Despite the availability of district heating systems for apartment buildings, many tenants acquire reserve heat sources. They are bought for use in the event of an emergency stop of the boiler room, a break in the heating network, a delay in the start of the heating season, or just to create more comfortable conditions in the children's room. An electric convector or oil cooler can be indispensable when traveling to the country in the early spring or late fall. Warming up the whole house is long and expensive, but using an alternative heat source you can quickly create normal conditions in one small room.
Principle of work, advantages and disadvantages
Most often, electric convectors or oil heaters are bought for space heating. The principle of their operation is based on fast and efficient heating of air, the movement of which in each of these devices occurs in its own way. In addition, there is a noticeable difference in cost, basic design, power, overall dimensions and other characteristics.
In order to answer the question of which is better - a convector or an oil heater, it is necessary to consider the features of their technical device, as well as operational advantages and disadvantages. At the same time, we compare precisely modern designs, and not those models that were developed by Soviet and Chinese industry and were widely offered for sale 10 years ago.
Oil heaters
By their design, these heaters represent a tank filled with mineral oil into which an electric heating element (TEN) is immersed. To increase the heating efficiency, the total internal volume and heat transfer surface are increased due to the installation of vertical hollow ribs connected at the top of the collector and also filled with oil.
The vertical fins are made of sheet steel, reminiscent of the classic sectional type batteries in style. The calculated heat transfer taking into account the efficiency provides for the consumption of 1 kW of electricity for heating 10 m2 area of the apartment with idle central heating. The range of oil radiators offered for sale includes appliances with power from 800 W to 3.2 kW.
Regulation and safety automation
The heating process is controlled through a rheostat and a temperature sensor that controls the temperature of heating the oil and air in the room. Some oil coolers are equipped with a vertical deviation control system that can automatically turn off the heater in the event of a rollover.
Advanced models provide protection against splashing hot oil in case of leakage of the housing.
A very convenient addition to the design can be a built-in timer. It will turn on the heater only at the right time. For example, in the evening, at the arrival of the owners, and in the morning when you wake up. This will save a significant amount of electricity and pay less for heating.
Benefits
One of the main reasons for the widespread use of oil heaters is their simple use. It is enough to plug the cord into a power outlet and set the desired temperature. The presence of wheels and a convenient side handle makes it easy to move the heater around the apartment and use it where necessary. The installation of basic electrical equipment reduces the likelihood of damage to a minimum.
In addition to convenient operation, the advantages of oil heaters include:
- affordable cost;
- silent work;
- a large area of heat transfer conditionally sectional housing.
The use of mineral oil as a working fluid virtually eliminates the possibility of boiling during heating and freezing at negative air temperatures. In addition, internal cavities are reliably protected from corrosion.
Disadvantages
The main disadvantage of oil devices is the high inertia and long duration of heating the room, since initially it requires an increase in the temperature of the working fluid. However, after turning off, such a heater is still able to give off the accumulated heat for a long time. In addition, ventilation blowing sections can significantly accelerate the process.
Some buyers, especially owners of small-sized apartments, are not suitable for the size of the heating device and the option of its mandatory floor placement.
Electric convectors
How is a convector different from an oil heater? The simplest design of the convection device consists of two flat plates, between which a finned heating element is installed in the lower part.
Cold air, coming from below and passing through the hot heater, is heated and rises, heating the room. Unlike oil radiators, electric convectors transfer most of the heat due to convective heat transfer, and only the smallest part - by radiation.
General description of the design
There are 2 options for installing convectors - wall and floor. The first method is provided by a small weight of the device and a small thickness. The floor models have wheels and when moving them, just pull the side handle.
The gradual improvement of heating devices of this type slightly changed the design of the casing. Now in the lower part is installed a protective grill with slit-shaped openings for air intake. Solid metal plates are installed on the side ends and on top. The exit of heated air masses is carried out through the upper part of the front panel, in which horizontal longitudinal slots are provided for this.
Manual and automatic control
The heater controls are usually located at the top of the side. A standardly accepted kit provides for:
- circuit breaker;
- temperature switch;
- work indicator light.
An automatic control temperature sensor is installed in the lower part of the housing at the inlet of the cooled air for heating. In the most advanced models, you can see the electronic temperature indication, the ability to temporarily program operating modes for hours, days, and even weeks.
Benefits
Among the main advantages include:
- the possibility of placement on the wall;
- silent work;
- lack of inertia and fast heating of the room;
- high level of reliability.
Modern convection type heaters are fireproof and maintain a heating level that will not lead to possible burns.
Performance Comparison
Now let's try to figure out which heater is better, oil or convector. You can do this by comparing such differences as:
- inertia and warm-up time;
- safety;
- energy efficiency;
- life time;
- environmental indicators.
One can immediately say about the last indicator that both devices work silently, do not burn oxygen and distribute dust minimally in a room with convection flows (any heater, due to the movement of warm air flows, spreads dust).
Which is better and faster warms up
Heating the room with an oil radiator is slower, since it is carried out in several stages. First, the heater must warm itself up and heat the oil. After that, the hot liquid gives its heat to the metal walls and only after that does the process of heat transfer to the room begin.
At the convector, work begins immediately after heating the heater. Part of the heat is transferred to the front metal panel, where the heating element is fixed, and approximately 95% of the energy is spent on rapid heating of the air. So in this matter, the convector clearly outperforms the oil cooler.
Which is safer
The metal housing of oil heaters is not eternal. In the event of a leak, there may be a real risk of burns. But for convectors, this probability is completely excluded. They are safer.
What is more economical
Without making complicated technical calculations, one can simply say that practice shows that oil radiators use 20–25% higher energy consumption than convector devices that use energy more efficiently.
What is more durable
The warranty life of the convector is 5-10 years. Actually, this indicator can reach up to 20 years, while the operation of oil heaters rarely exceeds 10-12 years.
Popular models
Unfortunately, domestic-made heaters are not among the most popular. This is explained by the price, similar to foreign products, and psychological distrust of the buyer.
Electric convectors:
- Ballu BEC / ETTER-1500;
- Ballu HEAT MAX 1500;
- Noirot Spot E-5 1500;
- Electrolux ECH / T-1500 M.
The best oil heaters:
- Timberk TOR 21.1507 BC / BCL;
- Electrolux EOH / M-5221N;
- Hyundai H-HO-9-07-UI847.