Oil-Filled Radiators vs. Electric Baseboard Heaters

A Btu (British thermal unit) is the energy required to increase the temperature of 1 lb. of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. All electrical heaters, whether oil-filled, forced air or baseboard, convert heat at the same rate because they all use the same electrical source. The efficiency of a heater comes from its size compared to the size of the room it is supposed to heat, the cost of maintaining a certain temperature level and the efficiency of the heating unit inside the heater.

To calculate the size of heater you need, first figure the room's square footage and then multiply the height. A 10-foot-by-10-foot room with a 9-foot ceiling is 900 cubic feet. Multiply that number by two for thick insulation, three for moderate insulation and four for bad insulation. So a badly insulated room that is 900 cubic feet will take approximately 3,600 BTU to raise its temperature 1 degree. Next, convert watts to BTU. Multiply the watts of the heater by 3.4. So a 1,000-watt heater will generate about 3,400 BTUs and at maximum heating level should properly heat that room.

The use of oil for heating is not a new invention; it's been used for centuries. Oil-filled radiators include central heating units, portable units on wheels and wall-mounted units. Oil-filled radiators are quiet since the heating coils are inside and the radiators don't have attached fans. They are not easy to tip over, and new radiators have automatic shutoff systems if they do tip over, so they are relatively safe. Once it heats up the oil stays warm and the heat is spread around the room, so these heaters are suitable for smaller spaces like offices and bedrooms. They are unsuitable for larger spaces since they lack fans to spread the heat.

Electric heaters directly convert electricity to heat, so there is no loss of efficiency like that from oil or water heaters. Standard electric baseboard heaters have Energy Saver efficiency ratings over 95 percent, so they do not waste much energy. The largest drawback to electric baseboard heaters is their size. They take up a length of wall space, and furniture should be no less than 3 feet away from the heaters due to fire hazards. Their quality also varies; cheaper models make more noise, do not have as efficient heating coils inside and do not have the safety standards that top models have.