Oil-filled Portable Heaters
As noted in our previous post on energy efficiency and portable heaters, passive heaters (those without built in fans) can be your most energy efficient options. Did you know, though, that there’s more than one type of passive portable heating solution out there? We’re going to start with the one you are most likely familiar with and that’s the kind that looks just like an apartment radiator but offers so much more.
Portable oil-filled heaters like the one pictured are wonderful devices. Unlike the kind permanently mounted in a home or apartment, these nifty options are completely enclosed and portable. No external plumbing connection required. A common mistake (not helped by the name) is that these devices aren’t really radiant heaters in the truest sense of the word. They are, in fact, convection heaters, relying on air currents to distribute the heat they generate. To minimize confusion, we’ll ignore that and continue to call them radiators.
This is probably a good time to introduce you to our general ratings system. Let’s first emphasize the word general as some units in a particular category are going to score better or worse than others. An oil-filled portable heater without a tip-over cut-off, for example, isn’t going to be as safe as one with such a feature. The five elements of our ratings system are Economy (how much energy you can expect the unit to use), Safety (fire and burn hazards), Portability, Convenience (inconspicuous, attractive designs, etc) and Efficiency (purely a measure of how long it will take to heat a room). I think it’s important to note, though, that the Economy rating is difficult to quantify. Again, a well insulated room rapidly heated by a fan-equiped heater will retain that heat for a reasonable amount of time. That means less time operating the heater and, therefore, good economics. A passive heater in a poorly insulated room is going to take a long time to heat the room and will run almost constantly to maintain a comfortable temperature thereby drastically reducing any benefits in cost-savings it might otherwise afford. So, again, consider these ratings generalizations.
Oil-Filled Portable Heater Ratings
- Economy - High
- Comparative Safety - High
- Portability - Low
- Convenience - Moderate
- Efficiency - Low
These portable heaters receive high marks when it comes to economy. Once heated, the oil they contain holds on to some of that heat meaning shorter durations of actual energy draw by the heating elements. In the world of portable heating, oil-filled heaters are the kings of cost-effectiveness. The lack of exposed heating elements and the incorporation of tip-over cut-offs also gives these models high marks in safety. With the application of common sense, they are a good option for a child’s room.
Rankings start working their way down when it comes to convenience owing to the fact that oil-filled portable heaters can be comparatively bulky and are also fairly conspicuous. What keeps them from receiving a low rating is their silent operation which for light sleepers (this writer included) offsets any other potential drawbacks.
Portability and Efficiency receive low marks. We want to emphasize this doesn’t mean these devices perform poorly in these categories, just that they don’t rank as high as they could relative to other options available. Liquid tends to be heavy and these are liquid filled so carrying one up and down stairs can be a nuisance. However, the inclusion of wheels means these heaters can easily migrate from one room to another if on the same floor. The low efficiency rating owes to these heaters relying on convection (the flow of air in the room) to move the heat they generate rather than on a built in fan. Again, quiet operation and low cost do a lot to offset this rating but, based purely on their ability to quickly heat a room, we felt a low rating was in order. If you are willing to turn the heater on 20-30 minutes before you plan on occupying the room, you’ll be fine.
What you should know before you buy - Where possible, read consumer reviews on the oil-filled portable heater you are considering. Some models shipped, for example, have suffered from the way the company packages for shipping and consumers have reported devices with leaks. Ensure the manufacturer offers a convenient return or exchange policy including the cost of shipping. Also realize that the fins on oil-filled heaters become hot. Some designs take this into account, others do not making it difficult to move the heater from room to room without touching the hot fins. Note, however, that the heat is not so intense as to result in burns if contact is relatively brief (a couple seconds).
Finally, some consumers have complained of a bad smell when first using their oil-filled heaters. It’s a not-uncommon lament but easily remedied. The smell is generally short-lived and can be eliminated by first using your heater in the garage or outdoors on a patio (providing there is no precipitation) for a few hours when you first use it. Yes, it’s a shameful waste of energy, but those with sensitive noses will do well to heed this advice. Do this for several hours when you first get the unit home and you’ll “burn off” the odor-causing agents for good.
All things considered, oil-filled portable heaters are potentially one of the best options available. They are relatively cost effective, safe and good at the job providing you make allowances for how they work. If you don’t care about fan noise and want a near instantly heated room, this isn’t the model heater you need.
Filed Under oil filled portable heaters |
Tagged With convenient, efficiency, efficient, oil filled portable heaters, portability, portable heaters, portable heating, safety
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3 Responses to “Oil-filled Portable Heaters”
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good morning
how many sq. feet will this heater heat. i would like to get one for my cellar. it is 28 x 44.
thank you
rockey
[...] heaters are confusing in their own right. We’ve already talked about oil-filled portable heaters that look a lot like the “radiators” you might find in an apartment. These are not [...]
Rockey - The commentary on oil-filled portable heaters didn’t cover a specific model or brand. The one pictured is, I believe, a model by Delonghi.
For the room size you referenced, I’ve seen postive comments awarded to the Honeywell HZ-709 for its ability to quietly and comfortably heat a 26 X 26 room (close to your requirements) though a low setting ceiling fan was used in the begining to aid in moving the heated air around the room for quicker heating.
Sorry for the delayed response. I took off for the holidays.