complaints. This heater is made from the highest quality materials – steel assembly and smart-snap wheels. It has the comfortemp button, which allows you to maintain an optimal room temperature automatically and an adjustable thermostat if you want to change the room temperature to be lower or higher. This heater comes with the antifreeze setting, as well as a thermal cutoff in case the unit malfunctions. This is one of the highest rated, safe oil-filled heaters available on the market today.

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