T Room Heater - Need input/advice quickly

[robc]

I have a dedicated furnace for my T room but that's recently gone out so while I'm waiting to get that replaced, I've decided to go with a supplemental room heater. I found an oil filled radiator that seems like it'll do what I need and I was curious if anyone has used something similiar to this, I have a few questions:

1 - have you exprienced any fumes coming from the unit?

2 - does humidity affect the units? My room is at 80% humidity.

3 - how is the heat dispersed throughout the room? A space heater blows the heat into the room but this appears to just come out of the top but no blowing - will it create a hot spot in that area?

4 - also, I've heard that using an oil filled raditor/heater is cheaper than using a space heater - but how exactly? This radiator is the same wattage as a space heater??

Any other thoughts or input would be appreciated!!

Here is a link to the one I bought:

http://www.delonghiusa.com/index.php?product&nid=51

Yes, Joe, I did use the search function but I have too many questions and need quick answers. LOL

Robc

 

[Noexcuse4you]

1 - have you exprienced any fumes coming from the unit?

No, if radiators put out fumes, radiator companies would be in big trouble.

2 - does humidity affect the units? My room is at 80% humidity.

No.

3 - how is the heat dispersed throughout the room? A space heater blows the heat into the room but this appears to just come out of the top but no blowing - will it create a hot spot in that area?

Any heater will create a hot spot. Put it in a corner or something where the heat will be dispersed.

4 - also, I've heard that using an oil filled raditor/heater is cheaper than using a space heater - but how exactly? This radiator is the same wattage as a space heater??

The oil in the radiator stores energy. Once it is heated, less energy is required to keep it heated. Heaters that depend on air being blown through a filament require a lot of energy to continuously heat the filament.

 

[jayefbe]

I use an oil-filled radiator in my very small T room, actually the same brand just a cheaper model. The radiator turns off and on periodically, but generally stays very warm. I've found that it keeps a more even temperature compared to a ceramic space heater. The ceramic space heater would kick on, heat the whole room to 85, then kick off and not turn back on again til it dropped to about 75. Meanwhile, unless I'm right next to the radiator and can feel extra heat coming off of it, I don't know if it is on or off since the temperature of the room does not fluctuate.

I do see a heat gradient in my room. It's generally 3-4 degrees cooler at the farthest point from the heater (around 10'). It doesn't cause me any problems, but if it were an issue, a fan would help keep a more constant temperature gradient throughout the entire room.

I have not noticed any fumes from the radiator. The oil is completely contained, and does not emit a smell like some ceramic space heaters will.

Mine works well in high humidity conditions, and as an added bonus, it does not dry the air as much as those with a very hot heat element.

If I were to use a radiator in a larger room like yours, I'd try to set it up in the center of the room and add a fan to help circulate the air. That should keep a pretty constant temperature throughout the room.

I think radiators are cheaper to run because they keep a more constant temperature. With their larger size, it takes longer for them to heat up but they also maintain a warm temperature longer. While a space heater is constantly heating up and cooling down, a radiator doesn't have such wide fluctuations in temperature.

I've been very happy with my oil-filled radiator, and in my opinion, compared to other portable heaters of the same price, they are vastly superior.

 

[robc]

No, if radiators put out fumes, radiator companies would be in big trouble.



No.



Any heater will create a hot spot. Put it in a corner or something where the heat will be dispersed.



The oil in the radiator stores energy. Once it is heated, less energy is required to keep it heated. Heaters that depend on air being blown through a filament require a lot of energy to continuously heat the filament.

Thank you for the in fo kyle.....very useful info that I needed.....I was looking at reviews on some heaters and some people stated a very odd smell so i wanted to make sure!! LOL I am probaly going to have to put the heater in the middle of the room since I have t's wall to wall :wall: I can't wait to get my furnace fixed!!!

 

[robc]

I use an oil-filled radiator in my very small T room, actually the same brand just a cheaper model. The radiator turns off and on periodically, but generally stays very warm. I've found that it keeps a more even temperature compared to a ceramic space heater. The ceramic space heater would kick on, heat the whole room to 85, then kick off and not turn back on again til it dropped to about 75. Meanwhile, unless I'm right next to the radiator and can feel extra heat coming off of it, I don't know if it is on or off since the temperature of the room does not fluctuate.

I do see a heat gradient in my room. It's generally 3-4 degrees cooler at the farthest point from the heater (around 10'). It doesn't cause me any problems, but if it were an issue, a fan would help keep a more constant temperature gradient throughout the entire room.

I have not noticed any fumes from the radiator. The oil is completely contained, and does not emit a smell like some ceramic space heaters will.

Mine works well in high humidity conditions, and as an added bonus, it does not dry the air as much as those with a very hot heat element.

If I were to use a radiator in a larger room like yours, I'd try to set it up in the center of the room and add a fan to help circulate the air. That should keep a pretty constant temperature throughout the room.

I think radiators are cheaper to run because they keep a more constant temperature. With their larger size, it takes longer for them to heat up but they also maintain a warm temperature longer. While a space heater is constantly heating up and cooling down, a radiator doesn't have such wide fluctuations in temperature.

I've been very happy with my oil-filled radiator, and in my opinion, compared to other portable heaters of the same price, they are vastly superior.

Thank you!!!! I have used Space hetaers in the past and noticed that to, heats the room to the desired temp and then won't kick back on until it is way cooler than desired!

 

[Nich]

I use an oil-filled radiator in my very small T room, actually the same brand just a cheaper model. The radiator turns off and on periodically, but generally stays very warm. I've found that it keeps a more even temperature compared to a ceramic space heater. The ceramic space heater would kick on, heat the whole room to 85, then kick off and not turn back on again til it dropped to about 75. Meanwhile, unless I'm right next to the radiator and can feel extra heat coming off of it, I don't know if it is on or off since the temperature of the room does not fluctuate.

I do see a heat gradient in my room. It's generally 3-4 degrees cooler at the farthest point from the heater (around 10'). It doesn't cause me any problems, but if it were an issue, a fan would help keep a more constant temperature gradient throughout the entire room.

I have not noticed any fumes from the radiator. The oil is completely contained, and does not emit a smell like some ceramic space heaters will.

Mine works well in high humidity conditions, and as an added bonus, it does not dry the air as much as those with a very hot heat element.

If I were to use a radiator in a larger room like yours, I'd try to set it up in the center of the room and add a fan to help circulate the air. That should keep a pretty constant temperature throughout the room.

I think radiators are cheaper to run because they keep a more constant temperature. With their larger size, it takes longer for them to heat up but they also maintain a warm temperature longer. While a space heater is constantly heating up and cooling down, a radiator doesn't have such wide fluctuations in temperature.

I've been very happy with my oil-filled radiator, and in my opinion, compared to other portable heaters of the same price, they are vastly superior.

I second that. Just picked up an oil rad. last month and it rocks compaired to my ceramic space heater. I have a thermo switch on a fan that vents out excess heat, it keeps the room pretty consistant.

 

[codykrr]

hey rob, i dont personally like radiator style space heaters. because they dont heat up big rooms. for a large room(15 by 30) i would go with a quarts space heater. there very efficient and low cost. "sunbeam" or "homes" make very good ones. the one i have is very acurate..has a digital thermostat(which is very acurate) tip over protection and the quarts cools very quickly once it kicks off.

i keep my room 78 degrees all year round with this. works fine.

but now for an xtra large T room(30 by 30) id buy an eden pure. there a very high end infared heater that is rather pricey but man they are worth the money. they have a cool touch feature(also a very very accurate digi thermostat) and are just plain awsome but there pricey 300 for a smaller one(which is plenty)

if you do get the radiator kind you may need a fan to blow the heat throughout the room

 

[sinflspeed]

The oil filled rdiator works better for me. Sits in the middle of the room and evenly heats the room. I have used the space heater as well with decent results. As a back up for any future break downs I would probably recommend going with what you need for a good back up in case the furnace goes out when you need it most. Preparing for worst case scenarios is sometimes the best option.

 

[codykrr]

like i said there kinda high...but man they work!

http://www.edenpure.com/

 

[TalonAWD]

I have been looking into just that, heating options. Here its gets chilly at night and I rather have the temps in the mid 80's constant. I have my T's in the garage so heating it up is a task. I have been using a space heater but it costs lots to operate.
So seeing the responses is perfect since I did think about the oil filled radiators. I also have a air purifier in the garage (since it is a car garage) and thought that it would help distribute the heat around. I also run a humidifier on a timer every four hours (on/off) to try and keep the humidity to around 70%

 

[UrbanJungles]

like i said there kinda high...but man they work!

http://www.edenpure.com/

Oil filled radiators are way cheaper and more cost efficient heaters. Powered space heaters also dry out the air incredibly fast whereas a radiator won't do it as quickly and can easily increase humidity by simply placing a pot with water on top.

If you notice that the heat doesn't distribute evenly around the room just use a small fan to circulate the air a bit.

 

[codykrr]

danny, acually the edenpure does not dry out your home...there one of the best space heaters made. you should watch the video, nd then go through the site. the 1000 model is awsome. my wifes mom and dad bought 2 of them. they heat the hole house.(1500 sq feet)

 

[evicton]

Last winter my furnace went out and my oil filled radiators just were not cutting it. I got a tiny little quartz heater that took up a fraction of the space my oil filled radiator used. This thing heating up my living room like a champ, a good 10 degrees higher then my oil filled was putting out. Quartz heaters work differently then your standard 'electric heater' rather then heat the air (and dry it out). A quartz heater mimics the sun by warming the objects in a room.

 

[Moltar]

I agree with all the folks who say the oil filled radiators are a good choice. New ones will make a funny smell but I think it's just like burning off some coating in the electrical components and it dissipates after a day or so. If that worries you perhaps you could try burning it in out in the garage then moving it to the T room. To help alleviate the hot spot you could place a fan blowing through the slats at a low speed to dissipate the heat throughout the room.

It's true that some other types of heaters will give you more heat (less efficient though) but since this is an area where you're trying to maintain a certain humidity I think the radiators are your best bet. Since you have kids and a dog (dogs?) it's an added bonus that the radiatirs don't actually get hot enough to burn you or start a fire.

 

[Nerri1029]

ALL heaters (non-fuel) will dry the air.

Any heater with a large mass associated will keep the room heated more evenly ( not top to bottom ) but rather not as pronounced ups and downs



Let me just throw this out there.

My ideal heating for my T-room would be:
- a pair of 75 gal tanks filled with water.
- both with a pair of 150watt heaters each.

Once all that mass got up to temp it would be a full day for it to change significantly. Plus the warm water would add humidity to the air.

this is in line with the radiant heat ( floor ) designs being put into homes now.

 

[Nerri1029]

Last winter my furnace went out and my oil filled radiators just were not cutting it. I got a tiny little quartz heater that took up a fraction of the space my oil filled radiator used. This thing heating up my living room like a champ, a good 10 degrees higher then my oil filled was putting out. Quartz heaters work differently then your standard 'electric heater' rather then heat the air (and dry it out). A quartz heater mimics the sun by warming the objects in a room.

for those occasions I have a small propane heater.
and the burning of the propane adds moisture to the air

But that is for extreme conditions: power outages, I do have a generator, and a wood stove but unless furnace is keeping up the Water tank temps the T-room suffers. ( T's are in the furnace room )