By Ben •
Updated: September 27, 2023
On cold winter days, you want something that will provide you with a warm, cozy feeling in the comfort of your home.
Both electric and oil-filled heaters are great solutions, but the question is which one is better?
While electric heaters are more popular, oil heaters have some advantages as well.
Let’s first mention the main difference between these two, and then I’ll dive deep into the benefits and disadvantages of both.
Difference Between Electric and Oil Heaters
The biggest difference between oil-filled and electric heaters is in the efficiency and longevity of the heat.
Oil heaters are more efficient and they provide long-lasting heat, but they take a bit more time to heat the room.
On the other hand, electric heaters can provide instant heat and they’re usually very lightweight and it’s easy to carry them from one room to another.
Without any sugar coating, let’s talk about the pros and cons of each one.
Benefits of Oil-Filled Heaters
Efficient
Without any doubt, oil heaters are more efficient and have lower power consumption than electric heaters.
The main secret behind their efficiency is that they store oil inside the radiator instead of using it as fuel.
When the heater reaches the desired temperature, it will maintain that temperature and stop “overheating” the room.
Long-lasting heat
Although it might take an oil heater a bit longer to heat up the whole room, it has what we call a “long-lasting” effect.
It has a great volume of air contact with the heat source, and that’s why it’s able to keep the room warm for a longer period.
Quiet
You won’t hear the oil heater running, even if you leave it turned on for a few days.
The main reason behind it is that oil-filled heaters don’t have fans, so there’s basically nothing that can produce noise.
This makes it the perfect option for your bedroom.
Safe
As oil heaters don’t have fans that can be blocked and cause fire, it makes it a safe option to have in your living room.
They aren’t easy to knock down and they’re less likely to cause any type of fire.
Accurate
Newer oil heaters have amazing thermostat technology which is very accurate and works well.
It’s very important to get an oil heater with a thermostat as you’ll appreciate the constant “sweet spot” temperature.
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Click here to get a FREE Cheat-SheatOverall Best Oil Heater: PELONIS Oil-Filled Radiator
The Downside of Oil-Filled Heaters
The biggest disadvantage of oil-filled heaters is that they’re a bit heavier and usually weigh more than 30lbs.
This makes it less portable.
Another thing that you might not like is that it takes more time to heat up the whole room.
While it will provide you with long-lasting heat, it will take around 20 minutes before the room reaches the desired temperature.
Oil heaters are made for longevity, so that might be the reason why it takes a bit longer to heat.
Benefits of Electric Heaters
Quick heating
When I say electric heaters are very fast when it comes to heating the whole room – I mean very very fast.
It takes around 5 minutes for the electric heater to heat the whole room – no matter if it’s a larger or smaller room.
The quick-heat feature is similar to the electric fireplaces.
When you get home you just have to turn it on and enjoy the warm cozy feeling that electric heaters provide.
Lightweight & portable
It’s easy to carry electric heaters from one room to another. They even usually have a built-in handle for easier carrying.
They usually weigh less than 5lbs, so even seniors can carry them.
Same as space heaters, they’re perfect to carry with you even when traveling.
More options
There are thousands of different models of electric heaters on the market.
It’s easy to find the one that fits your needs, no matter the power, size, heating levels, etc.
Electric heaters are the most popular type of heaters.
Cheaper
They’re cheaper and they don’t require a larger up-front investment than oil-filled heaters.
A lot of people are buying multiple electric heaters because of their low price point.
No wonder, why Presto Heat Dish heater is one of the most popular options considering the amazing features you get for such a small price.
Safe
Electric heaters are easy to knock down, however, kids and pets can’t get burned if they touch them.
Although oil heaters can only cause burns if you hold your hand on them for a longer period of time, electric heaters won’t burn you even if you place your hand on them for a couple of hours.
Overall Best Electric Heater: Lasko Electric Space Heater
What You Might Not Like About Electric Heaters
While electric heaters are cheaper, they have higher power consumption, meaning you might experience a bit higher electricity bills.
Another thing to note is that electric heaters can get noisy if you’re using them for a couple of hours without turning them off.
It all depends from model to model as newer ones have ultra-quiet technology.
And the last thing worth mentioning here is that it doesn’t have long-lasting heat like oil heaters. It’s because they’re spreading through the air instead of walls.
Which One Is Better For You?
After all, it all depends on your needs and requirements.
If you have a tight budget and you’re looking for something you can easily carry from one room to another – I would advise you to go with electric heaters.
They’re lightweight and they can quickly warm the whole room.
On the other hand, if you want something that will provide you with long-lasting heat while keeping the power consumption low – go with the oil-filled heaters.
From my experience, you won’t regret buying any of these two as both of them are great solutions for cold winter days.
Download this FREE cheat sheet to find 28 tricks that can help you save on your electricity and heating bill each month.
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