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Oil radiators do not have a very good reputation because they consume a relatively large amount of electricity and are therefore more inefficient than fixed radiators. That is true, but it can sometimes even be useful to buy a radiator and use it to heat. In adjoining rooms that are not permanently heated, it can be useful to heat electrically.
If the radiator is adapted to the room in terms of output and equipment, a cheap, energy-saving oil radiator can make sense and pay off on the bottom line.
In the following text you will find out what constitutes an energy-saving model, how the heating output should be, and which equipment features make sense, and finally, you will receive a list of the best of the three best energy-saving oil radiators that we determined in the test.
Which are the best energy-saving oil radiators in India?
Morphy Richards OFR 11F 11-Fin 2500 Watts Oil Filled Radiator Room Heater
The OFR 11F from Morphy Richards was able to establish itself as the best energy-saving oil radiator. It has 11 heating fins, works with 2500 watts – depending on the setting – and offers a well-functioning thermostat so that it can be operated economically, and it is also easy to use.
The device weighs only around 14 kilograms and is 74 x 52.6 x 18 centimetres in size, making it compact and easy to move. There is also a cable winder so that the device can be stowed away easily. Thanks to the overheating protection, the device also switches off if it gets too hot, which reduces the risk of fire. This model does not have a frost protection program.
The strong smell typical of radiators at the beginning disappears after a while so that it is not noticeable unpleasantly due to the smell or volume during operation. In the test, the electric radiator could be operated sensibly and efficiently in rooms up to around 15m² and, due to the low price, it offers an overall very good price-performance ratio.
Usha 3609FS PTC 2000-Watt Oil Filled Radiator
The Usha energy saving oil radiator, is amazing in terms of equipment, quality, and functions. It offers nine heating fins and is therefore suitable for somewhat larger rooms.
The power can be set in three levels between 800, 1200, and 2000 watts, which means that rooms up to a size of around 15-20m² (depending on the ceiling height) can be well heated.
Thanks to the thermostat and overheating protection, the model can be operated efficiently and with a size of 45.2 x 25 x 64 cm it is still pleasantly compact and light (6.5 kilograms). This means that it can be moved easily on the attached rollers and can be used flexibly. It stands very securely and firmly and is easy to use.
As with its other model, there is no frost protection program, but the price-performance ratio is still very good due to the low-cost price and good functions.
Havells OFR – 11Fin 2900-Watt PTC Fan Heater
The Havells model works with three power levels (1000, 1500 or 2,500 watts) and is easy and convenient to use. In the test, rooms with a size of up to around 25m² (depending on the ceiling height) could be well heated and, thanks to the thermostat, energy-saving use is possible.
In particular, the very easily adjustable and exactly starting thermostat contributed to efficient use. Thanks to the frost protection function, you can also use it very well in cold outdoor areas in continuous operation.
The rollers are foldable, which gives the radiator an additional very good stability. It is very compact (70 x 18 x 63 cm) and weighs only 17 kilograms and thanks to the cable winder it can be stowed away quickly and compactly. The bottom line is that the model is of high quality, but also costs a little more than many competing models. Unfortunately, the connection cable is shorter than many other models. As a result, they are dependent on placing the device near the socket or using an extension cable.
Buyers Info
Properties of an energy-saving oil radiator
The fact is: As the sole radiator in a large, permanently inhabited room, electric heating is always unprofitable. However, if you want to heat up a small room quickly that is not used permanently, it can make perfect sense to use a radiator. This can be a winter garden, a workshop, the garage or another room in the house in which it is not necessary to have it permanently connected to the heating circuit or where the effort would be very great to integrate it into the heating circuit.
When we talk about an energy-saving oil radiator, we mean models that regulate themselves via a thermostat and switch off accordingly when the desired temperature is reached. A small room can be heated up quickly, but the energy consumption does not increase immeasurably if you forget to switch off the device. In connection with the low-cost price compared to other heating solutions, this can result in a profitable heating concept for your garden shed, winter garden, or a hobby or other adjoining room.
Heating capacity
Basically, all radiators are constructed in a similar way, offer heating ribs to increase the surface and thus always similar or the same heating output. The selection of a suitable oil radiator for the size of the room also plays a major role in the definition of “energy-saving”. The power is given in watts and to find out whether it is worthwhile for you, you can calculate the energy consumption and thus the costs as follows:
Power consumption in watts x electricity price / kWh x duration of use = electricity costs for use
The heating output should also be selected so that it fits the room. To determine how much power the radiator should have, you can assume that around 50 watts of heating power is required per cubic meter of the room. You can use the following formula to determine the ideal heating output:
Minimum output in watts = room size in cubic meters (m³) x 50 watts.
If you want to effectively heat a room of 10 m² with a ceiling height of 2 meters, you need a radiator with a minimum output of 1,000 watts. If this is an outdoor space such as a garden shed, however, you should include a buffer, because at very cold outside temperatures you need significantly more power in order to be able to heat up quickly.
Tip: If you operate a fan in addition to the radiator, the heat can be better distributed in smaller rooms. This can also contribute to more economical operation.
Additional equipment
To save energy, a radiator should never be operated continuously. However, if it is operated in an adjoining or outside room in which pipes also run, you inevitably need a model with a frost protection program so that the pipes do not freeze up.
As already mentioned, a thermostat and the ability to set the temperature as needed are essential for energy-saving operation. A model that can only be switched on and off does not make sense. The regulation should be possible in several stages or even stepless.
If you want to use the radiator flexibly in rooms of different sizes, it makes sense to use a model with flexibly adjustable power. Also, in this case it is advisable to pay attention to the weight and the presence of rollers so that it can be moved easily. Some manufacturers offer remote controls or particularly long connection cables. Whether you need this or consider it useful is a matter of taste and depends on your needs.