Difference Between Oil Filled Heaters and Electric Room Heaters

Choosing the right heater for your room in winter is essential to stay warm amidst the cold weather. In today’s market, two types of heaters are popular choices for most individuals – oil heaters and electric room heaters. But which of them is the ideal choice for you?

In this guide, we will elaborate on oil heaters vs electric heaters. We will also help you in choosing the perfect small heater for your room to survive through the approaching cold months.

What are Oil-Filled Room Heaters?

Also known as oil-filled radiators, oil room heaters utilize stored oil in a reservoir in the heater appliance that is made warmer through the heating unit. This produces convectional heating that keeps your space warmer for longer.

Read our detailed guide on oil-filled room heaters to understand all their features.

Advantages of Oil-Filled Heaters

If you want to get an oil heater for your room, take a look at the following benefits.

1. Energy-efficient: Oil-filled room heaters work as radiators where the oil is not used as a fuel but instead used to help the warmth reach a wider space in your room. Once the oil radiator heater reaches the desired warmth, it automatically powers off helping you save energy.

2. Cost-saving: Thanks to their energy efficiency, oil room heaters are also considered to be great on your pocket. Since they power off after an adequate amount of time, they help save electricity consumption to a great extent.

3. Less Carbon Footprint: Oil-filled heaters are known to be great for the environment since they have low energy consumption. This results in less carbon footprint.

4. Warmth for Long Durations: Due to its radiating efficiency, an oil room heater is considered to generate more heat for a long period of time. Even when the appliance is switched off, your space will continue to be warm.

5. Quiet Functioning: Oil heaters for rooms do not generate much sound. In comparison to electric room heaters, they function quietly giving you peace of mind and adequate warmth in your space.

Disadvantages of Oil Heaters

Wondering if oil radiator heaters have any disadvantages? Check them out below.

 1. Slow Heat Production: Oil room heaters gradually produce heat in comparison to electric heaters that instantly warm up a room. This is because the heat generated in oil-filled radiators need to pass through the metal walls and then to the air. This process takes time to heat up the appliance, and simultaneously takes time to cool off once the power supply is off.

2. Heavy Mechanism: Oil-filled room heaters are bulky in comparison to electric room heaters. This means that they aren’t as portable as electric heaters since they are built of metal.

3. Not Suitable for Large Rooms: Since they produce heat gradually, oil-filled room heaters are not suitable for large rooms.

What are Electric Room Heaters?

If you are choosing between convection heaters vs oil heaters and want your space to heat up instantly, we suggest opting for the convection or electric room heater. Their heating element, which is usually made of metal, heats up quickly when the appliance is turned on. The output is a warm space, ideal for small families and small rooms.

Advantages of Electric Room Heaters

Looking for a small heater for your room? This is why you should choose an electric room heater.

1. Instant heating: Since the coils are made of metal or ceramic, electric room heaters heat up instantly and radiate the heat within the room. The output is quick and is ideal for small and big spaces.

2. Portability: Electric room heaters are compact and lightweight. This makes it easier to carry them from one room to another.

3. Oscillation: Modern electric room heaters are equipped with an oscillation feature that helps distribute heat across the room. There is no direct heating produced through an electric room heater.

Disadvantages of Electric Room Heaters

While being compact and efficient, electric room heaters too have a few disadvantages that you should be aware of.

 1. Noisy Functioning: Unlike oil-filled heaters, electric room heaters are a tad bit noisy. This is due to the fan in the appliance that can be heard all throughout the appliance being turned on.

2. Maintenance: Since electric room heaters operate with a fan, they require constant maintenance. The fan can collect dust and the heating coils can become rusty over time. Hence, quarterly maintenance of the electric room heater can help ensure its longevity.

3. Power Supply: Electric room heaters require a constant power supply to function properly. Unlike oil room heaters, they do not maintain warmth in the room for longer durations.

Choosing the Right Small Heater for your Room

While looking for a small heater for your room, you can choose between convection heaters vs oil heaters. Now that you understand their advantages and disadvantages, the choice should be easy for you.

Your decision should be based on the following factors,

 1. Size of the room – if you want to use a heater for a small room, both oil-filled room heaters and electric room heaters are ideal. In case your room is larger in size, you can opt for the oil radiator heater since they can keep the warmth in the room intact, even after being switched off. Keep in mind that every square foot of floor area in a room requires 10 watt of heating power. So choose the right heater accordingly.

2. Safety – Oil room heaters stay warm even after being switched off. Hence, they should be kept away from children in the house. In comparison, electric room heaters cool down as soon as they are switched off. This makes them safer than oil heaters for rooms. But always ensure to follow the safety tips while using room heaters.

3. Power consumption – Ensure to check the wattage of your room heater and calculate how much power does your room heater consume, and subsequently, the energy cost. We’d also like to share a few tips to use your room heater efficiently.

4. Price – Oil heater prices are more than electric room heaters. This is because of their metal built and oil stored in the unit that fuels the heat production in the appliance.

At the end of the day, choosing the ideal room heater will base on the kind of experience you wish to have. We suggest opting for either of the two types of room heaters after evaluating all the above-mentioned factors.

Crompton’s Electric and Oil-Filled Room Heaters

Crompton offers a large selection of oil-filled room heaters and electric room heaters. Equipped with smart designs, they are ideal for both small and large spaces.

The oil room heaters come with up to three heat settings. Since they are backed by the latest technology, they offer quick heating with a 400W PTC Fan. They also have wave fins that help accelerate the heating function. Crompton’s oil-filled heaters for rooms maintain ambient temperature for long and provide overheating protection even after being switched off.

On the other hand, Crompton’s electric room heaters instantly radiate heat in a space. They have heating elements with a high wattage and stainless steel reflectors that prevent rusting due to the heating of the coils. These room heaters are also backed with a warranty of at least a year to ensure quarterly maintenance, at no extra cost. You can read more about the room heater buying guide.

Which room heater are you going to purchase?