An oil-filled heater is one of the best ways to go if you’re looking for a reliable radiator as a primary or secondary source of heat. They are also a great way to economically heat a room. In fact, a well-built oil heater can produce up to 99% energy efficiency since nearly all of the electricity consumed is converted to heat.
These radiating heaters use electrical current to heat and circulate thermal oil, which will heat up and warm the fins. The heat will then radiate out from the fins into the room and cause the hot air to rise, thereby creating a circulation that spreads the heat to the room. Though this process can be slow since the radiator heater does not use fans or heating coils, it uses less energy compared to an electric heater and is completely quiet.
Whether you’re looking for a suitable oil-filled heater to use at home or at work, or maybe even in your garage or basement, this article acts as a quick guide and a review of our top picks for your consideration.
Benefits of Getting an Oil Filled Heater
Most people looking to buy an additional heater for their rooms don’t often consider oil-filled heaters as a viable option and that’s a real shame since these products do have quite a few aces up their sleeves. Some of its advantages include the following:
Energy Efficiency
Oil-filled radiator heaters are more efficient at evenly distributing heat across the surface of the room since they use convection heating methods for heat distribution.
Heat Retention
These types of heaters are typically filled with diathermic oil, which works amazingly at retaining the heat generated by the resistor inside the heater and provides you with high heating capacity.
Good Features
Most oil radiator heaters come with cool features such as thermostats, timers, protection features, etc.
Quiet Operation
They’re not as noisy compared to a fan-powered model since they do not have a fan.
Portable
Most oil-filled heaters have caster wheels and are often light enough for you to be able to move it around easily from room to room to provide heat right where you need it.
Good air quality
Since it does not have a fan to push heated air out into the room, oil-filled heaters won’t dry out the ambient air in a room.
Safety
Many portable heaters tend to get hot on their surface which may burn anyone who touches it. But this isn’t the case with oil-filled heaters. Though they do get warm to the touch, it’s certainly not hot enough to cause a burn.
Factors to Consider before Buying the Best Oil Filled Radiator Heaters
Before you can arrive at your decision on which oil-filled radiator heater is the best choice for your needs, it’s prudent to familiarise yourself with some of the key features first. You should also ensure that you have a specific budget in mind and remember that the more perks a certain radiator has, the price will often be higher too. This guide will assist you in differentiating great value options from the rest by outlining the key specs of a good oil-filled heater.
Power
When it comes to heating products, output really does matter. There’s no point in spending money to buy a product that will not supply you with a decent amount of heat. If you already know the size of the room you want to heat, then you’ll be in a better position to decide what heating capacity your radiator should be.
In general, the most powerful models consist of a heat output ranging between 1500W to 2500W. Anything over 2000W may be a slight overkill since this level means you fall into a category where value and energy efficiency aren’t so great.
On the other hand, 600W should really be the minimum wattage you ought to look out for. Though such a setting isn’t going to make a huge difference, it may just be convenient enough to help you keep warm in a small study.
Portability
Portability is yet another important characteristic that you should consider. A radiator without wheels will be pinned down in only a single room. You will have to wait for it to cool off so that you can lift it up and carry it should you decide to use it in a different room.
The wheels also act as a buffer between the floor and the body of the heater. Since these heaters are mostly used on all kinds of wooden floors, or carpets, you might want to have some buffer distance between the two for safety purposes.
Safety Features
Safety is a very important feature and you should never ignore its presence or absence in a heater. A tip-over switch ensures that an oil-filled radiator remains safe, especially when you have pets or children running around the house. Apart from preventing the product from malfunctioning, these safety functionalities also prevent a complete fire hazard disaster from occurring.
Design
Your oil-filled radiator heater’s style will also play a role in your decision, and it doesn’t just come down to the different color options available. Certain people will focus on how the product looks and how it blends into their room decor.
The size of the heater is also an important consideration due to the liquid it holds inside. Generally, the bigger the body, the more time it will require to heat up since it holds a larger amount of oil inside. Though this may sound like an inconvenience, it doesn’t necessarily have to be so.
Once the radiator heats up, this large body will begin to emit enough warmth to heat up your room. After the fins and oil are hot, they’ll remain so for a while. Therefore, a larger body implies slower convection but also a lengthened cooling-off period.
Timer Control/ Crucial Heat Settings
The way you operate space heaters will help in determining the possibilities that the product has, the level of comfort it produces, as well as the price. Certain oil heaters come with a digital display with a few friendly beeping sounds when you press the buttons.
Most electric heaters come with a timer function. In fact, even some analog heaters have that ability as well, plus they do come at a relatively lower price. What’s more, the added digitalization could likely cause more things to go wrong. If your software or display somehow goes bad, you may end up having to pay even more money to fix it.
Generally, oil heaters only have one purpose and that’s to heat up the room. The money’s value in a product doesn’t lie in the costly, flashy product but rather in one that will surely keep you warm and comfortable on the coldest nights.
Additionally, it is also good to have a heater with a thermostat with a minimum of two power output settings. A thermostat will work to switch off the heater once a certain temperature is achieved, thereby making it more energy-saving as well. The output settings will enable you to pretty much decide on the heater’s power consumption at any given moment.
Top 8 Best Oil-Filled Radiator Heaters in 2021
1. VonHaus Oil Filled Radiator
If you have a mid-to-large-sized room that needs warming up in a cost-efficient manner, then you need to consider the VonHaus Oil Radiator that’s designed to be a powerful and energy-efficient radiator to produce ample heat whilst being energy efficient. The optimized operation ensures that you won’t have to fork up a large amount of utility expenses every month just to stay warm.
This powerful oil-filled radiator features 11 oil-filled fins and can produce as much as 2500W of heat, which is ample enough to warm your living room, bedroom, office, or other large space such as open-floor kitchens and living rooms.
In terms of operation, it is simply a breeze to use this oil-filled radiator heater. The heater comes with three pre-installed power settings that you can use as-is. It also has an adjustable thermostat that lets you control heat production to the exact temperature you want. A 24-hr timer is provided to enable users the ability to program for the heater to automatically switch on and off.
Aside from that, this radiator even comes with a plethora of advanced safety features such as a tip-over switch to switch the radiator off in the event it tips over as well as in-built overheat prevention and thermal cut-off system.
Overall, the VonHaus is the best oil-filled heater that generates ample heat at great efficiency to keep medium to large spaces warm.
Pros
- The radiator produces ample heat to warm expansive rooms.
- Easy to set up and use
- The heater runs efficiently and effectively
- Timer and adjustable thermostat adds excellent addition to functionality
- Compact build to make this radiator space-efficient and economical
Cons
- Instructions may be unnecessarily complicated
- It may not be the prettiest oil-filled radiator heater design available
2. Warmlite Portable Electric Oil Filled Radiator
You don’t have to suffer long chilly nights anymore with the Warmlite Portable Electric Oil Filled Radiator. This 5-fin portable oil-filled radiator heater is perfect for a range of spaces, from living rooms to caravans and even to help you keep productivity ticking over in the office environment. The oil heater has mounted castors with built-in handles to make it all the easier for you to relocate it from room to room without too much hassle.
The oil-filled space heater features a powerful 650-watt operation with a highly effective built-in thermostat which makes setting the correct temperature a breeze to provide the perfect heating solution for a variety of environments. The gentle warming action provides a steady heat level that’s easy to maintain the perfect environment condition in any space.
This portable heater takes advantage of the rapidly circulating oil instead of the traditional ‘coil type’ or fan heaters. This method uses less energy than older types of heaters and the design lets it heat a variety of spaces without consuming excessive energy – even on the lower heat settings.
In terms of safety features, this portable oil-filled heater has been thoroughly pressure tested to ensure it’s completely safe to operate. The design even includes an overheat protection mechanism to make accidents a thing of the past.
Overall this highly efficient small oil radiator is ideal for both smaller and larger spaces. The built-in thermostat makes setting the correct temperature a breeze while the safety features provide all-important peace of mind when it comes to operating this portable oil-filled radiator.
Pros
- Smooth castor wheels and lightweight design means the heater can be easily relocated from room to room with minimum fuss
- Built-in safety features make this portable oil-filled heater safe to operate at any temperature setting
- This oil-filled space heater is pressure tested and comes with an overheat protection system
- The thermostat makes it ideal for use in a variety of weather conditions
- Excellent value for money with attractive minimalist design to suit all kinds of room decor
- One year warranty with the option to extend it on registration
Cons
- Not recommended to be left on overnight
- Might be a little noisy when heating up
3. De’Longhi TRD40615T Full RoomOil Filled Radiator
Those with a little extra money to spend and are looking to invest in an oil-filled radiator that’s extremely energy efficient need not look further than the De’Longhi Dragon 4 Oil Filled Radiator. This space heater is one of the best oil-filled heaters on the market for energy efficiency. Additionally, this radiator is also renowned for effective heating to keep your room warm and toasty for as long as you need it to.
The De’Longhi TRD40615T Full Room Oil Filled Radiator has a powerful performance rating of 2000W to produce plenty of heat to warm large rooms in residential properties. The radiator also comes with preset settings that allow users to vary the heat output to match the heating they need to achieve the comfort level they desire.
While all oil-filled radiators are designed to be efficient, the De’Longhi Dragon 4 takes things to the next level with its unique heating mechanism that enhances the chimney effect. Cold air is sucked into the radiator at the bottom of the chimneys and forces the air through the hottest part of the heater before getting expelled out at the top in a convection process. This method allows the radiator to warm your room up quickly. The large radiator fins also aid the chimney effect by providing a larger radiant surface.
Other than an effective mechanism, this oil-filled space heater has an elegant design and stunning finish to suit your room decor. It has a smooth profile with rounded edges that improve its safety, especially with children and pets around. Furthermore, this radiator heater comes included with easy-to-assemble wheels, a carry handle, a robust build, a timer function, an anti-frost function, and a safety cut-out feature.
Pros
- Warms up quickly
- Capable of sustaining high heat output for extended periods of time
- Strong build for better durability
- Energy-efficient mechanism
- Easy-to-use settings controls
Cons
- Can get relatively loud when starting up and shutting down
- The radiator produces a hot-oil smell when new, but this will clear up after a period of using the heater.
- Lacks a remote control and must be turned on manually
4. Pro Breeze 2500W Oil Filled Radiator
The Pro Breeze 2500W Oil Filled Radiator is a powerful oil-filled space heater designed to warm your home with fast and a remarkable ability to sustain the heat output over an extended period of time. Moreover, it even has an aesthetically pleasing design and finishing that blends perfectly into your decor for the ultimate heating experience.
The Pro Breeze 2500W Radiator is powerful enough to warm up a large room in a matter of minutes. Moreover, this best oil-filled space heater is capable of providing continuous performance, thereby maintaining a constant heat output to keep your room at a temperature of your liking.
This oil heater is capable of producing variable heat output, allowing it to match the different heating requirements. If you need only a little heating, you can set the heat output at 1000W, or you can set it at 2500W if you need a lot of heating fast.
The Pro Breeze 2500W Oil Filled space heater comes included with a 24-hour timer that switches the heat on and off at scheduled times. Users can, therefore, set the radiator to switch on or off at a particular time with that automation feature. Aside from helping users to automate the operations of the heater, this feature helps owners reduce energy wastage for when you’re not typically using it by automatically shutting off the heat settings.
The oil heater has three advanced safety features that work hand-in-hand to create a safe user-experience. The features include an automatic thermal cut-off, safety overheat protection, and tip-over protection system. Other highlights of this radiant heater worth mentioning include the castor wheels and the 1.5m power cable.
Pros
- 5. The heaters oil filled operation produces ample heat to warm medium-sized rooms fast
- Supplied wheels make it easy for users to move the radiator with ease
- The aesthetically pleasing design and finish that suits the indoor decor
- Timer automates much of the switching on and off operation
- Energy efficient
- Variable heat output helps users control and adjust the multiple heat settings to their liking
Cons
- Installing the wheels to the electric heater can be a tad daunting to some as the instructions for wheel assembly are difficult to understand
- Lacks a remote control and must be turned on manually
5. Futura 2500W Oil Radiator Heater
The Future 2500W is a radiator that’s specially designed to warm your living, garage, office, or bedroom quickly. Boasting 11 fins, this oil heater has ample radiant surface to emit and sustain sufficient heat production to keep you warm even in the coldest of nights. It is also energy efficient and will not burn a hole in your budget.
The Futura 2500W radiator heaters come with three heating settings for you to choose from. Depending on your heating requirements, you can use the maximum heat output of 2500W, medium heat output of 1500W, or the least heat output of 1000W. The variable heat performance provided by these three heat settings will help users match the radiator’s heat output according to their personal heating needs.
The oil heater also comes with digital controls like the count-down timer to help automate the switch on and shut down process. Users can also choose to program in their preferred switch-on time and switch-off times for energy saving. For instance, you can program the oil-filled heaters to switch on 5 to 10 minutes before you arrive home or the office and to switch off 10 minutes after leaving home or the office.
Aside from that, the best oil-filled heaters by Futura come with a tip-over switch that will shut down the radiator when it gets knocked over. However, it does also have a stable base which makes tipping over highly unlikely. The oil heaters also have an overheat protection feature to reduce the risk of accidents emanating from their operation.
All-in-all, this is one of the best oil-filled heaters available that’s safe to use indoors and even comes with a 1.5-meter cable, 2-year warranty, and wheels for ease of use and rolling the oil heater around.
Pros
- 11 fins and powerful heating element to produce enough warmth to heat up large and medium-sized rooms and spaces quickly
- Capable of sustaining heat production
- Compact design
- Easy to assemble and use
- Affordable pricing without compromising its capability
Cons
- Expansion and construction of the metals within the radiator produce a clicking noise which can be annoying for those sleeping
- Lacks a remote control and must be turned on manually
6. NETTA 2500W Oil Filled Electric Heater Radiator
Need space heaters to help you take an edge off the cold? Then the NETTA 2500W Oil Filled Electric Heater might just be the solution to help you stay warm and cozy all winter long. Thanks to its wheels, this powerful heater is super easy to move around and it provides even heat without using a lot of electricity. The NETTA oil heaters are efficient and powerful enough to heat up medium to large rooms with ease.
The oil-filled heaters from NETTA have a portable and compact design that provides up to 2500W heat output at the highest setting. It also has an adjustable thermostat to make it easy to control the heat settings to get exactly how much heat you need. The oil radiator heater has two power settings and a 24-hour timer to allow you additional control over the heat output as well as the time you want to run the heater.
This oil heater also has 4 castor wheels and a built-in handle that allows you to move the heater around your home easily. The 1.5m power cable and built-in cable organizer helps you keep the oil heater’s cable tidy.
In terms of safety, the space heaters are pretty safe to operate with overheating protection to automatically shut off the heater when it overheats or gets tipped over. This means you can operate the oil-filled heaters with peace of mind without worrying about them overheating.
Pros
- 2500W of powerful and even heating to keep medium to large-sized rooms warm and cozy
- Overheating protection automatically turns the space heaters off when they get tipped over
- Adjustable thermostat to help keep your room at the right temperature and heat settings
Cons
- No provision of remote control means you need to operate it by hand
7. Dimplex OFC2000TiB Oil Radiator
The best oil filled heaters have accrued a reputation for being energy efficient and very effective space heaters. What they’re typically not known for is their quiet operation as some can get very noisy. The vast majority of oil filled radiators produce a lot of clicking noise when operating. Fortunately, this is not the case with the Dimplex OFC2000TiB radiator which has been designed for quiet and peaceful operations. As such, if you’re a light sleeper or are on the market for silent oil heaters, then this may just be the best choice for you.
The Dimplex oil filled heaters feature a steel frame and body that increases their stability, sturdiness, and durability. Unlike many other oil-filled heaters that are made with plastic frames, you can rest assured that this radiator will last you a long time.
The radiator comes with two heat settings for variable heating capability. While this ability helps to lower the heat production by one step, the two heat settings do offer limited control compared to other oil filled heaters that come with at least three heating settings.
The Dimplex oil heater comes with an electro-mechanical timer that provides 24hr programming capability. Given that the timer is electro-mechanical, it is far more durable and versatile than some of the other timers incorporated into other oil filled heaters. As for its safety, the radiator has a safety tip-over cut-out switch which turns the radiator off automatically in the event it tips over.
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet operations for a peaceful rest
- Easy to set up and use
- Quick to warm up rooms
- Sturdy steel construction for durability
- Castor wheels enhance the portability of the oil heaters
- Compact design
Cons
- LED user interface screen produces an unnecessarily bright light that’s always on as long as the radiator is connected to the power mains
- The Control panel screen has poor contrast, making viewing and using the screen on the space heaters difficult
- Lacks a remote control and must be turned on manually
8. VonHaus Oil Radiator Heaters
The Black VonHaus Oil Heater lets you enjoy targeted heat wherever you need it. This portable and energy-saving oil heater puts out steady heat and work to keep the utility bills down too. You can easily move it right where you want it to go and works amazingly anywhere to keep you warm and comfortable in every room of the house.
The three heat settings allow you to adjust the oil heater to deliver just the right temperature. The lowest setting is 800W, the medium setting is 1200W and the highest puts out a respectable 2000W of heat to keep you and your room toasty. The oil heater also comes with an adjustable thermostat to keep the temperature steady.
The 9 oil-filled fins radiator is made out of stylish black steel with four caster wheels and a carry handle to help you move the oil radiator from room to room with ease. It also has a 1.6-meter power cable that stores away when you’re not using it.
The last thing you want to worry about when using oil-filled heaters is for them to tip over or get too hot. The space heaters feature overheat protection to ensure the heater will shut off quickly before it overheats or when it gets knocked over. These safety features help you have peace of mind while using the oil heaters knowing they aren’t going to start a fire.
Pros
- The stylish black steel design looks good in any room setting
- Overheat protection ensures the oil heaters won’t start a fire
- Three heat settings to keep you comfortable in any weather
- Adjustable temperature and thermostat offers the right room temperature
Cons
- Power cor may be a little short for some
- Lacks a remote control and must be turned on manually
Conclusion
In a world where more and more people are doing whatever they can to save money on heating electricity bills, oil heaters have quickly proven themselves to be viable solutions that deliver you plenty of heat when and where you need it most. Their designs and capacity to radiate heat in all directions instead of just blowing it in one make them reliable sources of warmth throughout colder months.
We hope today’s article on our top pick oil filled heater reviews has given you enough information to make the right decision. If you’re still not sure which one to get, we’d recommend for you to just pick one from our list above and you can rest easy knowing you’ll get decades of reliable use from them.