Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate TechEffect earns from qualifying purchases made via links on our website.
We review the best oil filled radiators on the UK market.
Table could not be displayed.Jump straight to the reviews.
Cold, windy days might seem like a distant memory at the moment, but time flies by and they’ll come knocking on our doors before we even know it.
As the old saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so getting prepared before the chilly winds let themselves into our homes is a good idea. And to that end, here’s our reviews of the best oil filled radiators you can find on the market in 2018.
Main benefits of oil filled radiators
An oil filled radiator is a powerful alternative to central heating systems. Most models come with adjustable heat settings, numerous safety measures, and most importantly, they’re child-safe and more economical. This section will help you understand why owning an oil filled radiator can be beneficial for you.
You can use them whenever you want
One of the most notable benefits of an oil filled radiator is that you can use them whenever you want, as opposed to central heating systems which will heat up regardless of how cold or hot your room is.
More specifically speaking, central speaking systems and other types of radiators are sometimes not needed. If, by chance, the winter is kind and not as cold, you might end up with a fat electricity bill and an overheated room.
Reliable heat dispersion
Knowing that most oil filled radiators feature several heat strength settings, you can always benefit from reliable heat dispersion across a single or several rooms.
Electric radiators and heaters tend to build up the highest concentrations of heat in the near vicinity while the heat emissions grow weaker by the inch.
Of course, you’ll manage to heat up an entire room this way, but it will take forever. On the other hand, oil filled radiators provide a better, easier way to do just that.
Portable heating system
Another great thing about oil filled radiators is their portability. Nearly all oil filled radiators come with a set of wheels so you can easily transport them across the rooms, but they come in particularly handy when you’re moving out or moving in.
Cost effectiveness
As we’ve mentioned before, this type of radiators don’t cost as much as the alternatives. While central heating systems kick up your electricity bills steadily during the year, electric radiators practically burst them during exceptionally cold periods.
Oil filled radiators, on the other hand, don’t cost too much initially and they don’t burden you with additional expenses as much.
What should you consider?
Even though these radiators are quite plain, there are several features that make each model different. Knowing what these features str will help you pick the best one, so let’s get straight to it.
Power
The power of a radiator is measured in Watts. The higher the wattage, the more powerful the radiator is.
That said, high wattage also means a higher electricity bill, so you should pick the radiator that will serve your specific needs.
For instance, if the country you live in isn’t famous for extremely harsh winter conditions, you probably won’t need a 5KW radiator, but the same goes for the opposite situation – exceptionally cold rooms won’t feel much less chilly if you put a 500W radiator in them.
Precautions/safety features
Oil filled radiators are potentially dangerous contraptions. Te oil is particularly flammable, and we’re talking about some major heat here.
That’s why safety features are among those most valued – anti-frost mechanisms are supposed to keep your oil filled radiators functional even if the temperatures fall drastically below zero while overheat protection systems prevent them from overheating. We highly recommend that you pick a model that has at least one (if not both) of these features.
Price
It’s up to you to determine how much you would pay for your heating. High-end oil filled radiators often pack a bigger punch (wattage) and come with more user-friendly features while budget models are often plain and simple, although exceptions are possible.
Best oil filled radiators reviewed
Top quality option
De’Longhi Dragon 4 Oil Filled Radiator with timer
Let’s open up our review of the best oil filled radiators with De’Longhi’s Dragon 4 radiator. This is our top quality option and you should most certainly consider it if you don’t mind spending a little extra on a heater that will grant you the ultimate benefits of staying warm without a worry on mind.
De’Longhi is a very famous brand of course, and they’ve earned their fame by making some of the best coffee makers the market has ever seen, so they know a thing or two about their heating systems alright.
If you’re not new to oil filled radiators, you might’ve heard about their exquisite Radia heater – it’s a bit older than the latest Dragon, so we’ve decided to recommend the latter instead, since it offers more value for money and better features.
First of all, the Dragon 4 radiator will allow you to reap the benefits of the chimney effect. This feature will accelerate the spread of hot air throughout the vents, allowing for a more efficient way of heating all kinds of rooms (regardless of the size). This comes particularly handy if you intend to heat up several rooms and you don’t want to spend a small fortune on firewood, fireplaces, or central heating systems.
The elegant design of this remarkable oil filled radiator is another plus. The Dragon 4 looks expensive and exquisite, and it will most certainly fit right in with whatever kind of interior you’ve designed in your house. It features a brilliant, breathtaking white finish and the settings rollers look modern and fancy, to say the very least.
Furthermore, the wheels are pre-assembled so you do’’t have to go through the trouble of tinkering with them, and there’s also a convenient carry handle which allows for the simplest mode of transportation should you need to carry your Dragon in and out.
There’s a thermostat which will allow you to see the actual temperature in the room the Dragon 4 is in, as well as an anti-frost device which ensures top reliability at all times. Additionally, this oil filled radiator comes with a 24-hour mechanical timer which will allow you to set the time you wish the Dragon to turn itself in (simply reset this feature and change the time if you want to pick a different time).
Lastly, the Dragon 4 oil filled radiator comes with 2 kilowatts of power at peak power, but you’ll be able to pick from 3 heat settings.
Overall, this is one of the best bang-for-the-buck oil filled radiators you could find, but it has a flaw or two that we shouldn’t leave out. The first one is the dial is a bit too shiny which makes reading the numbers quite difficult initially, until you get used to it. Secondly, the Dragon 4 can heat a room of any size, although you might need to wait a bit with larger rooms. Anyhow, these minor flaws do not detriment the total value Dragon 4 holds. Thoroughly recommended.
Runners up
Dimplex 2 KW Electric Oil Filled Radiator with timer
Our first runner up comes from Dimplex, and it’s a beautiful 2 KW electric oil filled radiator.
First of all, this brand boasts a wide selection of premium-quality radiators (both oil filled and oil free), including the OFRC 20TiN, Cadiz Eco and other notable models. The one we are recommending to you, however, sticks out from the rest of the bunch in terms of simplicity, value, and efficiency.
The first thing you’ll like about this oil filled radiator is its super slim design. The ribs are pretty close one to another and the (however small number of) features are positioned on clearly visible, smart locations. On top of that, the brilliant white finish helps it excel in aesthetics, making it almost as beautiful as De’Longhi’s Dragon 4.
There’s a neat, easy to read thermostat onboard which also features a pre-built anti-frost mechanism and a 24-hour timer. The aforementioned features work in the exact same fashion as the ones outfitted to the Dragon 4 – use the thermostat to see the temperature of the room this oil filled radiator is in, the anti-frost feature prevents it from freezing, even if the temperature goes below zero while the 24-hour timer (although not mechanical) will allow you to pick the exact time when you want it to turn on. Actually, the timer is a “selectable feature” – you could save a little cash if opt to go without it, although we advise you otherwise.
This oil filled radiator is characterized as “cable tidy”, and it features a set of easy-glide casters, making it extremely compact and not too large, bulky or unwieldy. We guarantee that you’ll have absolutely no problems moving it from room to room, or even from one place to another. It features 2 kilowatts of power and 2 heat settings. This is pretty good, although De’Longhi’s Dragon 4 offers more versatility in this area.
As for the price, the Dimplex 2KW electric oil filled radiator is not only cost effective, but rather inexpensive for a high quality radiator. It belongs to the bottom bracket of the “medium” price point category and does offer a major bang for the buck. It is, however, a runner up, which means that it lags just a little behind our top quality pick (the Dragon 4) in certain aspects of performance.
Most people report that the LED, as well as the neon lights are extremely inconvenient as they are lit all the time. For some this presents a problem with sleeping (the lights are rather strong), others get annoyed during their day-to-day chores as the overly bright lights pose quite a distraction.
This problem is easily solvable though; although you can’t turn the lights off for good, you could tape them over without damaging them.
The other minor problem is the timer. Namely, the contrast of LCD display is very low, so you’ll need to look at it directly if you want to use this setting at all. Anyhow, the Dimplex 2KW electric oil filled radiator is a great option for people who want a quality radiator but don’t have a big enough budget for the Dragon 4.
Pifco P43004Y Oil Filled Radiator
Our next runner up is Pifco’s P43004Y oil filled radiator. It looks pretty basic, but it excels in numerous areas of performance, as you’re about to see. Even though it’s from a lesser-known brand, the P43004Y boasts energy-efficient oil-based heat emission, easy-to-use method of operation, and a set of highly convenient features.
First of all, let’s talk a bit about its power and wattage. Pifco’s P43004Y features a wide variety of heat options; among the prime settings include 800w, 1200w and 2000w settings. That’s strong enough to keep a moderately large room warm, although the real benefit lies in the lower power options, as you could cut back on your electricity bill if you use them smartly.
As for the energy-efficient oil emissions, the P43004Y claim that the interior of this radiator (and the structural concept of the ribs) contributes to the method by which the oil is burnt. You’ll have to refill less frequently, at the very least. On top of that, the controls are very easy to use, and the power indicator’s light is highly visible (some consider this as a flaw, though).
Furthermore, this oil filled radiator comes with a built-in set of casters that allow for easy transportation. Lastly, there’s an overheat protection system that further enhances the overall protection, and a plain thermostat which, sadly, can’t even begin to compare to that of our previous picks. All things considered, what the Pifco P43004Y lacks in flair is made up by simple, yet extremely efficient features and low cost.
Most people compare it to Dimplex’s model, even though they look nothing alike, mainly because they’re pretty close by in terms of price. Of course, our tests (and humble subjective opinion) proved the former to be a bit better overall, although the P43004Y shouldn’t be crossed off your list just yet.
It does require some minor assembly, and the “slim” design is pretty similar to that of the Dimplex oil filled radiator. What’s noticeable is the fact that this radiator takes a bit more time to warm up properly, mainly due to its oil-efficient method of operation. Anyhow, this might be a fatal flaw for people who live in extremely cold regions and are in need of a radiator that heats up quickly, while those who don’t have the same requirements should certainly consider this model.
Best budget option
Oypla Electrical 2500W 11 Fin Portable Oil Filled Radiator Electric Heater
Our choice as the best budget oil filled radiator is Oypla’s electrical oil filled radiator. Even though it costs less than all of our aforementioned picks, it boasts 2500W of power, an adjustable thermostat, and a neat little system which protects it from overheating. That might not sound like much, but note that this is a budget oil filled radiator.
There are three power settings you can choose between – the 1 kW, 1.5 kW, and 2.5 kW. Basically, the highest power settings can top the maximum output of some of our previous top picks, but the real difference is in the reliability of the heat dispersion. Namely, this oil filled radiator takes quite a lot of time to warm up, and there are 11 ribs which need to heat up before the heat can reach the entire room.
There’s only one indicator light, which most people find convenient (as opposed to most oil filled radiators which shine too bright during the night), although the sheer simplicity of Oypla’s radiator might not suit everyone.
The thermostat is fully adjustable. The casters on this model are not so “easy-glide” as they’re smaller, and the supports don’t appear as strong when compared to other oil filled radiators in this review.
Regardless, this radiator is considered as “compact”. The “cable tidy” attribute this model claims is with regard to the fact that there’s a neat little cable compartment at the very bottom of the radiator. If you value convenience and don’t feel like spending a fortune, this oil filled radiator might be worth your while.
There are a lot of things there are to like about the Oypla but the most obvious one is its price. It belongs in the bottom bracket of the “budget” price point category, and it might be the best oil filled radiator in the price range. It’s already clear that it’s not perfect though, so we’d like to highlight several little flaws it comes with (which are by no means deal breakers).
First of all, even though it has plenty of power, Oypla’s electric oil filled radiator emits very loud sounds while operation. This could be a real nuisance if you need to heat up the room you’re sleeping in.
The other problem is that this model takes a lot of time to efficiently warm up a moderately sized room. Warming up small rooms won’t present a problem, but you’d have to be really patient to heat up anything larger, not to mention several rooms. Lastly, it doesn’t feature a timer, so you’ll have to operate it manually every time.
Be that as it may, this oil filled radiator does offer great value for money. It’s exceptionally powerful and fairly inexpensive, so most people who need a good radiator and don’t want to overpay should consider it.
Best low-cost compact option
Warmlite WL43002Y Oil Filled Radiator
We are bringing down the curtain on our reviews of the best oil filled radiators with our best low-cost compact pick: Warmlite’s WL43002Y.
It’s one of the least expensive models in our reviews and it’s also the smallest, most compact model, which is exactly what you’d want when choosing a low-cost, compact radiator! It comes outfitted with 650 W of power, an adjustable thermostat, overheat protection, an easy carry handle, and 5 heated ribs. Let’s discuss the aforementioned features in more detail.
First of all, the adjustable thermostat is one of the best features of Warmlite’s WL43002Y oil filled radiator, allowing you to set and check the temperature at your leisure. That said, it doesn’t have the flair of the thermostats that high-end models come with.
The overheat protection mechanism is a fairly simple feature which prevents it from malfunctioning under extreme heats. The easy carry handle is a great feature and not only is this model lightweight, but it features only five ribs, so it’s not bulky or unwieldy.
There’s no timer, however, so manual operation is required every time you want to turn the Warmlite WL43002Y on. All things considered though, this is the cheapest oil filled radiator in this review, and it’s a great choice if you’re looking to warm up smaller rooms. It’s not really suitable for larger rooms though as it only features 650 W of power.
Conclusion
Finding the best oil filled radiator is, actually, quite hard. There are models that cost well over a thousand pounds and those that could do a pretty good job in some circumstance for well under £50. In the end, it depends on your individual circumstances and needs. How large is the room you intend to warm up? How much money have you saved up?
We’ve included some of the finest radiators we’ve come across in the review of the best oil filled radiators, so all you have to do is kick back and take your pick of the one that best suits your needs.
