An oil filled radiator is a convenient way to spot heat any area of a building that tends to be chilly. As an alternative to kerosene, halogen, or gas heaters, these radiators provide a safe and quiet heat source wherever one is needed. As portable space heaters, they offer a way to help curb high utility bills during the winter.
So how does an oil filled radiator work? Each unit contains a special heat-efficient oil inside, which is then warmed with electricity when plugged in and switched on. The heated oil circulates through the radiator coils and fins to generate warmth through the process of convection, which allows the transfer of heat through a liquid. Cold air that is heated by the warm fins then rises, drawing in the air below it, and this process repeats itself. Sealed within the radiator, the oil becomes warm but never burns, and therefore never needs replacing or refilling, allowing for efficient operation. Lacking fans to circulate the air, oil filled radiators are practically silent. Their heat-retaining abilities allow them to continue warming an area for some time even after they are switched off.
Because of the oil's high boiling point, it safely remains in liquid form even when the radiator is on full power, and this means the unit does not have to withstand high pressures. Since the oil will retain its heat for some time, these radiators will often keep an area warm on a very low setting. Oil filled radiators typically have a low surface temperature, but utilize a large surface area to heat a room quickly and maintain a certain temperature. Many models have thermostats to help reduce operating costs, automatically shutting off when a specified temperature is achieved, and some have programmable timers for more versatile heating options.
Oil filled radiators require virtually no maintenance and are safer than many other types of heaters. They lack the odors generated by gas and kerosene heaters, and their fire risk is much lower. Although not normally hot enough to burn, they do have safety covers in case of curious pets or children, and an automatic shutoff will be triggered in case of overheating or tipping.
Another advantage of oil filled radiators is their portability, although wall-mounted units are also available. Many are quite compact and lightweight, which makes transferring them to a different area easy. Some are even made to fit unobtrusively under a desk and require no more than 40 watts of power to operate; this allows them to use the same circuit as a computer, for example. This also makes them convenient for heating a small personal space in rooms that are shared with other people. Larger radiators may heat up to 150 square feet, and many of them are on wheels for easy transport.
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