Electric heaters

[Goldilox]

Since the old three bar electric fire has been relegated to the shed for the last year (because it doesn't work), this cold spell has prompted me to look for a new electric heater for the living room.

They all seem cheap enough to purchase but I'm a bit bewildered as to whether I should look at an electric fan heater, a halogen heater, a convection heater or an oil radiator. I'd be interested if anyone has any experience of the effectiveness vs. the running cost of the various kinds.

This would be just as an extra in addition to the central heating for cold evenings or extra cosiness, but I'm not in the least bothered about it looking like a real fire, I just want my living room to be less cold...

Any advice gratefully received

 

[tek-monkey]

Cling film over the windows! Otherwise I dunno, the halogen ones heat up much quicker than oil radiators, but cost more to run I think? Although ours is only 1200w and kicks out a lot of heat so god knows, I've seen 2Kw oil rads.

 

[basil]

Convectors tend to give quick relief from the cold not cheap to run but the instant fix outweighs that.....

 

[Goldilox]

Cling film over the windows! Otherwise I dunno, the halogen ones heat up much quicker than oil radiators, but cost more to run I think? Although ours is only 1200w and kicks out a lot of heat so god knows, I've seen 2Kw oil rads.

This is one aspect that has confused me. The kinds I thought most expensive to run, i.e. fan and halogen heaters, appear to have significantly lower ratings (1.2-1.6kw) than the other kinds (2kw and above).

I've not clingfilmed the windows yet, but I did re-seal them all with draftproofing tape last year.

 

[John Marwood]

I once wore my pants on my head it was so cold

And that was in Cyprus

 

[basil]

I once wore my pants on my head it was so cold

And that was in Cyprus

In the turkish bit, no doubt........

 

[wmrcomputers]

The kinds I thought most expensive to run, i.e. fan and halogen heaters, appear to have significantly lower ratings (1.2-1.6kw) than the other kinds (2kw and above).

Basically, you need to weigh up what you think you need. The fan heaters and halogen heaters diirectly heat the air in a room. They are on pretty much non stop to do so, and the second you turn them off the room usually goes cold quicker than it warmed it up. Lets imagine a 1.2kW halogen heater on for 5 hours. Constantly on = total useage = 6kW.
Now imagine a 2kW oil filled radiator. This might be on for the first full hour gettiing the oil up to temperature, but then only 20 minutes in each hour cutting back in again. Total useage = 4.6kW.

So it doesn't always mean that the lower wattage ones are cheaper to run.

As basil has pojnted out, if you want something to warm you up quickly for 30 mins or so until your radiators get up to temp, go for a fan heater. Not cheap to run, but you want to be warm right?
If cost is most important, oil filled rads are about the best I know of, but they aren't gonna make you feel toasty for the first good hour.

Hope this helps

 

[supernova]

I recently bought a great little Dimplex convector heater with a turbo fan integrated into it (fan for extra power if you want it), from Argos. It's amazing how much instant heat it kicks out on the high setting.

I looked at oil-filled rads before, but I think they're less economical as it takes a while to heat the oil before you feel any warmth.

My convector heater has 2 heat settings and a thermostat so with a bit of jiggling about with the controls I find it's quite economical to leave it on the thermostat all night just to take the chill of the bedroom rather than have all the rads on all over the house throughout the night.
Also because its small and lightweight you can take it any room where you need some quick heat. Like you OP I only need it on these bitterly cold nights.

See what you think:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4152246/Trail/searchtext%3ECONVECTOR+HEATER.htm

 

[Gramaisc]

There is some interesting discussion here. I'm glad you used the word 'effectiveness', and not 'efficiency'. All electric heaters are essentially 100% efficient at the point of use. A 1kW heater of any form will put 1kW into the room, but there are difference in the 'perception of comfort' which may be dependent on the sort of activity and personal preferences. A fan heater will raise the air temperature throughout the room quickly, but a radiant heater will raise the temperature of the surfaces in the room, which can be an important part of 'feeling' warm.

 

[henryscat]

I have a Calor gas fire in my living room which is super toasty. It chucks out 4kw on full pelt but rarely need it on anything other than the low setting. The fire was £80 and runs off 15kg butane cylinders which are £30 a go, but have never got through more than two of those in the space of a winter. Its effectively pay as you go so no nasty surprises with leccy bill as running electric heaters isn't very cheap. Bought the fire from the Country Stores place on Tollgate Industrial Estate and they supplied with 7kg cylinder for free. Also various flavours of fire here: http://www.lpg-portable-heaters.co.uk/acatalog/

 

[supernova]

I have a Calor gas fire in my living room which is super toasty. It chucks out 4kw on full pelt but rarely need it on anything other than the low setting. The fire was £80 and runs off 15kg butane cylinders which are £30 a go, but have never got through more than two of those in the space of a winter. Its effectively pay as you go so no nasty surprises with leccy bill as running electric heaters isn't very cheap. Bought the fire from the Country Stores place on Tollgate Industrial Estate and they supplied with 7kg cylinder for free. Also various flavours of fire here: http://www.lpg-portable-heaters.co.uk/acatalog/

Those calor gas heaters look quite cool now don't they? I've never seen any other than the 'old fashioned' ones with the grille and white blocks in the front and def cheaper to run as you say.

 

[wmrcomputers]

@henryscat... there's a place near penkridge (jnct 12) that you can take your emplties to and they only charge about £16 for a refill. It's a place that does LPG for cars - that's how I first discovered them. I now go there to pick up calor bottles for our friend.

 

[Trumpet]

+1 on the calor gas heaters, instant heat and, relatively cheap to run. Usualy get my refills from Traction Equipment, don't know how much they are this year as I haven't had to fire mine up yet this winter.

 

[henryscat]

@henryscat... there's a place near penkridge (jnct 12) that you can take your emplties to and they only charge about £16 for a refill. It's a place that does LPG for cars - that's how I first discovered them. I now go there to pick up calor bottles for our friend.

Ta - shall have a look!

 

[wmrcomputers]

If you head from penridge down towards J12 (is it the A5?), then it's on the right a short way past the petrol station that's on the left. You'll see signs in yellow saying LPG and an arrow. It takes you down about 3 or 400 yards down a lane and then you'll see their big gas tanks.

Just pull in and tell them what your after. they're cheap AND helpful too.

 

[Trumpet]

@henryscat... there's a place near penkridge (jnct 12) that you can take your emplties to and they only charge about £16 for a refill. It's a place that does LPG for cars - that's how I first discovered them. I now go there to pick up calor bottles for our friend.

That's good to know, I've just called Traction Equipment for their prices this winter and they're after £27.83 for a 15kg bottle.

 

[John Marwood]

Calor gas sounds like a wise buy given the pressure on electricity supply

 

[Goldilox]

I ended up getting one of these just to see us through the cold spell, mainly because all the halogen ones were out of stock. Depending how useful it proves I may or may not upgrade in the future.

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

Halogen heaters are generally best.

 

[basil]

Halogen heaters are generally best.

Good shout, but where the hell have you been?.......