if you live in the United Kingdom, and are thinking about buying an electric radiator, then check out the useful information that we have provided below. This will really help you make the best buying decision, and ensure that you get the best value for money.
What electric radiator options do you have as a buyer?
There are 3 main types of electric radiator which are:
- A convection radiator - these are known as convector radiators and they essentially blow hot air. These radiators heat up very quickly, usually have 3 heat settings (low. medium and high) and will use a thermostat to control the room temperature. When the room reaches the right temperature then the radiator switches off automatically and comes back on when the temperature drops. The average price for an electric convector radiator is around £40 in the UK.
- An oil filled radiator - these radiators are filled with oil and when plugged into the main's electricity start to heat up. They heat up slightly slower than a convection radiator. They do however produce much more heat as the entire radiator gets heated up rather than blowing hot air. These also usually have 3 heat settings and also thermostatic control. They also usually have wheels so as they can easily be moved around. Oil-filled radiators are perfect for rooms that require heating over a continuous time period and offer an economical heat resolution compared to the running of a standard fan heater. The average price for an electric oil filled radiator is around £65 in the UK.
- Electric Panel Radiators - these radiators have a very modern design aimed at newer and contemporary homes. These are wall mounted and available in glass and ceramic. The better ones are also able to be controlled using a Smartphone "App.," and they are Wifi compatible. They have a range of temperature settings, very sleek design and many other settings. The average price for an electric panel radiator is around £175 in the UK.
Convection Radiator
Oil Filled Radiator
Panel Style Radiator
Electric Radiator Average Price Range and Uses
Radiator Type | Price Range | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
Convector | £35-110 | The most affordable, quick heat up and blow hot air |
Oil Filled | £30-99 | Best for rooms that require heating over a continuous time period and also for garages and sheds when required |
Panel Style | £100-200 | The latest technology and the most advanced styles with excellent heating options |
Top 3 Electric Convector Radiators
1. Schallen 2000W Electric Convector Radiator Heater
This is a standard 2 Kilowatt electric convector radiator that you can buy in either a black or a white colour
This heats up quickly so very good for quickly heating a room
It has 3 heat settings, 800 watts, 1200 watts and 2,000 watts - ideal as you can start with the biggest settings and as the room heats then turn the settings down to help save electricity and running costs
It measures 58 x 41.2 x 13.4 cm and weighs 2.3 Kg and has wheels and a handle to allow you to easily move it around.
86% buyer satisfaction based on 800+ online buyer reviews
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2. SORTFIELD Convector Radiator Heater
This radiator sells consistently online and is a standard convector style heater
It measures 20.5" X 7.9" X 14.8" and weighs 2.2 Kg
It has a choice of 3 settings, 750 watts, 1,250 watts and 2,000 watts
It also has automatic shut off if the radiator gets too hot - please note there is no timer
It also has handles on each side when you need to move it around
86% buyer satisfaction based on 800+ online buyer reviews
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3. Donyer Power Convector Radiator Heater
This radiator is a very popular purchase online as you can see from the large number of buyer reviews
It measures 20.5” X 7.9” X 14.8" and weighs 2.3 Kg and can be used as a stand alone or wall mounted
It has 3 settings, 750 watts, 1,250 watts and 2,000 watts and also has a 24 hour timer
It comes with overheating protection and you can manually set the temperature or use the automatic temperature control
82% buyer satisfaction based on 3,000+ online buyer reviews
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Top 3 Electric Oil Filled Radiators
All of the radiators shown below are suitable for rooms up to 26 square metres. (31 square yards)
1. PureMate Oil Filled Radiator
Overall this radiator gets the best online reviews and has a similar price tag to most other brands that are available in the UK
It has 11 fins and is classed as a 2,500 watt radiator but has 3 settings which are 1,000 watts, 1500 watts an 2,500 watts
It has thermostatic control, a 24 hour timer, wheels and a carrying handle
It measures 50 x 24 x 62 cms, weighs 11.2 Kg and is fitted with a 1.5 metre electrical lead
90% buyer satisfaction based on 1,000+ online buyer reviews
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2. VonHaus Oil Filled Radiator
This model from the Vonhaus brand is the biggest seller online as you can see with over 3,000 buyer reviews. Vonhaus is a UK company based in Manchester.
The level of buyer satisfaction is solid at 88%
This one is available in either black or white
It has 3 power settings, (1kw, 1.5 kw and 2 Kw) an adjustable thermostat, thermal safety cut off and a 24 hour timer.
It also has wheels and a side handle for easy movement and comes with a 2 year warranty
88% buyer satisfaction based on 3,000+ online buyer reviews
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3. Pro Breeze® 2500W Oil Filled Radiator
This model from the Pro Breeze brand and is popular with many UK buyers as you can see with over 1,600 buyer reviews. Vonhaus is a UK company based in Manchester.
The level of buyer satisfaction is solid at 88%
This one is available in either black or white
It has 3 power settings, (2.5kw, 1.3 kw and 1.22 Kw) an adjustable thermostat, thermal safety cut off, safety tip over switch, and a 24 hour timer.
It also has wheels, a side handle and cable tidy for easy movement and comes with a 1 year warranty
88% buyer satisfaction based on 1,600+ online buyer reviews
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Top 3 Panel Electric Radiators
1. Wärme Designer WiFi Electric Wall Heater
This is a designer style electric wall heater that comes with Wifi App Control so as you can manage your heater from your Smartphone
The heater is suitable for rooms with a size of up to 22 square metres
This is a very slim heater that measures 78 cms long x 8 cms Wide x 47 cms high
It uses convection as its method of heating with a 2 Kilowatt output and you have the options of an “instant heat mode”, or to be able to program a weekly cycle
It also has sensors that protect against overheating
This heater also has a waterproof casing that means that the electric heater is suitable for any space, including kitchens and bathrooms
86% buyer satisfaction based on 900+ online buyer reviews
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2. Devola WiFi Enabled Electric Glass Panel Heater
This radiator has a Wifi App control that allows you to use your Smartphone and is compatible with Alexa and Google Home
It measures 65 cms long x 52 cms high and 7 cms wide and weighs 8Kg
This is a designed style wall panel radiator available in either a white or black colour
This radiator is suitable for rooms up to 20 square metres and is one of the most efficient energy use radiators on the UK market.
It can be free standing or wall mounted, has a 24 hour timer and a choice of 3 settings
86% buyer satisfaction based on 800+ online buyer reviews
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3. NETTA Electric Panel Heater
Another very stylish panel heater from the very well know Netta brand and available in small, medium and large sizes and in black or white colours
Small - 54cm x 47cm x 8cm and weighs 6 Kg
Medium - 70 x 47 x 8cm and weighs 7.8 Kgs
Large - 92cm x 43cm x 8cm and weighs 8.4 kgs
They can be used as free standing or wall mounted, has 2 heat settings and automatic thermostatic control
This is not a Wifi or Smartphone type panel radiator and has no timer
90% buyer satisfaction based on 200+ online buyer reviews
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What impacts the price of electric radiators?
Electric Radiator Type
As you can see from the table above the type of electric radiator that you pick will impact the price.
Your Budget
This is probably the most important consideration. How much can you afford or how much are you willing to pay for the type of radiator that you want.
Convector Heater Radiators
A basic convector heater is the cheapest option and is a good choice for quickly heating a room. A quick blast of heat on the high setting initially can then be turned down once the room has heated up. There is also no risk of an oil leaks. These are also light and pretty quiet so easy to move around. Oil free radiators are faster and easier to use than their counterparts and more environmentally friendly.
The disadvantages are that they don't really heat up like a radiator, they are expensive to run and there is no storage heat once turned off. They are good as an option for a small room that needs to be heated up quickly.
Oil Filled Radiators
An oil filled radiator is filled with a thermodynamic oil which gets heated up once you plug it in. The oil then circulates and heats up the radiator. These offer much better heat retention so they stay warm for a period after they are switched off. These are a much better choice for larger rooms. You don't have to replace the oil so low in maintenance and slightly cheaper to run than a convector heater.
Panel Style Radiators
If the style of your radiator is really important to you, then there are some amazing choices to ne had. If you are a technology inclined person then these are also the best option for you. They come as panel styles in either glass or ceramic and are usually wall mounted, but can also be used as free standing. They are also extremely energy efficient.
The disadvantages of these is that you will have to pay considerably more for all the technology and style perks. They may not be suitable for some older homes, due to very modern styling of some brands.
The Features
When you compare like for like types of electric radiators, they will all have some basic features. These include a few temperature settings and usually some form of automatic thermostatic control. Some radiators also have extra features such as a timer
Size does Matter
The actual size of the radiator also heavily influences the price point. Small radiators are of course designed for small rooms and for larger rooms you will need a larger one and that does increase the cost.
The Brand and Customer Service
The brand also can dictate the price. Brands who make electrical radiators such as pro Breeze, VonHaus, Purus, Schallen, Russell Hobbs etc will have their own levels of customer service and warranties. The quality of the engineering build will also vary. All of these details eventually end up with a slightly different price point.
Some brands offer an excellent easy to contact UK customer service which is important. Some brands offer better warranties and availability of spare parts. Depending on the quality of these services the price may change.
Running Costs
These are important to understand especially if energy costs are high. Electricity is measured in Kilo Watt Hours (Kwh). One unit of electricity is 1 Kwh with an average cost of £0.18 per unit. We have shown a couple of examples just below:
- A 1,000 watt radiator if used for 1 hour is a kwh and would cost on average 18p to run
- A 1500 watt radiator if used for 1 hour is a kwh and would cost on average 27p to run
- A 2,000 watt radiator if used for 1 hour is a kwh and would cost on average 36p to run
If for example you had a 1,500 watt radiator and you ran it 2 hours a day for 7 days the cost would be 14 hours at 18p which would be £2.52 for the week.
Known Electric Radiator Issues
There are a number of known issues with electrical radiators and we wanted to make our readers aware of those, and also to suggest some preventative measures and resolution ideas.
Radiators Blowing Fuses
This issue does happen and can be very annoying. It can happen a lot in older houses with older wiring. We will try not to bore you with electric technical details, however we also want to explain why this might happen.
All electrical appliances in the United Kingdom work off a 230/240 Volt main's supply. When you plug in any electric appliance and switch it on, it then draws a current to that appliance to make it work and this electric current is measured in Amps.
Appliances such as lamps, TVs etc only draw a very small current and will never heat up the electric plug as the current is very small. They tend only to blow fuses when they go faulty, usually over a long period of time.
However other appliances such as soup makers, some power tools, washing machines, tumble dryers do draw a much larger current. This can cause cables to heat up and in some cases the electric plug can also heat up. The same applies to electric radiators especially when you select the highest setting.
This is because of the power setting as they have a high power consumption. The electrical circuit in your home doesn't have enough reserve capacity to power the heater, and the fuse will blow to protect other appliances plugged into the same circuit.
We should also point out at this stage that some appliances could also be faulty and if a short circuit happens then this will also blow a fuse.
How to stop an electrical heater fuse from blowing?
- Ideally you should get your wiring checked by a qualified electrician though we do understand that can be an expensive option
- Avoid having too many appliances plugged into the same circuit. For example if you have a heater in a bedroom, then any appliance in the upstairs sockets will be drawing a current. Think of items like lamps, TVs, satellite boxes, hair dryers, heating irons. If you then add a radiator to that it may be too much so unplug any unused appliances
- You should never plug an electrical radiator into an extension lead as these types of lead allow you to plug in other appliances
- Check the fuse on the radiator plug regularly to make sure there is no damage to it and replace the fuse if it has blackened or looks broken
- Never leave your radiator running constantly even on a low setting as the heat will build up and you should not leave it on overnight
Radiators Not Heating the Room
Almost always this is because the radiator is simply the wrong size for a room. The vast majority of electrical radiators are designed to be used in smaller rooms such as a bedroom, a home office, a shed or a garage. They are really not suitable for larger rooms, and they are not really suitable for long and prolonged use.
Electric radiators are a good enough choice for a small room and to quickly heat a room.
Radiators Leaking Oil
This is of course only a problem with oil filled radiators. It is not something that happens that often, though we did notice when reading the many online reviews, that a few buyers did have an issue with the oil leaking from the radiator.
That seemed to occur in older radiators around the valves at the bottom of the radiator. With any oil filled radiator you never have to top up the oil. That is done in the factory and the radiator is then sealed. It is the electrical current that powers the radiator and heats up the oil inside the fins.
The only point of weakness is at the seams or with any valves. All you can really do is to check these on a regular basis for any moisture or oil. That is especially true as the radiator starts to get older.
Resources Used to write this article
Energy Efficiency - Energy UK
The CE or European Conformity mark - Gov.UK
IEC Class Protection - International Electrotechnical Commission