Oil-filled radiators are a sought after alternative to the traditional radiator, no longer are they bulky stand-alone units, now you can get oil-filled radiators that look just like normal radiators and can even be wall-mounted.
Oil radiators appeal to many, and not just those that live off the grid. They offer a cheap alternative as they are excellent at retaining heat and cool down much slower than traditional alternatives.
In this article, we go into depth with answering all the common questions people have about oil-filled radiators, take a look at how to mount one on a wall, some of the current best sellers and a break down of your top options.
It’s a rather long article, so if you have a particular section you’re more interested in, click one of the links below:
- Oil Filled Radiators Buyers Guide
- How To Wall Mount An Oil Filled Radiator
- Current Best Selling Wall Mounted Oil Filled Radiators
- 3 Best Wall Mounted Oil Filled Radiators
- FAQs
Oil Filled Radiators Buyers Guide
In this section, you will find some of the most common questions and queries around oil-filled radiators, most about their efficiency and whether they are any good. Keep reading to find out more before choosing which wall mounted oil-filled radiator is best for you.
What is the most efficient oil-filled radiator?
All oil-filled radiators on the UK market should be highly energy-efficient and there generally a lot more efficient than other counterparts. That being said, you can increase the energy efficiency of an oil-filled radiator by going for one that has a timer and thermostatic controls, this allows you to have the radiator running on a schedule so you don’t have it on as often and can control its energy efficiency to a T.
Are ceramic heaters better than oil-filled?
There’s no straight forward answer to this question, it depends on you personally and what you want out of your radiators. Oil-filled radiators take longer to heat, but they heat more evenly and will maintain the heat for a much longer period when switching it off, so you don’t tend to need to leave them on as long. Ceramic, on the other hand, heats quickly, but they can often be patchy in the areas they heat and they’ll lose heat a lot quicker.
You should consider buying an oil-filled radiator if
- Your looking for a long term heating solution for a medium to large-sized room
- If you prefer the room to be quiet, as they operate very quietly
- If you have allergies these are better as ceramic heaters have fans to disperse the heat
You may prefer a ceramic heater if you want to heat a smaller room instantly, there also safer for children because they don’t hold the heat as long, so you have more control.
Do oil-filled heaters use less energy?
Yes & no, technically speaking no, because the heating element uses just as much electricity as any other heater. Where they differ however is that the oil creates a heat sink which results in the oil heater using a lesser amount of electricity over a longer period of time than a normal heater would.
Are oil-filled radiators cheaper to run than electric counterparts?
The heating element of an oil-filled radiator is the same as described in the aforementioned question. Most models also have a low energy setting as well, but typically speaking if you pay the average electricity rate which is around 12p in the UK, you’ll pay around 8p per hour that the heater is running at the lowest setting.
It’s exactly what you would pay for traditional radiators, however, you may need to run the heater for less time due to the heat retention being far superior.
Are oil-filled radiators any good? (Pro’s & Con’s)
Still can’t make up your mind as to whether an oil-filled radiator is for you? Well, there are certain pro’s & con’s that may help you make that decision. They’re not for everyone, so to answer the question are they any good, would depend on your personal circumstances.
To help you decide, here are the pros & cons:
Pros
- Reduced chance of fire – it has no exposed heating panels or filaments
- There’s no noise
- It’s much better at spreading heat around the room evenly
- Larger heating surface
- Maintains heat for longer
Cons
- Long heat up time
- Slow at circulating the heat
- Generally heavier and larger design (although you can get ultra slim versions)
- In cold weather the pipes can freeze
How To Hang An Oil Filled Radiator
Oil-filled radiators are slightly easier to hang than standard radiators as there is no need to worry about the pipes. Here’s a quick step by step:
- Make a centre point using a spirit level to make a straight line
- Measure the height from the ground
- Make your base line
- Measure the radiator to the support brackets
- Make the lines from your brackets
- Fix the brackets to the wall by screwing them in – allow for a little bit of flexibility
- Hang the radiator
A lot of the radiators come with the brackets, but if not you might need to buy some. It’s fairly straight forward and easy to do so you shouldn’t have an issue!
3 Best Wall Mounted Oil Filled Radiators
Want to find out what the best wall mounted oil-filled radiators available are? I’ve done the research so you don’t have to. Looking into the descriptions, features, efficiency, reviews and importantly price, I’ve narrowed down the top 6 options available.
Without further ado, here are my picks:
Product Description
This Ultraslim oil-filled radiator is available at a fantastic price and if you’re looking for a thin radiator to not protrude too much, then this is the one for you with only 6cm thickness. It’s available to have as a freestanding radiator or you can wall-mount it & you’ll be glad to know that brackets are supplied.
The Eco-friendly design runs at only 800W and has an adjustable thermostat as an additional feature, it also has window open detection, and a 24 hour or weekly timer, meaning it can achieve temperature perfection. If you have children you’d be glad to hear that it has a child lock safety option, is quiet in operation and furthermore has a anti-frost function.
It’s got a water-resistant design so it’s suitable for any room, including a bathroom. No pipes or pumps making it extremely easy to mount on a wall and it’s energy-saving features also make it a great cost-efficient option.
It weighs 8.15kg and is 550mmx950mmx60mm (HxWxD) if you are to wall-mount it.
Main Features
This fantastic Ultraslim oil-filled radiators comes with some great features, and we’ve highlighted them for you below:
- Only 6cm thick
- Freestanding or wall mount option (brackets supplied)
- Eco-friendly 800W
- Adjustable thermostat
- Window open detection
- Hourly or weekly timer so you can have more control
- Anti-frost function
- Child lock safety
- Water resistant
- 8.15kg in weight
- 550mm (H) x 950mm (W) x 60mm (D) when wall mounted
No products found.
Product Description
This is a small heater compared to some of the others, but on the listing, there are a few different larger options by the same brand. This is an oil-filled panel heater by the brand AMOS, and will heat a room up with compact 400W radiator.
It’s an ideal heating source for small to medium-sized spaces, and just like the others can either be wall-mounted or portable depending on what you require, as it’s originally on castor wheels.
It looks great in any room with it’s slim but traditional design and can heat the room quickly due to its small size. It’s got an adjustable thermostat and switches that allow you to customise the settings to your requirements. It also comes with integrated safety features and overheats protection to ensure if anything goes wrong it will automatically shut off.
This AMOS model is also energy efficient and environmentally friendly with its heat-conducting oil, and even on a lower setting it will heat the oil relatively quickly in comparison to some of the other models on here, but will just like them maintain the heat well after being shut off.
Main Features
Want to find out more about this compact AMOS heater at a glance? Here are some of it’s main features:
- 400W compact design
- Suitable for small to medium size spaces
- Adjustable thermostat
- Customisable heat setting switches
- Safety features including overheat protection
- Can be wall mounted or easily portable with it’s castor wheels
- 61cm (H) x 49cm (W) x 25.5cm (D) – with wheels, slightly smaller without
FAQs
Still got a lasting question about oil-filled radiators? I’ve pulled together some of the most commonly searched ones and answered them for you below:
Can oil-filled radiators be left on overnight?
Generally speaking, oil-filled radiators are pretty safe, but if you’re going to leave them on overnight, make sure they have some kind of protection like a tilt switch that should anything go wrong with the heater, it shuts off automatically.
Do all oil-filled radiators come with timers or thermostats?
No – some of the basic models won’t come with timers or thermostats attached, so if you want more control over your heating and maximise efficiency you should go for a slightly more expensive model that includes these features.
Do oil-filled radiators cost a lot to run?
No, they are cheap to run. They take a long time to heat up, sometimes in excess of 20 minutes, but they maintain heat better than most radiator options and the oil doesn’t need to be replaced.
Do oil-filled radiators give off fumes?
There are no dangerous fumes, however, on the first few uses of an oil-filled radiator it can give off an odour, but this doesn’t last forever and after a few uses it shouldn’t smell anymore.
