Is it cheaper to use an electric heater or put the central heating on?
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-12850441/Is-cheaper-use-electric-heater-instead-putting-central-heating-on.html
Which led to me reading this:
The Best Oil Heaters (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023
https://www.thedrive.com/reviews/35752/oil-heater
Get toasty with these efficient and inexpensive oil heaters
"Oil heaters can be a great way to economically heat a room. A well-built oil heater can be up to 99 percent energy efficient because nearly all of the electricity consumed is converted to heat."
Really? As opposed to it otherwise being used to... what?
"As the air around the radiator is heated, the hot air rises to create a circulation that spreads the heat to the room."
So it's a convection heater? Yes. But see below...
"This process can be slow, but because there are no fans or heating coils, an oil heater uses less energy than an electric heater and is completely quiet."
Quiet yes, compared to a fan heater. However... With no "heating coils" how do they produce any heat? Let's ignore the "uses less energy"!
"Not only are they quiet and more energy-efficient, but oil heaters don’t dry out the air in your home the way other space heaters and forced-air heaters do."
Why not?
Benefits of Oil Heaters
"Energy efficiency. Oil heaters are among the most energy-saving space heaters since they don’t have fans that are required to push warm air out, but work simply on the principle of radiant heat."
The principal of "radiant heat" - but see above!
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"Heat retention. Because it takes time for the oil to cool once you turn off the unit, an oil heater continues to heat the room for a while after being shut down."
Err... Yes but...
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"Good air quality. Again, because a fan isn’t used to push heated air out into the room, oil heaters don’t dry out the ambient air in a room, and they make virtually no noise when in operation."
Quiet yes, but...
"Portable. Most oil-filled heaters are on caster wheels and are light enough to be moved easily from room to room to provide heat wherever you need it."
Unlike any other portable heater?
"Safety. With many portable heaters, the surface gets hot enough to burn anyone who may touch it, but not so with oil-filled heaters. They do get warm to the touch, but not hot enough to cause a burn."
OK, that could be a plus. Possibly the only real one?
Which led to me thinking:
"These things are obviously written by journalists who do not have a clue what they are talking about!"
So, out of a lingering curiosity: Does anyone here know if there actually is any point, or advantage, with an 'oil heater' - as opposed say to any ordinary electric convection heater? There may be, but it escapes me at present. (Apart from that possible cooler surface safety point)