The size of your room, the space that requires heating, the versatility you need, and the available storage space are all factors to consider when selecting the right portable heater for your home. And it isn’t easy to choose the best one because of these factors, so we have this, the Best room heater in India.
The main difference between an oil-filled radiator (OFR) and an electric heater is that the Oil Heater takes up more space and is designed to provide long-lasting heat quietly. In contrast, the electric heater is designed for spot heating and offers instant heat and a compact design.
This guide will explain the distinction between oil-filled heaters and electric room heaters. In this oil heater vs electric heater comparison, we will learn how to select the best small heater for your room to survive the upcoming cold months, the heater for the bedroom, the heater for the kids, and the heater for a large room.
Which are better, electric heaters or oil heaters?
Electric heaters are compact and light in weight, making them ideal for smaller rooms. They also provide faster heating, making them a popular choice for small spaces. And oil-filled heaters are a better choice for large rooms because they use 99 percent of the electricity to heat up and work quietly, making them ideal for large rooms and commercial-style offices.
Our expert researched, analyzed, and put together this guide to help you decide which heater is best for you. For complete clarity, read this comparison, where we have included the pros and cons and the various situations in which each heater is superior.
What is an oil-filled room heater?
Oil-filled radiators are convection room heaters that utilize electrically heated oil that acts as a heat reservoir. The oil warmer, through the heating unit and the fins or wings, produces convectional heating that keeps the atmosphere warm or heated for a long time. Here are The Best Oil Filled Heaters in India.
Advantages or Pros of Oil-Filled Heaters
These are some of the most significant benefits of having an OFR heater in your home, which you can think of as the pros of oil-filled heaters. Let’s know these 8 main advantages of an oil-filled heater.
- Energy-efficient
They are powered with almost the same energy and sometimes consume more than electric heaters. Still, an oil-filled radiator has a lower power consumption than electric radiators. This oil inside the radiator is warmed, which heats the fins, and through radiation, these fins heat up the surroundings. When the temperature reaches a certain level, it automatically turns off and runs for longer than an electric heater. In this way, they are far more energy efficient than electric heaters.
- Long-Lasting Warmth
The oil-filled radiator retains a lot of heat. An oil room heater generates more heat for a more extended period of time due to its high radiating efficiency. Even when the appliance is turned off, an oil heater will remain hot for several hours. Excellent for saving energy and sleeping at night.
- Environment Friendly
Oil-filled room heaters function similarly to radiators in that the oil is not used as fuel but rather to help the heat reach a larger area in your room. As a result, oil-filled heaters are known to be good for the environment because they use little energy. The oil inside the heater can last many years without needing to be replaced. As a result of these factors, the carbon footprint is reduced.
- Quiet Operation
Oil-filled heaters don’t make noise because they use convection heating and run without a fan. They operate more quietly than electric room heaters, giving you comfort and enough warmth in your space. Oil-filled heaters work in total silence. They are therefore preferred.
- Safest heater
Oil-filled heaters are generally thought of as heaters for safety reasons. No fire risk exists with oil-filled heaters, and there is also no chance that any clothing or curtains will burn or become stuck. They are therefore considered the safest heaters for babies, children, and older people.
- Longer heat retention
An oil room heater is thought to produce more heat for a more extended period of time due to its high heat retention, which keeps the room warm for a more extended period of time due to its radiating efficiency. Your room will stay warm even after the appliance is turned off.
- Portability
The heaters occasionally need to be transported. However, oil-filled heaters are typically heavier and more challenging to move than electric heaters, so they need to be moved. Fortunately, the heater has four wheels for portability, so you can carry it from room to room.
- Maintenance
This is yet another important consideration before purchasing. Purchasing a heating appliance that needs excessive maintenance serves no purpose. Changing the tube, halogen, fan, and thermostat is a regular maintenance task for electrical heaters. Oil-filled heaters, on the other hand, only need periodic cleaning.
Disadvantages or Cons of Oil Heaters
- Slow Heat Production
It takes some time to heat up the oil to the desired level. In contrast to electric heaters, which instantly warm a room, oil heaters gradually emit heat. This is because heat from oil-filled radiators must travel through metal fins before reaching the air. As a result, it almost needs 30 minutes for the room to warm up thoroughly.
- Heavier than electrical heaters
They can weigh up to 20 kg due to their more substantial construction. Oil-filled heaters are bulkier than electric room heaters, but they can be moved around because they have wheels.
- More Expensive
These heaters typically cost considerably more than regular electric fan heaters. However, they should also result in long-term cost savings for you.
What is an Electric Room Heater?
An electrically driven heater is typically used for spot heating in small- to medium-sized spaces. An electric heater, also known as a blower, fan, or convection heater, produces heat using an electric current. Every electric heater has a heating element inside, and they all operate using the Joule heating principle, which states that when an electric current flows through a resistor, the electrical energy is transformed into heat energy.
Electric heaters are the best choice for small spaces because they can generate heat quickly. They have a heating element, typically metal or ceramic, to facilitate quick heating. They usually have a metal or ceramic heating element. Typically, they are separated into groups: those without fans and those with fans.
Advantages and disadvantages of electric heaters
There are some raw benefits of having an electric heater in your home. Every heater has its pros and cons. We will discuss below the pros of electric heaters. Let’s see the pros and cons of an electric heater.
Advantages or pros of electrical heaters
- Low cost of buying
These electric heaters cost less than more sophisticated heaters, like oil-filled heaters. They are priced between 500 and 3000 rupees. Due to the high level of competition, most companies produce electric heaters, making them less expensive.
- Quick or Instant Heating
Electric heaters use naked coils made of ceramic and metal to produce direct heat, which creates instant heat and heats the room more quickly than oil-filled heaters. Some electric heaters also have fans, which aid in rapidly dissipating the heat. For this reason, electric heaters are the ideal choice for temporary heating. Some electric heaters also have oscillation features that help spread warmth throughout the room. Overall, electric heaters are the best choice for emergency heating.
- Portability
Electric heaters are considerably lighter than oil-filled heaters in terms of weight. This makes moving them from one location to another simpler. However, an electric heater is the best option if you require a heater to be transported easily from one room to another.
- Oscillation
The oscillation system, which involves moving back and forth in a regular rhythm to distribute heat throughout the space, is a feature of contemporary electric room heaters. An electric room heater does not directly produce heat.
Disadvantages or cons of electrical heaters
The drawbacks of an appliance must also be known by the customer to make an informed decision. Although they are small and effective, electric room heaters also have a few drawbacks you should be aware of, so we’ve listed a few below for your comparison.
- Noisey operation
Because electric heaters have fans, they make noise while heating. This is a result of the appliance’s fan, which is on and audible at all times. The loud noise is primarily caused by fans running continuously.
- Safety Concerns
They are concerned about using them because they are more exposed and use steel bodies and electric coils. Electrical heaters pose a fire hazard if they are near combustible materials. Electric heaters are much hotter to the touch than oil-filled heaters. There is a fire risk with electrical heaters with an exposed electrical element, especially near flammable items like curtains or soft furnishings.
- Require Maintenance
Regular maintenance is required for electric heaters. Electric room heaters need to be maintained frequently because they use a fan to operate. Over time, the heating coils can rust, and the fan can gather dust. Therefore, maintaining the electric room heater every quarter can ensure its longevity. Additionally, due to damage from the heat, the thermostat must be replaced within a certain period.
- No heat retention
Even though instant heaters heat up quickly, the heat will dissipate more rapidly once the heater is turned off because instant heaters produce faster heat. Electric heaters only offer immediate, on-the-spot heating because they rely on heat conversion technology. While this may seem like an advantage, the drawback is that when the heater is turned off, your room also cools down as quickly as it heats up.
- More power consumption
Electric heaters require constant power to be used for extended periods. Standard electric heaters must produce more heat for extended periods while using more electricity because of the rapid heat loss. It costs more to heat for an ample time when using continuous electricity.
- Health concerns
Electric heaters are not recommended for continuous, extended use. They don’t consume ambient oxygen, but in a closed space, you might feel suffocated. The air might be dry, making breathing difficult.
So what’s the best heater for you?
We provided you with sufficient information regarding oil-filled vs. electric heaters. Still, people can only definitively say which is best because it depends entirely on your needs and the previously mentioned factors. This guide will enable you to focus your search and find the ideal heater for your residence, place of business, or other requirements.
It would help if you kept in mind that the “best” option depends on your preferences and financial constraints.
Conclusion
You wouldn’t want an oil-filled heater in a small office that you only use for one hour a day. You would also enjoy the quiet heat while unwinding in a comfortable chair and reading a book. Decide on the best course of action for you.
With that in mind, I’ve walked through which heater is best for different rooms in your home. That way, it’s much easier to say which one is definitely “best” for you.
FAQ: Oil-filled heaters vs electric room heaters
Which is the best heater for the bedroom?
The best heater for you is an oil heater. Because they are reticent, they can be used all night without causing accidents, risks, or health problems. (Keep in mind that they are costly in terms of price or electricity consumption.)
