Best Oil-filled Heaters | 2022 Beneficial Buyer’s Guide
What is the best oil-filled heater? An oil-filled heater is the best choice for small rooms. However, you can make some calculations to make sure that the unit you are going to buy will suit your needs. Just measure the width and length of the room and multiply the results together. Then, check the product's description to see what size of the room it can warm up. Another essential factor to consider is the output, which will tell you how powerful the appliance is. The wattage should not be less than 600W, but the best options have an output of 1500W and over. That said, we do not recommend buying heaters with more than 2000W power as they are not energy-efficient. A user-friendly digital display, timer, thermostat, and multiple output settings are must-have features for a modern oil-filled heater. We believe that the NewAir Electric Oil-Filled Space Heater fits these criteria best.
What You Will Learn from This Guide:
What to Look For When Buying an Oil-Filled Heater
There’s not much to really say here that isn’t common sense; hence we’re not spending much time on this. We’ll discuss these limitations at more length in the next section, but you will want to consider a few key points.
How big is your room you wish to heat? This will impact the size, the BTU output, and whether or not you want one with a blower. Letting heat naturally spread and fill a room happens, but it needs some force behind it if you want some real speed. Just letting it spread on its own is a process called “diffusion”, which is the movement of high-energy particles to low-energy spaces (or particles from places where there are many, to places where there are few).
You also need to be aware of wattage/amperage/voltage concerns, as these can overload circuits and cause electrical fires if they run too hard.
While the area in which I live has mild winters, to say the least, even here it can get chilly enough to need some heat. A whole host of technologies can be employed to generate heat, so you’re left with a variety of choices at the end of the day, so it can seem like a bit of a hassle to figure out which approach is right for you.
Today, we’re going to talk about oil heaters, which span the gamut of “heater oil” and kerosene, with the latter being the more common. In fact, these two fuel sources are more or less interchangeable to a degree, with many heaters being able to deal with them both. Kerosene is actually a bit more volatile, though, so you will want to be sure your heater is rated to handle something this refined, but we’ll get into that.
What we’re talking about today, though, isn’t an oil-burning heater but rather an oil-filled heater, which is a very different kind of technology. Yeah, this may feel like a little bit of a fake-out to you initially, but I wanted to discuss traditional oil heaters first, so when I pointed the difference out, you’d see why these oil-filled ones are different.
What are they? Well, they’re basically portable electric radiators. They don’t use steam nor compressed hot air pumped into them from a central line, but rather heated oil pumped into radiator pipes, which then heats the air around them. Some of them also have a mild blower fan to move the air more quickly.
These are electric-powered, which has disadvantages compared to oil-burning heaters, as we’ll see in a moment.
So, I said we’d touch on some of the limits and disadvantages to these, but there are also advantages. First, let’s touch on the benefits.
One benefit of this type of heater is it’s almost entirely free of fire risks if you use it properly. The oil could cause injuries if exposed to it when heated, which is called for being absolutely sure you watch the pressure and keep an eye on the integrity, but accidents like this are rare.
This is, again, the safest approach to electric heating, as no red-hot elements nor ceramics are present to start fires or spark. Being portable and simple, they’re very convenient and suitable for just about any kind of environment, with exceptions where the room is entirely too big for something like this.
Cons are the aforementioned volume primarily. These heaters aren’t made to heat gigantic rooms, so if you want to do so, you may need multiple heaters. This brings back the problem of electricity still being somewhat inefficient, as I said in the opening of this piece. However, heaters like this that just use thermal radiation are more efficient than in other cases.
The problem behind their electric nature really shows in that infrastructure versus the harsh winter thing I mentioned. See, winters in the north and in the Midwest do have the occasional (or frequent, depending on where you are) tendency to knock power out. Combustion heat works fine in light of this, but if you depend on electricity, you may have a problem. You’ll need a generator to stand up to this kind of problem, which can be a whole set of problems itself. We’ll probably look at generators at some point – we need them down here often enough due to hurricanes being a menace to modern electric living.
These are really the only problems these have, and their safety, simplicity and portability make up for it in many cases.
So, when are these the most called for to use? Well, let’s look at a few cases.
- Heating an attic or basement when it’s exceptionally cold can be easily done with one of these heaters, and safely at that.
- Heating a smaller garage can also be effectively done with one of these.
- Heating a guest house or shed is often done with these if it’s to be a temporary situation.
- Small workshops are sometimes heated with these.
- These make for good emergency heaters if the central heat fails or you run out of fuel before your tanks can be refilled. No need to freeze while waiting for the gas, man!
TOP Best Oil-Filled Heaters
Below, you will find the two most popular oil-filled heaters on the market from one of the most trusted brands — DeLonghi and NewAir. These products come at a price of about $70 but do not have many distinctions between each other. However, the second one is more lightweight, has a better interface and a longer cord.
De'Longhi Full Room Radiant Heater
DeLonghi is a respected producer of heaters and other utility devices like this. So, you know you’re getting something with some reliable, decent build quality. They’ve been pioneers in oil-filled radiator heating, so you’re getting something of the latest technologies with this as well.
If I had one nitpick, it’s something familiar to many of these heaters, I don’t like wheels like these. They’re the same swivel wheels that office chairs use, and they’re a menace. The cord is also kind of short as well.
Features
- Voltage: 110v (US).
- Power Supply: Corded electric.
- Weight: 26.6lbs.
- Blower: No.
- Color: White.
Performance
The lack of a passive blower makes this kind of slow, but overall, it works quite well. As I said, the big problem is how short the cord is, and I can’t be the only one who finds wheels like this annoying. I know it’s meant to make moving it around easy, but at 26.6lbs, it’s not very heavy.
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DeLonghi: Check the current price
NewAir Electric Oil-Filled Space Heater
This is almost identical in every way to the DeLonghi, but I’d say the interface is vastly better, and it has a much longer cord, both of which are big improvements. The downside is that it, too, has those annoying wheels, which seem to be a common trend with this technology, alas.
Features
- Voltage: 110v (US).
- Power Supply: Corded electric.
- Weight: 19lbs.
- Blower: No.
- Color: Black and gray.
Performance
This performs pretty much just as well as the other one, really, the big differences are in the lovely, long cord and the better interface. This is a more updated exterior design and form factor, which is surprising given that DeLonghi is usually known for its modern sensibilities.
Of the two on this list, I like this one a little bit more, despite the fact that NewAir isn’t as vetted of a brand, though, man, those wheels. I’ve had one of these go rolling across a room from just a house settling before, so I advise you to remove the wheels or just not add them when you unbox these.
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NewAir: Check the current price
12 Best-Selling Oil-filled Heaters Comparative Table
Most Popular | Best Trusted
De'Longhi Comfort Temp Full Room Radiant by Amazon.com
- LOWER ENERGY BILLS: By heating only the room you’re in, you can lower your household thermostat and lower your energy bills
- NO ASSEMBLY REQUIRED: Only De’Longhi has patented Smart Snap pre-assembled wheels that require no assembly and make it easy to move from room to room
- COMFORT TEMP TECHNOLOGY: Cuts your costs by automatically maintaining the optimal temperature and power settings
PELONIS Electric 1500W Oil Filled Radiator Heater by Amazon.com
- [Efficient Heating & Multiple settings] Three heating options (900w, 1500w, mode) and five temperature settings (65F, 70F, 75F, 80F and 85F) to achieve customized temperature settings with maximized efficiency and warmth. Enjoying user-friendly features including the LCD screen, programmable thermostat, remote control, and 10-hour Timer.
- [Portability] 4- swivel Caster Wheels capable of 360°rotation provides easy portability to move your Polonis space heater from room to room.
- [Safety Features] Power indicator light lets you know the unit is ON, built-in safety, over-heat protection and a tip-over safety switch shut the heater off if accidentally knocked over.
DeLonghi, Quiet 1500W, Adjustable Oil-Filled Radiator Space Heater, 14" w x 6" d x 25" h, Black
- LOWER ENERGY BILLS: By heating only the room you’re in, you can lower your thermostat and lower energy bills.
- SAFETY TECHNOLOGY: Perfect for family use, De’Longhi’s safety features include a thermal shut-off that prevents overheating.
- NO ASSEMBLY REQUIRED: Only De’Longhi has patented SmartSnap pre-assembled wheels that require no assembly and make it easy to move from room to room.
- COMFORT TEMP TECHNOLOGY: Cuts your costs by automatically maintaining the optimal temperature and power settings.
- MAINTENANCE-FREE SYSTEM: The oil system is permanently sealed, so you never need to worry about refilling the heater.
- PERSONALIZED COMFORT: Adjustable thermostat and multiple heat settings
- STAY COZY AND SAVE ENERGY. Carving out a comfortable room, desk, or another cozy spot for work, focus, and learning is more important than ever. Add this heater to your designated space to keep it cozy—optimizing productivity and turning an unexpected challenge into an energy-saving win
Products with 5-star rating
Other Popular
Dreo Radiator Heater, 2021 Upgrade 1500W Electric Portable Space Oil Filled Heater with Remote Control, 4 Modes,...
- Up to 300 sq.ft. Heating for Whole Room: 1500W high power, spindle-shaped openings and M-shaped heating fins create stack effect to provide 360° efficient circulation of hot air in rooms up to 300 square feet, keeping your home cozy and warm without drying out the air. Dreo oil radiator heater is your best go-to in winter.
- Feel Heat Faster: The spindle-shaped openings, 225mm(55% larger than others)enlarged fins and Dual U-shaped heating tubes make the Dreo oil radiator heater so effective in distributing heat that the heat can be doubled and released quickly, evenly and efficiently to a large area or the entire room.
- Cool Touch Design: With the wraparound heating fins design, the heating element and fins are not directly exposed, preventing burn risks. The exteriors are also specially treated to be only at 80℃ at most during use, 30% less hot to the touch than most oil heaters.
- Enhanced Safety: Dreo Oil Filled Radiator Heater made of V0 flame retardant materials was certified by UL. Built-in tip-over switch, Dreo Oil-filled heater will automatically shut off while tip-over by accident to ensure you and your family are safe and worry-free.
- Energy Efficient: Equipped with 600W/900W/1500W heating modes, this space heater also features a smart ECO mode that adjusts the working mode based on the room temperature with built-in precise temperature sensor, continuously keeping your home in constant warmth while saving more on your energy bills in winter.
- Easy to Use: A remote is included to allow you to mute, set a timer, and access other functions of this oil-filled radiator heater from 19 feet away. Universal wheels make moving this big guy a breeze. Assembly is super easy — Just open the bottom brackets and insert the wheels directly. No tools needed!
- Warm Before Arriving Home: Dreo oil radiator heater comes with a 24-hour timer, you can set the timer in 1 hour increments. Not only can you set the auto off time, you can also set the auto on time while on standby. Always stay warm when at home!
PELONIS PHO15A2AGW, Basic Electric Oil Filled Radiator, 1500W Portable Full Room Radiant Space Heater with...
- [Efficient Heating & Adjustable thermostat] Featuring 3 heat settings (600, 900, and 1500 watts) corresponding LOW, MID, and HIGH options with a mechanical adjustable thermostat, the Pelonis oil-filled radiator heater allows you to customize your heating needs during the cold weather with high energy-efficiency.
- [Portability] Equipped with 4 heavy-duty universal casters and a front carry handle provide easy portability to move your Pelonis space heater from room to room.
- [Safety First] Power indicator light lets you know the unit is ON, built-in safety, over-heat protection and tip-over safety switch shut the heater off if accidentally knocked over.
- [Quiet Operation] Enjoy peace and quiet room while keeping your space warm and cozy without annoying heater sounds that disturb you from sleep, work, meditation, chat or anything that requires a peaceful environment.
When You Should Use Oil-Filled Heaters
I know that here in Florida, many people simply refuse to turn their heat on in the winter because it’s “not cold enough to run the bill up”. That’s a thing with electric heat, the primary way people heat their homes down here. Electric heat is probably the safest way to do it these days (though there’s no such thing as 100% safe), but this comes at the expense of using a lot of electricity to generate heat. Electric heat is not very efficient compared to combustion, which is obviously the oldest way to generate heat.
Combustion can be achieved in a few ways because many substances burn very hot but have a sufficiently low flash point to be practical. Among these are natural gas, propane, butane, and oil. Oil can refer to a specific grade of actual heater oil, but it often is also shorthand for kerosene.
This isn’t very practical in the southern part of the United States because we don’t need that kind of heat, and winter weather isn’t the threat to our infrastructure as it is in the north and the Midwest.
If you do live in one of these areas, where winters can be pretty severe, unless you have a generator, you will probably not want to depend on electricity to heat your home.
