How much do you know about oil radiators? Are they worth it? Does an electric radiator or an oil radiator use more? Which is the best for caring for the environment? In this article we will delve into these points and tell you what an oil radiator consists of, as well as its advantages and disadvantages.
Thinking about cold days, it is good that we see what alternatives we have to heat the house. The oil radiators seem one of the most feasible and recommended options, although it can we find some drawbacks.
An oil radiator is connected to the current by means of a plug and can heat a room or any room in the house through a process that involves heating a thermal fluid inside the heater once it has been turned on.
This fluid (which we call oil) is specially formulated and is the one that distributes the heat evenly through the radiator, transferring heat to the metal that, in this way, carries heat to the room. The heat then circulates around the room by natural convection, as any air that hits the radiator heats up. This eventually causes the entire room to heat up as the cooler air will reach the back of the room, come into contact with the radiator, and also heat up.
Later we will see the advantages and disadvantages of oil radiators, but basically we can say that current models are provided with thermodynamic gels and liquids that have excellent heat retention properties. Therefore, these heaters do not have to work hard to maintain their ideal temperature, which makes them very energy efficient and makes them energy efficient radiators.
In this way, you can save energy and money, as the radiator will automatically turn off once you have reached the desired temperature and you will still be able to feel its heat for a later period of time. Oil filled radiators are therefore suitable options for rooms and especially for larger rooms that are in constant use.
Virtually all oil radiators sold on the market today (if not all) are low consumption since they only use an average of between 2,000 and 3,000 W of power, maintain heat once they have been turned off, and its design is quite light; in fact, we can buy them with wheels to take them wherever we want or to hang on the wall.
Its efficiency and low consumption make it a model to consider when you want to reduce the level of energy consumption and, therefore, your footprint on the environment. Sometimes one is left with the false idea that the pollution is only the cars or the fumes (wood heating) that we release into the atmosphere, but also the electricity consumption and how electricity is obtained is creating a footprint in the nature that there is to keep in mind.
Oil radiators work connected to the electrical network and work thanks to heating elements that give heat to a fluid or oil, which is what will emit the heat. Unlike “pure” electric radiators that work only with resistors or use a fan, those with oil can maintain the temperature for a little longer, but the cost is similar.
A 1000 W radiator consumes that amount, whether it be oil or electric resistors. It is the same example as a kilo of grass or a kilo of steel. The feeling is that those of oil spend less. In fact, they spend the same only as those of oil keep the heat longer even after being turned off, because the fluid is still hot.
The oil radiators are cheaper than other electric heating systems such as heat blue. The prices of this type of radiators are between $69 and $179.
They are silent, they do not emit noise unlike other systems that emit slight hums
They are comfortable and portable, being able to enjoy heat anywhere you have a plug, since they do not need installation. Most, like the electric ones, have a thermostat to be able to program them, for example half an hour before arriving home or so that when you wake up the area is heated.
They do not generate waste. In addition, as the oil they carry inside is inside the radiator coils and never burns, they do not have to be replaced or recharged.
Except for cleaning and using it properly, it requires no maintenance.
They keep the heat for a certain time (between 45 minutes and an hour depending on the power) once they are turned off.
They are slow to heat up, if you are looking for instant heat, the oil ones are not the most suitable. Keep in mind that these radiators have an approximate heat output between 1.5 and 3 kW, so until you feel the heat, it takes a while. The advantage is that after they are turned off, they continue to emit heat for a certain time.
They spend a lot, although they turn off every so often if the radiator is 1500 Watts and you have it on for many hours a day, you will notice it on your electricity bill.
They are a bit large, – although there are small radiators, they barely heat up – and they are bulky because they take up space when it comes to storage.
They are not suitable as a sole heating system, there are others that are cheaper and more versatile. The oil radiators are more support or reinforcing to localized areas.
In electric heaters, a fan is used to expel the hot air. In oil radiators the hot liquid is stored in radiator coils or compartments. The heat works by convection and the heat emitted is transmitted to the environment without any type of fan.
Electric heaters provide instant heat while oil heaters will take considerably longer to produce a thermal sensation.
As the heat is emitted, the area near the radiator warms up. This type of radiator can have different powers in the same appliance. 800 W, 1000 W, 1500 W, or 2000 W are the most common.
The vast majority have a thermostat to turn it off and on, it is in these cases when the oil takes advantage of an electric convector that does not accumulate temperature while the oil radiator, still off, continues to emit heat for a certain time.
If you have been convinced with the idea of buying an oil radiator for this winter, you will surely want to know what they cost and what models we can find on the market. Therefore, we go to three of the stores where we know that you are going to find the best oil radiators in value for money.
Among the oil radiators that we can find on Amazon, and which are usually cheaper than in the store, we recommend two models that are precisely the best sellers: the oil radiator and the.
The oil cooler has three power levels to control the temperature, and we can select between 1000 and 2300 watts. It turns off automatically when it reaches the right temperature for the room and turns on again when needed. It is lightweight and also comes with a two-year warranty. In Amazon you can find it for 70 euros.
On the other hand, the oil radiator has 3 power levels ranging from 600 watts to 1500, it also has four wheels to move it, like the previous model and has fire safety. This model is also a good option, and it is also cheaper, since you can find it on Amazon for 40 euros.
Carrefour is the first of the stores that we would like to recommend you to buy a good oil cooler. They have different brands, but we want to highlight this one that you are going to see in the image: the Delonghi TRR S model.
This radiator just takes up space and is able to heat quickly medium – sized rooms thanks to its power of 2500 W. It also has a safety thermostat so that when it reaches the indicated temperature it will turn off. It has wheels and two handles that make it easy to carry it around the house. The price is without a doubt the best since it costs about 110 euros.
Another of the models that we want to highlight of oil radiators that you can find now in Carrefour is this. The Taurus model, Dakar 2000. A radiator that has a power of 2,000 W that is somewhat cheaper than the previous one since it only costs 59 euros.
At Leroy Merlin we can also find various oil radiators. Models even somewhat cheaper than the previous one from Carrefour. Among all, we highlight, of course, the Mika SM model.
This radiator not only stands out for its price, of only $59, or for being able to heat a room, such as the living room, in just ten minutes, but it also has a black design that makes it stand out with respect to what we usually find in stores. It has 1500 KW of power but its single plate design makes it faster to heat up. In addition, it incorporates an adjustable thermostat.
The Olea model is another of the oil radiators that we find in Leroy Merlin at a good price, only 39 euros, and with great results. It has 1,500 W of power and although it may seem small, the truth is that you can heat your bedroom in a matter of minutes. It is composed of 7 elements, and you can reduce the power, if you want to 700 and 800 W.
We have already seen the options in oil and electric radiators but, are there other alternatives that are economical and low consumption? Of course, yes, let’s see some of them.
Its name may not be too well known to you, but aerothermal is a good heating system and considered the cheapest currently. It consists of a heat pump that works with air and water. In this way it generates hot and cold water. It is used for the cold and for the heat.
Geothermal heating is possible because the subsoil temperature is maintained at around 10ºC or 16ºC. There is a heat pump that cools the subsoil through pipes that carry water. This is a cold focus, while there will also be a hot one that heats the water so that it is distributed throughout the place.
The positive side of this system is that it uses little energy. While the drawback is that it requires a lot of work to introduce the pipes.
It uses three times less energy than other conventional heating systems. It is a wall heater capable of heating to a 2.5 meter radius. In addition, it is also decorative.
One of the best-known stoves in decoration environments in modern or industrial environments as they have designs that will be striking if you like this type of decoration. This type of stove is heated by burning wood and forest clearing debris that is shredded and compacted. Another aspect that makes it interesting is that the pellets tend to have a low price, which makes it competitive.
Natural gas is one of the most frequent and most used options to heat a home. That said, it is important to note that, unlike the previous ones, natural gas requires an installation process and that radiators cannot be moved from one place to another. It is important to assess the costs of the boiler, radiators and installation to see if it falls within your budget. In turn, compare with the rest of the options to see if it can be an option with which you save in the medium long term.