Your Directory For Home Decor Info
Decoration Tips, Advice, And Product Reviews
Posted by John Wells
on 2:46 am. Filed under Heating & Air Conditioning.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
If you need to heat a smaller space like a bathroom, bedroom, or smaller garage, kerosene and propane heaters aren’t an option. To avoid the safety concerns of these heaters in tight quarters, oil-filled “radiator” style electric heaters may be your best option.
Typically, oil heaters are constructed from a number of upright metal tubes filled with oil. The heating elements inside heat the oil within the unit, which in turn heats the surrounding air. Because they heat the air around them, oil heaters are usually considered convection heaters. As opposed to radiant heaters that need a “line-of-sight” to keep you warm, convection warms your room by heating the surrounding air. Oil heaters are therefore a great choice for rooms with lots of furniture or fixtures that may block warmth from radiant heaters.
One of the largest benefits of oil heaters is also a weakness, however. As they heat via convection, it can take several minutes to feel the heat in your room. With larger or more drafty rooms, this wait can feel like ages on a cold winter morning. However, using oil heaters in the right location makes them a very effective heating solution.
Due to their convection heating, the typical oil heater isn’t the most energy-efficient heater on the market. If you compare them to propane heaters, they have a higher cost per therm. When other heating options aren’t available, they are still a relatively efficient and inexpensive choice.
To help with their efficiency, most newer oil heaters use a built-in thermostat to regulate the heat produced. This thermostat helps to save energy that might be wasted heating an already warm room.
Generally, oil heaters are one of the safer heater styles on the market. Oil heaters, like most newer electric heaters, usually feature a safety sensor that will turn off the unit if it has been tipped over. The fire danger is also lessened as heating element is encased inside of the heater unit and thus cannot be touched directly. Regardless, be sure that you are following all recommendations from your heater’s manufacturer. Misuse can still cause dangerous conditions in the home.
One other thing to be aware of are oil heaters cool-down period. As the heating oil inside the heater holds heat very well, it can also take a bit of time to cool down. You could still accidentally burn yourself on a powered-down heater for several minutes after it has been turned off. Some units feature a built-in fan that both helps to cool the unit down faster as well as circulate heat in the room when the unit is warming.
So if you have a smaller space to heat but are low on cash, take a look at oil heaters. For a relatively low price, they can provide a steady, safe, and comfortable heat.
Comments are closed
