An oil-filled electric radiator heater is one of the safest heaters you can use indoors. Electric radiant heaters are safe because thermostats maintain a constant temperature, stay cool to the touch, and don’t produce carbon monoxide, smoke, or other toxic fumes like propane or kerosene heaters.
Electric radiator space heaters are more efficient for supplemental heating to your central heating system than propane heaters.
Best Electric Radiator Heaters
The many choices can be confusing when shopping for an electric radiant heater. We’ve compiled a list of the best electric radiant heaters with portable and wall mounting options. These are affordable and safe to use in your home, even around kids and pets.
De’Longhi Oil-Filled Radiator Space Heater
The De’Longhi Oil-Filled Radiator Space Heater is one of the best space heaters your can buy. It’s a freestanding black-colored electric-corded radiator that utilizes the radiant heating method that is completely safe to use. Therefore, it is more efficient, reduces energy bills, and doesn’t spread allergens.
In addition, the heating method provides a more consistent temperature, prevents arid conditions in your space, and enhances their ability to be silent.
The high-quality steel construction material enhances the radiator’s durability. And its diathermic oil container is sealed, ensuring it won’t ever need refilling. As a result, you will spend less on long-term maintenance costs.
Due to the 1500-watt rating, the De’Longhi radiator heater produces enough heat for a standard-sized room, allowing you to stay cozy even on cold nights. Furthermore, it utilizes a unique thermal slot design and eco mode, maintaining a low surface temperature while maximizing heat flow. It is also quiet.
And if you are uncomfortable, its adjustable built-in thermostat has three settings that enable you to adjust the heat according to your preference. In addition, its digital control panel with a LED display is easy to use and even incorporates a 24-hour timer.
If you are worried about excessive heat, the thermal shutoff feature comes in handy. And so does the child lock that safeguards your kids. And its freestanding design means you can move it around to a more secure place.
Heat Storm Wi-Fi Infrared Radiant Heater, Wall Mounted
The Heat Storm Wi-Fi Infrared Radiant Heater has a wall-mounted design, making it attractive and an excellent choice for a smaller space heater. However, it is light enough to be portable.
It has a 1500-watt rating and uses radiant heating to increase the room temperature enhancing its energy efficiency. Its heating method also ensures the air is not dried out and heat is well distributed. Also, you can use it to heat spaces of up to 750 square feet. And you can hide the cord inside the heater if you don’t want it to be visible.
Also, the casing of the radiant heater has a safe-to-the-touch grill. In addition, the wall stays cool, ensuring nothing burns or gets scorched. And the HMS dual wall technology makes the heater pretty energy-efficient.
Furthermore, the Heat Storm heater is Wi-Fi enabled. Therefore, you can control the temperature from your phone without moving.
It is worth noting that the Heat Storm radiator is ETL certified. Additional features include a programmable digital thermostat and remote.
Dreo Portable Electric Radiator Heater
The Dreo Portable Electric Radiator Heater is a 1500-watt black radiator that uses radiant and convection heating to warm up spaces of up to 300 square feet. It has M-shaped heating fins and spindle-shaped openings that enable it to circulate air all around it quickly and efficiently, keeping it cozy on cold wintry nights.
The freestanding Dreo radiator is also portable and easy to move around.
In addition, the radiator’s casing covers the heating elements and fins and is treated to be only 80°C hot and 30 percent cooler than many other oil heaters. So, you don’t have to worry about getting burned. Also, it has a high flash point of 230°C.
The oil-filled radiator also uses V0 flame retardant materials. And it further enhances user safety by incorporating a tip-over switch that automatically shuts off the radiator when it tips over accidentally.
Also, the Dreo electric fan heater includes three heat settings whose power ranges from 600W to 1500W. Its eco mode uses the accurate temperature sensor to adjust the warmth of your space while saving you money. A 24-hour timer also exists and enables you to automatically shut the radiator on and off even when you are away from home.
Honeywell HZ-789 EnergySmart Electric Oil Heater
The Honeywell HZ-789 EnergySmart Electric Oil-Based Heater is a portable space heater with an easy-to-pull handle and wheels, so you can move it around to whichever room you need it. It has a 360-degree tip-over switch that switches off the radiator when it falls over or is on unstable ground, enhancing your safety. And it uses radiant heating, a ceramic fan, and forced air to heat the room.
The radiator’s safety features are further enhanced by thermally insulated wiring and overheat protection to prevent overheating automatically. And it also incorporates EnergySmart technology in the form of an adjustable thermostat with three heat settings to enable you to adjust the temperature until you are comfortable. The technology also tells you your energy usage and self-regulates heat, saving you money.
In addition, the silent 1500-watt Honeywell radiator comes with digital EasySet Controls with a timer. So, you can program your heater to automatically switch on and off even when you aren’t nearby.
PELONIS Electric Oil Heater
The PELONIS Electric Oil Heater is a 1500-watt radiator that uses forced air to distribute heat. The heater is quiet, allowing you to enjoy a cozy space while concentrating on whatever you are doing.
Also, the 16.09-pound radiator with 4-swivel caster wheels can rotate 360 degrees. It is light, cool to touch, and easy to maneuver, making it portable. So, you can move it around from one room to another, depending on the space you want to heat. And the hook on the side ensures the cord stays out of the way until you need it.
In addition, the PELONIS heater has three heating settings, including ECO mode, 900W (low), and 1500W (high), allowing you to reduce or increase your power usage accordingly. And it also has five temperature settings ranging from 65°F to 85°F, enabling you to enhance heating efficiency and personal comfort.
Furthermore, the radiator has a user-friendly LCD screen, programmable thermostat, 10-hour timer, and remote control. These features allow you to control it even when you are far away from home and make it convenient.
Amazon Basics Indoor Portable Electric Radiator Heater
The Amazon Basics Radiator Heater uses radiant heating to heat spaces of up to 144 square feet. Its wheels snap right into place, easing installation and making it easy to move around. And when you do, the 72-inch power cord stays out of place courtesy of a side storage hook. Furthermore, its nonslip base ensures it stays put without slipping.
Also, it consists of rust-resistant steel, enhancing its durability. And its three heat settings enhance your comfort. In addition, it has seven permanently sealed oil-filled fins containing diathermic oil, making them excellent heat carriers that are virtually maintenance-free. And it is silent, allowing you to enjoy the heat in peace.
Safety features for this radiator include fully enclosed heating elements that reduce the risk of fire, a thermal cut-off to prevent overheating, and an anti-freeze setting that automatically switches on the radiator when the temperatures go below a specified point.
What to Consider When Shopping for the Best Electric Radiant Heater
Below are the factors to consider when shopping for oil-filled radiant heaters.
Electric Radiator’s Price
The cost of the radiator you want to buy is always a factor. Your budget will limit what kind of product you can get.
Radiators, like the many types of small space heaters, vary in terms of features, brand, style, and quality. Naturally, these things affect their purchasing, operational, and maintenance costs. So, it’s essential to consider not just what you will spend on buying a radiator but also what you will spend on electricity and long-term repairs and replacement.
For starters, a standard electric radiator heater will cost anywhere from $200 to $1,500, though some may cost much less. So that’s a wide range of costs to suit many budgets. But it would help if you also considered whether the labor costs are included in that price. The more work you need to do to install a radiator, the more initial costs it will have. In addition, you also need to consider the delivery fees.
Another critical aspect of the cost you should think about is how much you will pay for both thermal oil. Mineral oil, such as diathermic oil, is popularly used in oil-filled radiators because they are excellent heat carriers.
But how much you use will depend on the kind of radiator you choose. Also, you should consider the electrical requirements of your radiator. The wattage and electricity tariffs will largely determine costs in this regard. But a standard 1500W heater will cost about $25 a month if you run it on for eight hours daily.
Space You’re Heating
The amount of space you need to heat also affects your choice of radiator heater. You require a bigger and possibly more expensive heater to warm larger spaces than any small room. So, if you need to heat both small and large rooms, it may be best to consider the needs of the bigger spaces. Of course, you can always leave the radiator on for a shorter time in the smaller rooms.
When calculating how much heat you need for each space in your home or office, you will measure it in British Thermal Units or BTU per hour. It is based on how much energy is required to heat one pound of water and raise its temperature by one degree Fahrenheit.
One way to determine your BTU needs is by measuring the area of your space in square feet and calculating the volume by multiplying the area by height. If your room is odd-shaped, you need to divide it into measurable sections and tally the measurements of each of them to determine the total size you need to heat.
Various climatic conditions, room positions, and use of spaces will also determine how many BTUs your radiator will need. For example, you should multiply the cubic feet by five to obtain the estimated BTU for a living room. The same rule applies to a dining room. However, your bedroom volume should be multiplied by four while other common areas, like the kitchen, should be multiplied by three.
On the other hand, you need to add 20 percent to your BTU estimate if you have French windows and 15 percent for rooms facing North, but subtract at least 10 percent if you have installed double-glazed windows.
Of course, if you are in a hot climate zone, you will require less heat than those living in icy areas. Therefore, it would be best to use an online calculator to determine how many BTUs you would need for your location, then research the radiator that can deliver that amount of heat.
Oil-Filled Heater Wattage
You may also want to factor in your oil-based heater’s wattage because it affects your energy bills.
Generally, dividing your estimated number of BTUs by 3.41 will give you an idea of the radiator’s wattage, allowing you to select the right one for your needs. For example, if the space you need to heat requires 3,410 BTUs, you must purchase a 1,000-watt radiator.
Style of Radiator Heater
Concerning oil-based electric radiators, several styles exist. First, you can opt for wall-mounted radiators, which you can install on the wall. These heaters are excellent for narrow or small spaces because they take advantage of the existing vertical space.
Alternatively, you can opt for freestanding radiators. These can stand independently in any room in which they are installed. And they are excellent options if you are looking for portable heaters you can move from one room to another.
In addition, you should consider the heating method. Some heat the room in the form of radiant or convection heat, while others use forced air. Each way offers its pros and cons. So, it helps to understand the benefits your radiator offers.
Radiator Fans and Noise Levels
Electric radiators are generally more efficient than other types of radiators, such as ceramic heaters, that use different power sources. And they often use radiant heat, which involves heat emission by heated surfaces. However, many also require fans, whose efficiency levels are measured as cubic feet per minute (CFM).
The general rule of thumb is that a higher CFM rating means a fan can move larger volumes of air. This is because the more efficient a fan is, the higher the volume of air it can move per minute. But that also means they might be noisier.
A drawback to larger fans is that they tend to be noisy fans.
So, it would help if you also judged radiators based on their noise levels. The more silent they are, the better off you will be. Then, you can have peace when using them.
Ease of Use
A radiator’s ease of use begins right from its installation. If you need to use it only in one area, it should be placed where it is out of the way, enabling you to heat the room efficiently. However, if you need to use it for multiple spaces, it should be portable so you can cart it around.
It also helps to consider the safety features since oil-filled heaters can be a fire hazard when misused. For that reason, you need to look for radiator guards to keep flammable materials farther away from the heat, high-quality thermal fuses to trigger an automatic- shutoff in case of a problem, and tilt sensors to cut off power when the radiator is destabilized.
In addition, you can consider any bells and whistles that make a radiator easy to use. For example, a programmable thermostat with different temperature settings enables you to pre-set your desired temperatures, depending on the energy you need at any given time. In addition, some adjustable thermostats are so intelligent and precise that when the room temperature rises above a specific level, they will shut down the radiator and save you energy and money.
Also, you can shop for radiator heaters that allow for remote control via Wi-Fi or a mobile app. It will enable you to set that digital thermostat even when you are not home.
Are Electric Radiator Heaters Safe?
Standard electric heaters are pretty safe. However, their safety standards vary depending on the materials’ quality, built-in safety features, usage, and testing done by institutions, such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. So, you may want to pay attention to recalled products as your research’s first step.
Electric Radiator Heater FAQs
Below are answers to some of the electric radiator heater FAQs.
Do Electric Radiator Heaters Use a lot of Electricity?
Electric radiators convert 100 percent of electrical energy into heat, making them very energy-efficient. However, whether they use a lot of electricity depends on how well insulated your home is and how much heating you like to do.
The more energy-efficient your home office or any other room is, the less electricity you will use. Also, if you live in a cold climate, expect to spend more on your electrical bills.
It is also worth noting that oil-filled heaters are energy-saving. That’s because the electricity heats the oil, which takes a long time to cool.
Are Electric Radiators a Good Idea?
Electrical radiators are an excellent idea if you are connected to the electric grid. And oil-filled ones can maintain heat for longer. Therefore, you should use these kinds of radiators for heating regular-used spaces for prolonged periods.
Are Radiant Heaters Safe to Use Around Children and Pets?
Remember that young children and pets tend to explore and get in trouble. So, no matter how safe an electric radiator is rated, you have to be extra careful to ensure kids don’t make it unsafe to use. In addition, the radiators can be hot to the touch causing burns.
Can an Electric Radiator Heat a Room?
Electric radiators can heat an entire room. But how well they do that depends on their wattage and the amount of heat they can produce.
Are Electric Radiators Cheap to Run?
Electric radiators can be cheap to run if they are made of high-quality materials and use innovative technology to set the thermostat, so the radiator only switches itself on when it needs to and off when heating is no longer required.
Can You Leave An Oil-Filled Radiator On Overnight?
You can leave an oil-filled radiator on overnight in some circumstances as long as it lacks an exposed heating element and is designed not to get too hot.
However, there is always a small risk of fire. But you can lower that risk if you ensure your children and pets don’t have access to the heater. Also, it would be best if the radiator has in-built safety features, such as timers and anti-tilt sensors, that shut it off when it tilts or experiences any other issues.
