Oil Filled Radiators

[JohnRS4]

Having a lot of building work done and will be without any central heating for the next few months. I have a log fire which keeps the lounge warm and also a couple of oil filled radiators. One is 2KW and the other 2.5KW. Any idea as to how much per hour they will cost to run? Also any other recommendations as to what might be a suitable economical alternative?

[mxspyder]

JohnRS4 said:

Having a lot of building work done and will be without any central heating for the next few months. I have a log fire which keeps the lounge warm and also a couple of oil filled radiators. One is 2KW and the other 2.5KW. Any idea as to how much per hour they will cost to run? Also any other recommendations as to what might be a suitable economical alternative?

Electricity is about 13p per kW/h (+vat) so, thats about 62p per hour.

Cheaper alternative, A jumper? - A fan heater might be more efficient at distributing the heat than one of those radiators.

[Lord Flasheart]

These oil filled rads are the most efficient if you have to use this kind of heater. The fan heaters and electric element radiators burn power all the time and heat the air directly. The oil ones act a bit like a heat bank so dont need to draw power all the time making them a bit cheaper to run.
Also, if you are used to wet central heating these heaters heat in exactly the same way.
(I actually use a couple of them in my flat)

[Simpo Two]

Lord Flasheart said:

The oil ones act a bit like a heat bank so dont need to draw power all the time making them a bit cheaper to run.

Are you sure? Doesn't the Law of Latent Heat of Wotist decree that the longer something gives out heat for, the more power it takes to get it warm?

[Iain328]

mxspyder said:

JohnRS4 said:

Having a lot of building work done and will be without any central heating for the next few months. I have a log fire which keeps the lounge warm and also a couple of oil filled radiators. One is 2KW and the other 2.5KW. Any idea as to how much per hour they will cost to run? Also any other recommendations as to what might be a suitable economical alternative?

Electricity is about 13p per kW/h (+vat) so, thats about 62p per hour.

Cheaper alternative, A jumper? - A fan heater might be more efficient at distributing the heat than one of those radiators.

Blimey, you need to visit uswitch.com
Electric is about 8.5p/kwH for day & maybe 4.5p at night if you have an Economy 7 meter.

Electric heating is pretty expensive but if that's what you have then that's what you have. A kWh costs what it costs regardless of what appliance you use. (Gas by comparison is usually under 3p per kWh)

I'd keep the log fire stoked up & some doors open & then maybe deploy a few fans to move some air around the house.

[Iain328]

Simpo Two said:

Lord Flasheart said:

The oil ones act a bit like a heat bank so dont need to draw power all the time making them a bit cheaper to run.

Are you sure? Doesn't the Law of Latent Heat of Wotist decree that the longer something gives out heat for, the more power it takes to get it warm?

Think you might be thinking of night storeage heaters (which are basically full of bricks!)

[Simpo Two]

Iain328 said:

Simpo Two said:

Lord Flasheart said:

The oil ones act a bit like a heat bank so dont need to draw power all the time making them a bit cheaper to run.

Are you sure? Doesn't the Law of Latent Heat of Wotist decree that the longer something gives out heat for, the more power it takes to get it warm?

Think you might be thinking of night storeage heaters (which are basically full of bricks!)

No, the Law Of Wotsit is the same. Energy in = energy out. The only thing about storage heaters is that they load up on cheap rate power rather than peak rate. Which is an advantage, as long as you like to come down to breakfast at 80F and 0% humidity!

[eps]

Oil filled rads are the cheapest to run, but take a while to heat up. You probably need a combo of them and a halogen or fan heater. They are the most efficient of these to run.