Going to purchase a heater, you must surely know what to count on and how to determine the right purchase.
Selection tips
It should be based on the area of the room, the level of heat loss in the room, the effectiveness of central heating. It is also worth taking into account the cost of electricity. More powerful devices cost their owners more.
Dimensions, weight
A warning should be made between the size and weight. A large oil heater, by definition, cannot weigh a little. If a particular model, despite its dimensions, is not very heavy, then the manufacturer definitely decided to save some money: either the structural elements are made of excessively thin metal, or the oil compartments are not filled as expected.
Heating area
In our natural environment, it is impractical to purchase radiators with a power of less than 1500 watts. They will not be able to provide a comfortable stay even in a tiny room. With heating a large space, devices with thin links can not cope. The more free space in the room, the higher the ceilings, the thicker the edges of the heater should be.
Power
Start from the fact that 10 kW should account for 1 kW. So, to heat a typical bedroom in central Russia, you need a device with 1.5-2 kW (according to the approved scale, these are medium power devices).
Other helpful notes:
- if the room has ceilings higher than usual (more than 3 meters), and the windows are wider (for example, panoramic or tend to this), then it is worth taking a radiator more powerful;
- insulation films on the windows reduce heat loss by 40-70%, so you can buy a low-power radiator with them;
- in end apartments and apartments that do not face the sunny side, it is usually cooler (it makes sense to purchase a high-power device).
Owners of private houses should take into account the materials from which the dwelling is built, as well as the presence of the subfloor and the condition of the windows. The more sources of heat loss, the higher should be the power of the heater.
Useful note on the coefficient of thermal insulation:
- 3-4 points are non-residential objects without thermal insulation;
- 2-2.9 points - single brickwork, the simplest roofing and window construction;
- 1-1.9 points - typical apartments and private houses;
- 0.6-0.9 points - objects in which the issue of heat loss is carefully worked out and minimized.
Section thickness
The number of sections is directly tied to the level of electricity consumption and heat generation. Typically, models with 5-7 sections have a power of 1500 watts. 10-13 bays are typical for the most powerful appliances.
The thickness of the ribs also plays a role. Wide and flat models are considered safer, but small ones heat up faster.
The ability to adjust the heating
Central heating does not always keep up with temperature changes outside the window. So that you do not have to "stoke the street" or, conversely, freeze and purchase a second heater, you should initially choose appliances that are designed to control the heating of the heating elements.
Security
You should choose heaters with an auto shut-off function when overheating. They meet fire safety requirements. They will not have to watch time and get up at night to turn off.
Important! A lot depends on the operation of the radiator. Safety precautions say that the appliance must not be turned over, dropped or placed on its side. Also, do not try to replace the oil in it.
Also, before use, it is worth checking the integrity of the wires. If there is a suspicion that the cord is broken or loose, it is necessary to return the device for repair. Connecting to a network can cause tragedy.
Misconceptions and tricks of sellers
Most often, managers try to embellish the characteristics of the product and keep silent about the flaws typical of oil heaters. So, do not believe the words that a particular model does not dry the air. This property is characteristic of absolutely all devices of this group. There are no exceptions and cannot be due to the principle of operation of the device.
Other disturbing "bells":
The heating properties depend on the color of the case. In fact, neither white, nor black, nor purple in a strip warms better. The hue of the case does not affect the power of the device, nor the rate of heating of the air, nor the radius of action.
A specific heater can be placed next to a wall or even hung on it. In fact, this is impossible according to the laws of physics. The device must be located at a distance from impenetrable barriers in accordance with safety regulations.
The goods can be stored all season in an unheated garage, on the balcony or in the country. In fact, radiators of this type should be used and placed only in residential premises. The oil that is filled in them changes its physical characteristics under the prolonged exposure to very low temperatures. Moreover, no specialist can correctly determine after what period of time and at what temperature the oil in a particular model will freeze.
Casing models are easy to maintain. Yes, touching them does not cause a thermal burn, but wet cleaning with this design is difficult to do, and you will have to do it often.
Due to the fireplace effect, the product heats in the same way as the fireplace. They have completely different working principles. Therefore, even the presence of this additional function will not be able to bring the oil cooler to a real fireplace.
A specific device is good in that its design provides for the possibility of draining and replacing oil. In fact, such devices have not been produced for a long time, they are only made handicraft. The reason for the cessation of mass production lies in tragic cases when a plug (safety valve), due to prolonged use of the radiator and rubber wear, popped out of the hole and hot oil shot into the air.
Important! No considerations or arguments should affect the rejection of "self-made" oil heaters. They are really unsafe. There is a risk of electric shock, burns with boiling oil, fire.
Oil heaters, regardless of their modifications, pose a choice: energy savings or the level of heat transfer. First, decide which of these 2 points is a priority. Only the choice between the two specified parameters determines which radiator should be bought and how many sections should be in it.
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