When you need to heat that one room or area of the house that always seems to be just a bit colder than the rest, most people usually turn to a space heater.
The two main types people choose are ceramic space heaters and oil-filled space heaters. These two options work great, but there are a few differences.
Below we’ll look at the differences between a ceramic space heater and an oil filled space heater.
How does an oil-filled heater work?
An oil filled heater works very similar to a traditional radiator style heater you may see in some older homes. But instead of being filled with hot water from a boiler, it’s filled with oil.
A heating element at the bottom heats the oil inside, this heat then radiates out to the room via the fins on the radiator itself.
Oil-filled heaters have no fan, so they are silent and spread heat to the room via radiant heating. This is often the reason most people choose an oil-filled heater, especially in a bedroom.
Is An Oil-Filled Space Heater Better?
It can be if it matches what you are looking for in a space heater. For example, an oil filled space heater is silent since it has no fan or motors.
If you are bothered by fan noises or don’t like to have the air circulated around your room, then an oil-filled space heater would be better for you.
How Does A Ceramic Space Heater Work?
A ceramic space heater works by using a heating element inside that then has a fan blow over it. The warm air is pushed out into the room via this fan.
There are some ceramic heaters which use no fan, but these are not that efficient and generally are not as good as just using an oil-filled heater.
Is A Ceramic Heater Better Than An Oil-Filled Heater?
If you need a heater that starts heating instantly, then yes. The one main advantage ceramic space heaters have over oil-filled heaters is that they start producing heat nearly instantly.
Oil-filled heaters take several minutes to start heating up. Ceramic heaters can also warm a room more quickly as they are physically pushing air into the room.
This method is called convection heating, and it’s faster than radiant heating in this case.
Oil-Filled Heater Benefits
Oil filled heaters have some benefits over other space heaters. They include:
- Energy efficient
- Silent operation
- More consistent heating
- Portable
- Safe
Ceramic Space Heater Benefits
Ceramic heaters have their own benefits as well. These include:
- Instant heat
- Fast room heating
- Smaller size
- Extremely portable
Ceramic Vs Oil-Filled Heater Faq
Are oil-filled heaters more efficient than ceramic heaters?
In general no, but they do offer more consistent heating. The oil and the radiator stays hot long after the heating element shuts off.
So while efficiency is about the same. An oil heater may use less energy over time to maintain the same temperature.
This also means that a room heated by an oil-filled heater will feel more consistently warm. The oil-filled radiator produces a more constant temperature. Many people find this to be more comfortable than the constant cycling on and off of a ceramic heater.
Are oil filled heaters safe?
Yes. The heater doesn’t actually burn the oil inside for fuel. The oil is just heated by a totally sealed heating element.
Oil heaters are very safe when used in accordance with their instructions. The outside can remain hot though so if you have small children or pets that may come in contact with it accidently, a ceramic heater may be a better choice.
What is the difference between an oil-filled heater and a ceramic heater?
The main difference is how the unit produces heat. Oil filled units heat up an oil inside of a radiator which then warms the air around it. This method is called radiant heating.
A ceramic heater has a small heater element inside of it and then a fan blows over it. This pushes the warm air into the room. This is known as convection heating.
Both are powered by electricity and offer about the same efficiency in general. An oil-filled heater may cost less over time due to the radiant heating.
Is a ceramic heater worse for allergies?
It can be. Ceramic heaters use a fan that constantly blows air into the room. This means dust and other allergens have a higher chance of being disturbed and blown around.
Ceramic heaters also tend to dry the air in the room more than an oil heater. So this can irritate the nose of those with allergies.
Oil filled heaters do not move any air, so they are generally a better choice for those who are sensitive or have allergies to dust.
You will also want to periodically clean a ceramic heater as the inlet and outlets can collect dust. This can make allergies worse as well.
Final Thoughts On Oil Filled Vs Ceramic Heaters
Both oil-filled heaters and ceramic heaters are perfect for heating a room or area of your house. The choice comes down to which options are most important to you.
If you want instant heat as soon as you turn the unit on, you will want to choose a ceramic heater.
If you want totally silent heat that stays more consistent over time when it comes to room temperature, then oil-filled is the way to go.
Whichever you choose, these space heaters should help keep you nice and warm as the winter weather starts to set in.