Oil-Filled Radiator Heaters.

[Ethan.Bassist.]

Hey guys.

So the temperature is catching up the the time of year here in Oregon, and my apartment is really cold. It is an old building and the insulation is poor. I need to weatherstrip my windows and door, but that's only going to help so much. Single pane windows let out a lot of heat.

So I'm looking at heaters. Specifically, oil filled radiator heaters my mother told me about. It looks like there are enough on the market that I shouldn't have much trouble finding one that will efficiently (at least as efficiently as possible) heat my small apartment, but the trouble I'm having is they all just look so ugly. I love the look of those old patterned water radiator heaters... but I don't know if any company cares to manufacture an oil radiator with those same aesthetics.

My apartment has an old fashioned/vintage type vibe going right now (with some modern twists) so I'd hate to just throw in some nasty off-white radiator that doesn't jive with classic or modern styling. I might just have to resort to steampunking it out the best I can.

Anyways... anybody know of any aesthetically pleasing oil filled radiators? Or heck, any other heating ideas? It has to be electric. There's no gas/steam in the whole place.

Thanks.

Ethan.

 

[onefallinghope]

They all look kind of "spaceshiPey" and all seem to be tan, white or Greyish.

Seems to be the nature of the beast. I don't know about painting one either??
I'd assume that if you do you'd want to use something like VHT High heat engine paint.

 

[rxonmymind]

Problem with those you have to wait a bit for them to heat up a room. I have a Patton filament heater and it's great as the heat is instant and a gentle fan blows out the heat. Pros and cons to both. Also as a tip search Craigslist in your area for heaters as many people have garage sales. I spent $3 on mine at a local yard sale last week as opposed to $45 at a retail store.

 

[barrycv]

I have an oil-filled heater & really like it. I use it as supplemental heat in a bedroom & really does the trick. They do take a bit of time to get up to temp, but it really isn't all that bad. It also does a much better job at maintaining a temp once reached.

I have not found any other 'style' of these other than the old-fashioned radiator type. Not sure if this is some sort of physical requirement, but that's all I have seen.

Possible alternative is an electric baseboard heater. There are some that are 120V, but I believe most need to be hard-wired in. Not 100% sure on that, though.

 

[Mick]

They are all about the same as far as looks and function.

As mentioned, turn them on a few hours before you need heat as they do take a while to warm a room up.

They are VERY safe though.

A friend in Michigan (where it gets rather cold) uses a quartz heater as supplemental heat. They seem to work very well and are as safe to use as the oil filled heaters.

http://www.edenpure.com/heater

I would stay away from the open coil heaters (toaster type) as they are not very safe and cause a fair number of house fires every year when someone forgets that they are left on and leave or they get tipped over accidentally.

The oil filled and enclosed quartz ones are about the safest heat you can get outside of your furnace

 

[ShaveThis]

I used to be in the energy conservation business in the late 70's early 80's till the Feds killed the tax credits (up to 50%) from which you were able to get a ROI as little as 2 or 3 years because of the credits. Oh well, can you say big oil influence?

But the point is, the best bang for your buck is the smaller investment in keeping the cold out and the heat in. Sure, it sounds like you need a heater but for the cost of plastic on the windows, weather stripping, insulated night shades to pull down over the windows, etc., it's a must do. Bang for the buck.

 

[Mick]

the best bang for your buck is the smaller investment in keeping the cold out and the heat in. Sure, it sounds like you need a heater but for the cost of plastic on the windows, weather stripping, insulated night shades to pull down over the windows, etc., it's a must do. Bang for the buck.

+1 on this.

I added an extra fiberglass "blanket" in the attic over our den (walls are 6" fiberglass filled). Windows are double glass. Insulated draperies

I can keep my den warm from the heat radiating from the TV and a 100 watt incandescent light bulb

Now I have to use the furnace to get it to temp but once there the light bulb and TV put out enough heat to maintain the temp except on the coldest days.

Den is 40' long by 25' wide so don't think it is is a converted closet or something

 

[Phog Allen]

This interests me as well. I need a supplemental heat for the basement area. One thing I will say with no uncertainty. Do NOT buy an electric resistive heater. They work on pure resistance. Think oven element. This translates into massive electric wattage use, ie: large electric bills. They are the most inefficient heat you can use. It is why you see things like the oil filled models. Once heated the oil maintains the heat for much longer than air which is what the reistive models do. Much more efficient. I think one with a low speed fan would be good. Anyroad I would be interested in someone's experience with the oil filled models and their operating costs.

Cheers, Todd

 

[ShaveThis]

+1 on this.

I added an extra fiberglass "blanket" in the attic over our den (walls are 6" fiberglass filled). Windows are double glass. Insulated draperies

I can keep my den warm from the heat radiating from the TV and a 100 watt incandescent light bulb

Now I have to use the furnace to get it to temp but once there the light bulb and TV put out enough heat to maintain the temp except on the coldest days.

Den is 40' long by 25' wide so don't think it is is a converted closet or something

There you go. Big den!

 

[Slash McCoy]

Make some storm windows out of 1x2 and viscleen or other plastic. That helps a lot. They will keep the wind from blowing directly on your windowpanes but still let a lot of light in during the day. Heavy curtains, closed at night or on very cold and overcast days, will also help.

Coil type heaters are good for getting a room warm quickly. Radiators heat up slow and cool down slow. The slow cooldown of course wastes energy unless you time them to shut down a couple of hours before you leave your place. A good strategy is to turn on the coil type space heaters and the electric radiator when you come home, and as soon as the temp is comfortable, turn off the coil heaters. The fire hazard is very real, but maybe not such a big deal if you are home, awake, and alert the whole time they are on. Just use them for initially warming up the room, then turn it off. You could also learn to tolerate cooler indoor temperatures. A couple of down comforters for the bed. warm slippers, heavy flannel bathrobe, flannel pajamas for lounging. A throw or wrap for watching TV or sitting at the puter.

 

[weizemanner]

I really have to recommend a heat dish. put plastic over your windows, heavy curtains, weather strips. try to wear warm clothes when you cankeep sweatpants, slippers, and hoodies around the house. use blankets when sitting down.

What I really like about the heat dish is that it only warms what is in front of it. all of the other heaters will have to warm up all of the air around the whole room, which will escape because of the age of your house and just run up the bill. point a heat dish at the couch, it only warms up around the couch. move it to the bedroom and it will only warm around the bed. It also feels like sunlight on your skin which is nice occasionally in the Northwest Winter... it is a pretty low wattage too.

 

[Mick]

There you go. Big den!

Yea, it is so large that we had to divide it into 2 setting areas. One side has a 7 foot couch and an 8 foot couch with the big screen TV. The other side has the stereo system along with a loveseat, 2 chairs, a desk, and an 8 foot Spanish low chest (backing up one of the couches from the other side). Chest is similar to the one below. Room is divided down the center with the 8 foot sofa and 8 foot chest.

 

[barrycv]

Do NOT buy an electric resistive heater. They work on pure resistance. Think oven element. This translates into massive electric wattage use, ie: large electric bills. They are the most inefficient heat you can use.

Not completely true. In terms of 'efficiency', resistive heaters are the same as oil-filled units or any other. The energy they consume is converted to heat with very little used for anything else. That technically is efficient.

Most of those resistive ones are 1500W, so they will take up just about all the capacity a line can deliver (definitely a 15A, most of a 20A). Some have lower and/or multiple levels, like 750W, so less taxing on your electrical service. Oil-filled ones often are the same - 1500W being typical, but some have other levels. Mine in particular has 3 levels (1500, 1000, & 700 or something like that), so it will automatically cycle to a lower setting if the demand is low (i.e. the room is at/near target temp).

Now, if you want to use the word effective, you might have a case here. Those resistive ones have two modes - on full tilt or off. So you get either a mass blast of heat or nothing at all. That typically makes for some spikes & valleys in terms of your target temp for the room. The oil-filled ones, since the units themselves are hot, keep radiating heat even when they are 'off', so the temp variance in the room is less.

 

[xillion]

DeLonghi makes some in black below.

http://www.amazon.com/DeLonghi-Oil-...peed-Convection/dp/B005MMN67A/ref=pd_sbs_hg_5

http://www.amazon.com/DeLonghi-Filled-Radiator-Heater-Black/dp/B004BZFQB8/ref=pd_sim_hg_6

http://www.amazon.com/DeLonghi-EW7707CB-Safeheat-ComforTemp-Oil-Filled/dp/B002PLQ4T8/ref=pd_sim_hg_4

They also offer panel heaters.

http://www.amazon.com/DeLonghi-HMP1...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B005MMN75G

If you want something very modern check this out.

http://www.morelectricheating.com/products/MANUFACTURERS/AURA/DGFP.aspx

 

[Pkrankow]

Do you pay for heat or electricity? Those things are expensive to run.

Get the film kits to cover your windows. Pick up some 8 ft sheets of insulation to hang on the walls. I can tell you from dorm living that 1/2 inch of foam insulation makes a HUGE difference in comfort, especially if strategically placed. Make sure your bedroom and bathroom walls get this so you can leave the supplemental heater(s) off at night, and only run the heaters when you are awake and home.

Sweaters, a fleece blanket, and an electric blanket might be a better investment than the heater if you have to pay the electric bill.

Yes, electric heaters are "100% efficient" but a heat pump with a SEER rating of 13 is thirteen times MORE efficient because a working fluid is moving heat from a colder area to the warmer area, the same watts of electricity are doing work instead of simply being converted to heat.

Phil

 

[Phog Allen]

Not completely true. In terms of 'efficiency', resistive heaters are the same as oil-filled units or any other. The energy they consume is converted to heat with very little used for anything else. That technically is efficient.

Most of those resistive ones are 1500W, so they will take up just about all the capacity a line can deliver (definitely a 15A, most of a 20A). Some have lower and/or multiple levels, like 750W, so less taxing on your electrical service. Oil-filled ones often are the same - 1500W being typical, but some have other levels. Mine in particular has 3 levels (1500, 1000, & 700 or something like that), so it will automatically cycle to a lower setting if the demand is low (i.e. the room is at/near target temp).

Now, if you want to use the word effective, you might have a case here. Those resistive ones have two modes - on full tilt or off. So you get either a mass blast of heat or nothing at all. That typically makes for some spikes & valleys in terms of your target temp for the room. The oil-filled ones, since the units themselves are hot, keep radiating heat even when they are 'off', so the temp variance in the room is less.

I get what you are saying in terms of pure energy transfer. All the heat generated by the resistance is transferred to the "work" which is heating the air with the element. It is like steam power. Incredibly powerful and "efficient" in what it does. Expantion ratio is incredible. However, making steam is incredibly inneficient in dollars and cents. So is powering an open air resistive heating element. For exactly the reasons you mention. Air does not hold any heat for long. I am not exactly sure what order of magnitude an oil filled heater is more economically efficient than an air heater but I suppose over time quite a lot. I guess the question is do you like your oil filled heater aand would you recommend buying one?

 

[ShaveThis]

Yea, it is so large that we had to divide it into 2 setting areas. One side has a 7 foot couch and an 8 foot couch with the big screen TV. The other side has the stereo system along with a loveseat, 2 chairs, a desk, and an 8 foot Spanish low chest (backing up one of the couches from the other side). Chest is similar to the one below. Room is divided down the center with the 8 foot sofa and 8 foot chest.

Very nice. I bet you have a good time in that room. Still a BIG den, how big is the rest of your house??? I'm fortunate to have a room which is above a heated double garage. It's about 30x20 or 25. it has a second story entrance from the hall as well as a separate inside stairwell entrance that leads to a door outside. It has a separate zone on the heating system so it's not bad to heat. House is only about 6 years old. This is my man cave. Computers, ham radios, music studio and wife rarely allowed in. We use the intercom. Trade off: the wife has every other room in the house!

I'm thinking of putting a very small pellet stove in it. We have a 55K pellet in the great room downstairs that does about 3/4 of the house but the heat wouldn't get up here. Used to always heat with wood but no more. Pellets are the way to go for me.

 

[Bk124tt]

Regarding keeping in whatever warmth you may have look into a 3m brand window insulator kit! They work unbelievably!

 

[ShaveThis]

Regarding keeping in whatever warmth you may have look into a 3m brand window insulator kit! They work unbelievably!

For the money it's a no brainer. Keeping whatever wind there might be off the surface of the glass is a big plus. Otherwise the wind just wicks the heat out. Good deal.

 

[DonN]

there were many good ideas in the preceding posts that talked about ways to improve heat retention and so I won't add to them but instead tell you a little about my 2 oil filled heaters ; I use them in a roughly 15' x 20' home office space in the lower level of a 3 level condo , they're off-white and have 2 switches, 600W & 900W , but because of circuit overload in the room I run one at 600 & the other at 900 ; they do take awhile to warm the room but when the New England temps get in the 10-20 range they struggle to do their job .

I don't know how big your apartment is but after you button up the place I'd bet you'd need a few of these guys to warm it up if you have no other heat source and if you're gonna be gone during the day & know it's gonna be real cold you might want to consider leaving them on but that's gonna cost in electricity - they're all pretty drab looking but one of the posts above seemed to show a nicer looking version - also dressing in lots of layers can help - good luck !!!!!