Are Oil Radiators Cheaper to Run?
The simple answer is “Yes.” Oil-filled radiators run on electricity and are a great way to reduce your energy bills, as energy prices are continuously rising. Oil-filled radiators are also energy-efficient.
Misleading Information
Don’t be misled by incorrect information on the internet and YouTube videos. There are many mistakes in the calculations made by YouTubers. For example, they claim that if you run a 1.5 kWh (1500 Wh) oil-filled radiator for 10 hours a day, you’ll pay (10 x 1.5) x £0.30 per kWh cost = £4.5 per day. This is incorrect because oil-filled radiators do not run nonstop. Most likely, they will run for about 20-30 minutes per hour. By adjusting the thermostat, you can even reduce this to 10-20 minutes per hour.
Energy Usage Calculation
The second mistake is in the energy usage calculation. This is where there’s a huge “Wow!” Most oil-filled radiators come with minimum, average, and maximum settings. So, a 1500-watt radiator will likely consume only 700 watts of energy per hour at its minimum setting (check before purchasing). So, the calculation for 1 hour of usage (half an hour of work per hour) will only cost £1.05. If you reduce it to 20-25 minutes per hour, you’ll spend under £1 per day. And don’t forget, small oil radiators consume 500 watts per hour, reducing your daily cost by £0.80 per day for 10 hours of usage.
Saving You Money
Are oil radiators saving you money? Yes, as long as you choose the right one and adjust it correctly. If you use oil radiators as boosters in your rooms on low settings, they will also reduce your gas boiler consumption. If you have a gas heating boiler system and a thermostat connected to it, oil radiators will keep the room warmer, making your gas heating boiler work less.
Other Advantages
Other advantages of oil-filled radiators include:
- They are portable, so you can take them with you anywhere.
- They don’t waste energy! 100% of the electricity is used to heat the oil.
- They retain heat. When switched off, oil radiators keep the heat much longer than other heaters.
Oil radiators offer a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly heating solution. Choose the right oil-filled radiator and adjust it correctly to save money on your energy bills.
About the Author
This article was written for Oilradiators.co.uk. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact us.