Winter is coming!
Have you prepared anything, oil-filled electrical heaters or electric oil heater, for example? We strongly recommend you install a heater to keep everyone warm during these days. However, will you choose oil heater vs electric heater? Which one is better? And what are their pros and cons?
To answer these questions, let’s read our article!
What is an Oil Heater?
Oil heater (oil-filled radiator) is a typical convection heater, which works through a heat reservoir in place of fuel. It is heated by an electrical element at the base of the heater. Once the machine warms the oil, the convection will help it flow around the open cavities, creating long-lasting heat.
What is an Electric Heater?
The best electric heater, which is one of the best portable heaters on the market, is usually made from metal or ceramic. And people use it to heat small places.
There are two categories: a heater with a fan and without a fan.
Compared to an electrical heater without a fan, a model with a fan can spread warmed air throughout a room quicker.
What Make Them Outstanding?
Oil Heater
Efficient
Compared to an electric radiator, an oil-filled radiator consumes less power because the oil inside is kept at warmed temperature, heating the metal walls (fins). These walls have a large surface to heat a significant amount of air in a short time.
What’s more, once the oil reaches its optimum temperature, it automatically shuts off to minimize running costs.
Longer-lasting warmth
The vast surface of the heater provides you with a significant volume of air in contact with the source of heat at the same time.
What does it mean?
Your whole room will be heated up quickly, and it keeps the warmth around in a long time. Even it still retains heat for some time after turning off.
Quiet
When the machine reaches its optimum temperature, it will work quietly and effectively. Besides, it doesn’t come with any moving part which produces noise.
Low environmental impact
The oil heater doesn’t pose a huge environmental impact because of low energy expenditure. The oil in the heater can remain for many years effectively, but it is a toxic substance which requires you to dispose of properly.
Electric Heater
Quick to heat
It just takes a few seconds to reach the top temperature. Most electric heaters are equipped with a fan which blows out the heat to warm up your whole room quickly.
Lightweight, versatile, and portable
An electric heater is more lightweight than an oil heater, so it has better portability. You can move it everywhere to heat up. This is because it runs based on an electricity source in place of heavy liquids.
What Need To Be Improved?
Oil Heater
Slow to warm
The heating process of an oil heater is pretty slow since it must rely on the liquid oil to produce heat and transfer to the metal walls, finally go into the air through radiation. And after turning down, it’s slow to cool down, so pay attention not to allow your children to touch the machine.
Heavy
There is oil inside, leading to a pretty heavy result. Thus, it’s quite cumbersome to move around your house.
Not appropriate for big space
This type of heater can heat a small room in a long time except for an ample area. If you use an oil radiator in a large room, it’s really difficult to distribute the air evenly, resulting in a minimal effect.
Electric Heater
No power, no heat
Unlike an oil heater, after turning off an electric heater, the heat dissipates very fast.
Safety
Due to an exposed electrical element, there is a risk of fire. Thus, you should avoid putting it near flammable things such as curtains and soft furnishings. The electric heater features a higher voltage, so it’s very hazardous to contact with water directly. Never place it in your bathroom and kitchen.
Noise
The fan of the electric heater keeps heat pumping around, but it also produces noise.
Costly to run
You have to spend a large amount of money because this type of model requires a constant charge to offer heat.
Require maintenance
The fan mechanisms are the build-up of dust, which requires you to maintain it regularly to maintain the efficiency.
If you just let the dust stay there, it may obstruct the airflow through your heater.
Which is Better: Oil Heater vs Electric Heater?
The electric heater is our choice because it meets our requirements. We can move this lightweight unit around our house quickly. Moreover, we want to be warm as soon as possible after turning on the heater.
Also, we don’t care about its drawbacks too much since our family doesn’t have kids who may accidentally touch the heater without our observation.
How about you? Which one will you choose: oil heater vs electric heater? Please leave your comment below. Also, let’s like and share if you find it is informative.
