Why Choose an Oil Radiator?
Oil-filled radiators are an excellent option for keeping your home warm. They are affordable and provide efficient heating.
But how do you choose the best oil heater? The best model to choose will depend on room size along with features, wattage, and user-friendliness.
The right oil radiator to choose
The Ideal Home team has compared the top-selling oil radiators and compared their cost of operation, ease of use and heating performance. We've chosen our overall winner, as well as the best models for small rooms, big spaces and those for a budget.
A radiator that is filled with oil uses electrical elements to heat the thermodynamic oil which then warms the metal wall of the radiator. This creates a convection phenomenon whereby air passes across the surface of the radiator and gets heated, rising to warm the the room. This type of heater can take longer to heat than other types but once it is hot, it can retain heat for a long period of time.
You can also regulate your radiator by using a thermostat or timer to set the temperature throughout the day. This is particularly useful when you're away from the home for long periods of time as it can pre-heat your space to a comfortable and energy efficient temperature. It can also pause your heating when it senses the room is empty to avoid wasting electricity while still maintaining a comfortable temperature.
In addition to the ability to set your desired temperature, some oil radiators can be controlled via WiFi, which means they can be controlled using an app on your smartphone or tablet. This allows you to control your heating according to your schedule or alter it as your routine changes.
Therefore, the best oil radiators that meet your needs are ones that have a simple user interface and controls that are simple to comprehend. This makes them perfect for busy families that require an efficient heating system that you can trust to work without the requirement for professional installation. The majority of the radiators we offer come with a carry handle and wheels that make them portable, meaning that they can be moved from room to another as needed. These radiators are ideal for bathrooms as well as spare bedrooms, offices and even to use with your main heating system during cold weather.
Thermostatic valves
Thermostatic vales form an integral part in any radiator system that runs on oil. They not only regulate the temperature of the room, but also guard against scalding and reduce the use of energy. They use thermosensitive capsules that sense the temperature of the air and then adjust the amount of water is fed to the radiator to maintain the desired temperature.
A thermostatic valve (TRV) comprises two major parts - the head and the body. The head is situated on top of the valve body. When the temperature of the room changes the capsule inside the head expands or contracts, causing the pin on body to open or close the radiator. When the TRV is closed, the valve's head is pressurized against the body. It is not possible for water to flow through. When the TRV is opened the pin will move upwards and the head of the valve will be lifted, allowing hot liquid to flow into the radiator and warm the room up.
There are a variety of designs and colors of TRVs to choose from, which makes them suitable for a variety of spaces. Regular cleaning is essential to keeping your TRVs working correctly. Dust and other debris could block the vents on the valve head, which can then stop air from getting into the liquid or wax capsule inside the body of the valve. This could cause the pin to become stuck, which can stop the valve from closing or opening. If this occurs, spray the valve's head with WD40 before trying moving it using your fingers.
Depending on the type of heating system you have depending on the type of heating system you have, you may require straight or angled thermostatic valves. The valves with angles can be used in tight spaces such as corners or between furniture. Radiators in bathrooms and kitchens are often fitted with these valves. Straight valves are great for larger radiators. They also have an integrated shut-off valve. This is useful if need to shut off a radiator, but not turn the heating system off.
Manual valves
A valve is an electronic device that opens and shuts passageways to allow, regulate or prevent fluid flow. Valves come in a variety of different kinds each with its particular mechanisms and functions. The type of valve that's most suitable for your system will depend on the particular application.
Manual radiator valves are a popular option due to their cost and simple to use. They function in the same way to taps, with you turning the handle counter-clockwise to turn them on, and clockwise to turn them off. Manual valves aren't able to have complete control over the temperature and can overheat when left on for too long.
Thermostatic radiator valves are capable of controlling your heating system, and they can automatically regulate temperature in each room. This allows you heat your home only when it is not in use, which saves your energy costs.
In hydronic systems manual balance valves can be used to help ensure that water flows evenly through a building's coils. This is important to avoid the common complaint of hot or cold zones. The issue occurs when pressure changes alter the flow of water in the system and affect the heat transfer which causes one coil to have too much flow and another to not have enough.
Manual balancing valves were designed to reduce this problem by adjusting the flow of water in each zone to compensate for the variations in flow caused by pressure fluctuations. They are available in a variety of sizes and materials, with the most common being cast iron. Other options include stainless-steel chrome alloy brass, and bronze. These valves can be found in flanged or threaded ends as well as socket-weld and butt-weld connections. Most manual balancing valves have an element of the valve that is able to rotate to open and close the passageway, although some also permit the throttling of flow. Certain valves come with switches or indicators that can be operated remotely to indicate their condition.
Power requirements
Oil radiators are able to heat up a space by using both radiant and convective heating. The thermal fluid inside the radiator can reach all corners and the nooks. As a result, they use less energy than traditional forced-air heating systems.
This makes them more energy efficient than central heating radiators since they don't depend on a pipe network to circulate warm air throughout the home. The only thing that will impact their power consumption is the wattage which determines the amount of heat they generate in an hour. This information is found on the packaging of the product and on our website.
Electricity is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), so it's important to understand this measurement when calculating the running costs of an electric heater. To calculate the power consumption of a radiator multiply the power rating in watts by the amount of time you intend to use it for per hour. Divide the total by your energy provider's pence per kWh to determine the cost to run.
oil heating radiators of the most important aspects to consider when choosing an electric radiator is the amount of insulation you have in your office or home. A good insulation will allow the radiator to retain its heat for longer and require less energy. If you reside in a cold or humid location, you might want to choose an electric radiator with a higher wattage to warm the room faster.
Oil-filled radiators use the same amount of energy as electric radiators to heat a space. This is because an electrical element heats the oil within the radiator and then transfers the warmth to the room through air convection. Keep in mind that a draughty or large room will require more energy to heat.
You can reduce the amount of energy your radiator consumes by turning it off only when you need it and avoiding leaving it turned on for too long between use. You can also boost efficiency through features like eco-modes and clocks that can be programmed.