Oil-filled radiators are a great option for heating your home when things get chilly. But you may wonder how much you’ll spend on the running cost of this type of radiator.
There are several factors that go into determining the running cost of an oil-filled radiator. But navigating these doesn’t have to be confusing.
Use this guide to learn what affects the cost, how to calculate it, and approximately how much you’ll pay to run your oil-filled radiator.
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Running Costs Of An Oil-Filled Radiator
The cost of an oil-filled radiator isn’t just the sticker price of the appliance. It’s also how much you pay for the energy it takes to run it.
This energy cost is affected by several factors, such as the wattage of the radiator. Other factors include how long it’s running, and how high you set the temperature.
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But in general, you can calculate the cost with just the wattage of the appliance and the cost of electricity. View the chart below to see the approximate cost of running four popular types of radiators:
| OI | Wattage | Estimated Cost Per Hour |
|---|---|---|
| ANSIO® Oil Filled Radiator Heater | 1000-2300W | 33.2-76.36p |
| Schallen Black Portable Electric Slim Oil Filled Radiator | 1500W | 49.8p |
| NETTA Oil Filled Radiator Heater 2000W with Timer | 2000W | 66.4p |
| Pro Breeze® 2500W Oil Filled Radiator | 2500W | 83p |
How To Calculate Electricity Costs For Oil-Filled Radiators
Energy is usually charged by kilowatt hour (kWh). So, for every 1,000 watts of an appliance, it uses 1 kWh.
To determine the kWh of your appliance, you convert the wattage into kilowatts by dividing the watts by 1,000.
Then, multiply that number by the current cost of energy to determine the running cost of the appliance.
The formula for calculating the running cost then looks like this:
(wattage of appliance ÷ 1,000) × cost of energy = running cost per hour
Despite their name, oil-filled radiators do not use oil for energy. Instead, the radiator is filled with a thermal oil which surrounds an electrical element.
The electrical element heats the oil, which then heats the body of the radiator. That heat then transfers to the surrounding air.
The current average electricity cost in the UK is 33.2p per kWh. In addition, the average oil-filled radiator runs on electricity and has a 1,500-watt input. So:
(1,500 ÷ 1,000) × 33.2 = 49.8
In short, the cost of running a 1,500-watt oil-filled radiator is 49.8p per kwH. So, if you run your radiator 8 hours a day for an entire year, the cost comes to £1,454.16.
Factors That Affect Running Cost Of Oil-Filled Radiators
Not every radiator has the same wattage, nor are they used to heat the same kind of rooms. Moreover, you probably won’t be using it for eight hours a day all year.
All of these factors will affect how much it costs to run your radiator each year. But with the basic calculation above, you can determine a good estimate for your particular radiator needs.
For example, say you have a radiator that costs 49.8p an hour to run. You can then multiply that by the number of hours you expect to run it in the colder seasons.
Also, some radiators have adjustable settings that change the wattage output. You can also use the above formulas to calculate the cost of each setting.
So, if you run your radiator at a higher wattage at night, you can calculate that specific cost. Or, you may need to run one radiator at a higher wattage than others because it’s heating a larger room.
Either way, you can calculate the cost of each radiator no matter what setting it’s on or where it is. This will give you a better idea of how much your oil-filled radiator will cost to run.
Oil-Filled Radiator Vs. Other Heating Methods
Once you know the running cost of your oil-filled radiator, you can compare that cost to other heating methods.
The most common heating methods in the UK are gas and electric central heating. There are also homes that use LPG boilers for heating.
Check out the chart below for comparisons between oil-filled radiators and central heating (electric and gas) and LPG boilers:
| Type Of Heating System | Average kWh | Energy Type And Standard Rate | Approximate Cost Per Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil-Filled Radiators | 1.5kWh | Electricity – 33.2p/kWh | 49.8p |
| Electric Central Heating Boiler | 12kWh | Electricity – 33.2p/kWh | £3.98 |
| Gas Central Heating Boiler | 35kWh | Mains Gas – 10.3p/kWh | £3.61 |
| LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) Boilers | 28kWh | LPG – 12.1p/kWh | £3.39 |
It’s important to note that the above chart gives the running cost of a single oil-filled radiator. You may need more than one to heat your entire home, which will increase the total running cost.
You should also factor in the standing charge of each form of energy. Since it’s a flat rate, its effect on your cost per hour depends on how often you use your radiator.
The standing charges for each energy type are as follows:
| Type Of Energy | Standing Charge |
|---|---|
| Electricity | £167.9/year |
| Gas | £102.2/year |
| LPG | £62.84/year |
In Conclusion
Oil-filled radiators can be a cheap and easy way to heat your home. In general, they cost less than central heating, either gas or electric.
However, energy rates can change and you may need more radiators or ones with higher wattages for your home. This will affect your final running costs.
But you can use this guide to determine the running cost of your oil-based radiator based on your specific needs.
As long as you know your radiator’s wattage, this guide will help you figure out the hourly running cost. Then, you can use that rate to determine your specific yearly cost.