Oil-Filled Radiators-Are They Much Cheaper To Use?

[racoony]

We live in a 3-bedroom detached house, with gas-fired central heating.I am wondering if it would be cheaper to buy some oil-filled radiators. Does anyone know about this? Many thanks.

[davebro]

Unless you need to replace the CH anyway I don't think it would benefit economically. There are different electrical systems than oil-filled radiators - explore the options.

[pimplyteen]

In all honesty if you are talking about the freestanding one's they are not great unless turned up to the highest settings and even then only really of any use in let's say a very small bedroom to take the chill off. I don't think there is any cheap way of heating at the moment. The best you can do is just make sure your present gas boiler / fire is running at its best possible performance.

[Maydup]

I agree that they are pretty hopeless.

I was given one and thought it would be handy to use in the summerhouse when I wanted to do crafts but you have to have it on full and stand right over it to feel any warmth at all. There’s one at work in reception which is just the same so I know it’s not just the make and model I have.

A drain on the electric for little output.

[The Builder]

This is asked a lot. The answer is always:
Electricity in = Heat out, whatever the source.

It's probably just as well to stick with the gas.... for now ;o)

[pimplyteen]

If it's really cold spooning is cheap. :0)

[davebro]

depends how much you pay the spooner/spoonee

[Buenchico]

TB's rule of 'Electricity in = Heat out' is basically a sound one.

However some types heaters seem to be better than others in specific situations and there is at least a bit of science that shows:
(a) multi-finned oil-filled radiators are far more efficient than those with only a few fins ; and
(b) oil-free radiators (which are more expensive than oil-filled ones) are generally more efficient still.
https://www.dimplex.co.uk/mythbusters-oil-filled-vs-oil-free-radiators

Further, when comparing the use of such radiators to central heating, it has to be remembered that you're only heating what's inside the radiator, rather than what's also inside a boiler and lots of pipes.

I'm not a fan of central heating. (Indeed, if there was one thing that I could 'uninvent' it would probably be central heating!). To me, it seems to encourage people to heat areas of their homes that they're not actually using; I much prefer to just heat the room, or rooms, that I'm actually in.

I'm not alone in my view. My friend, who's the sort of guy who pays a financial adviser mega-bucks to manage his off-shore investments and who therefore isn't short of a bob or two, never turns his central heating on. Like me, he much prefers to only heat the parts of his home that he's actually using.

I've been using oil-filled radiators as the sole source of heating in my home for many years. If you do consider going down the same route, my advice is to forget cheaper brands and smaller heaters (with just a few fins), and to only use something like this (which is what I use myself):
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-2-5kw-black-oil-filled-radiator/
(It's also available in white)

[calmck]

Oil filled radiators are widely used here. We have them in the bedrooms, on medium and with the door closed during the day. The rooms are comfortable.

[davebro]

Buen - if one has a small apartment like mine you are in and out of all the rooms during the day so heating the whole place is OK.

[davebro]

In a bigger property I would fit TRV radiator valves.

[haras2]

Buenchico, wish I hadn't clicked your link!
Can't read AB for a forest of radiators :-)