Ceramic Heater vs. Oil-Filled Heaters: Which Is Right for You?

Using a heater can be a wonderful way to stay warm during the cold winter months and save fuel and money at the same time.

However, the opposite is also true: using a heater to stay warm can be a costly mistake.

Heaters, no matter how small and inexpensive they may be, always contain a few features that may not be necessary for your style of the heating process.

Ceramic heaters are more expensive to purchase, but they do not require electricity. While oil-filled heaters can be used in homes that use electric heaters.

A ceramic heater may be better than an oil-filled heater. Ceramic heaters heat an area more evenly, have lower energy consumption, and can heat large rooms.

However, there are some drawbacks to a ceramic heater. Each type of heater has its own pros and cons.

Choose the type of heater that best meets your needs depending on where you plan to use it. Keep on reading to find out which one is better. 

Why choose Ceramic Heater?

Ceramic heaters are made of ceramic and rocks and generate heat through resistance. With no moving parts, they can provide instant heat.

This appliance generates heat for rooms. Ceramic heaters are used in the home, office, recreational vehicles construction of electric room heaters, hair dryers, and ceramic hair straighteners.

Using ceramic elements or heating elements that cycle on and off, ceramic heaters are a type of electric heater that maintains the desired core temperature.

The ceramic heater is available in two different styles.

• The first style is ceramic fibre wrapped around an electric heating elements.
• The other style is made of ceramic pellets placed in the heating unit.

Ceramic type of space heater are an essential part of home heating systems. They provide warmth and comfort while saving energy and money.

Ceramic heat is a type of radiant heat that travels across the surface of the material as infrared radiation.

It is effective at warming up a room without using electricity or gas. A ceramic heater is also safe to use because of its low fire hazard.

Why choose Oil-Filled Heater?

An oil filled type of heater is a home central heating device that uses oil as its energy source to heat the air in a room.

The oil is usually heated to a high exact temperature and then pumped out at a lower surface temperature to deliver warm air to the house.

Heaters with an oil tank heat the air in the room using an electrical heating element and oil. Oil filled heaters are used in homes and businesses to instant heat interior areas.

It is safe to use inside the house because of its automatic shut-off system, which turns the heater off if it tips over or malfunctions.

Oil filled heaters are great because they’re built to last and have heaters that can heat a large room quickly. Also, they have a sleek design and are portable, so they can move them from room to room.

However, pay attention to details before choosing the best heater for your home.

Is Ceramic Heater more Energy Efficient?

While both types of heaters produce heat using electricity, they differ in terms of efficiency. We consider oil heaters being more energy-efficient because they operate at lower temperatures.

For example, gas heaters workaround 40°F, while electric radiant heaters operate at about 50°F. This means that oil heaters save energy.

Ceramics heaters function properly and effectively at high temperatures. These portable heaters consume more energy because of their design.

It, therefore, becomes necessary for homeowners to determine whether a particular appliance would suit their specific requirements prior to buying it.

Ceramic Heater: Pros And Cons 

There’s a lot to like about ceramic heaters. When using a ceramic heater, it is important to ensure that the direct heater is in the correct temperature range.

If it is too hot, it can cause burns or damage the heater itself - not good. Too cold, and you’ll have the heater turning off, wasting energy and money.

Pros

• The primary advantage of ceramic heaters is their ability to deliver maximum heat without using much power.
• They do not emit toxic fumes and are non hazardous.
• The huge benefit of ceramic heaters include safety and even effective heating of objects.
• It can produce more heat than most other technologies.
• Ceramic heaters are available with many options, styles and sizes.
• Ceramic heaters are popular for their ease of use, affordability, and durability.
• Ceramic individual heaters heat quickly and also heat a room or area to a greater temperature.

Cons

• It is one of the more expensive types of space heaters.  
• Ceramic modern heater aren’t for every home.

Oil-Filled Heater: Pros And Cons 

Although oil-filled space heaters are typically quite common, it’s not always the most efficient heating method to your home, since it takes a lot of electricity to heat oil to incredibly high temperatures.

However, there are good reasons to keep an oil-filled heater in your home, even if its electricity usage seems high.

Pros

• The heat benefits of an oil-filled heater are that it is portable, silent, cool to touch, and doesn’t lose effectiveness over extended time.
• Oil-filled heaters are a safe and energy efficiency heating spaces for small rooms.
• Oil-filled heater has advantages of being economical and long-lasting.
• They’re affordable and can be used either as a primary source of heat or as a supplementary heat source.

Cons

• The drawbacks of using an oil-filled heater are that they are dangerous to operate.
• They are not designed to heat large spaces.
• Difficult to move and producing more sound.

How to choose the best heater?

There are a few factors to consider when choosing a heater for your home. To choose the best heater, consider its smart feature, size, efficiency, and material.

There are many options when selecting a heater. However, they all have their advantages and disadvantages.

Here are some things to consider:

1. Cost - When buying a heater, always compare prices before deciding which model is better suited for you?

Although an oil filled heater costs less than a ceramic heater, it doesn’t mean it’s cheaper over the long term.

The price of both types can be very different. When comparing the two, there’s no clear winner yet. It depends mainly on how much you want to spend on them, so make sure not to choose based only on price.

2. Size - There are also differences between these units. An oil heater will be larger compared with a ceramic unit. However, this does not mean that ceramic ones cannot fit into smaller spaces.

3. Efficiency- Both types generate heat by using electricity, but the main difference lies in efficiency.

While an oil heater works well at higher temperatures, a ceramic heater can work up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Noise level - If noise matters to you, then go for an oil heater since it produces low levels of sound. If silence is important, opt for a ceramic heater because it makes little or no noise.

5. Maintenance - Oil heaters require regular maintenance, whereas ceramic heaters do not need any special care.

6. Safety heat retention features - Ceramic heaters come equipped with safety mechanisms such as auto shutoff switches that turn off power automatically when overheating occurs.

7. Durability - With a duration of time, both closed units become obsolete. So durability plays an important role when making your ideal choice.

8. Warranty - Most manufacturers offer warranties on oils heaters. Some models last from three months to five years.

In addition, most manufacturers offer extended warranty plans for an extended period of time.

9. Space available - You must first assess the size of the room or area where you intend to install the heater. Consider getting multiple quotes from several companies to ensure you get the right product for the job.

10. Heat output required - Determine the amount of heat needed in the room. For instance, is it enough just to warm up the air, or should it keep rooms comfortable throughout the year?

11. Area covered - Selecting a heater whose coverage matches the entire surface of the room is ideal. But, remember that some areas near windows and doors might feel cold.

Make sure that the heater covers all surfaces of the oil.

12. Installation - An oil heater requires installation after purchase. It may require drilling holes into walls or floors. On the flip side, ceramic heaters have no installation fees, making them easier to install.

13. Safety - Both oil-filed and ceramic heaters offer excellent protection from house fire hazards. However, if you live near flammable materials such as wooden furniture or carpeting, then installing an oil heater might prove risky.

Safety Tips for Ceramic and Oil-Filled heaters

• To keep the heater safe from the house, keep the heater at least three feet from furniture, drapes, and other flammable items.
• Be sure the heater is on a level surface and not in an area where it might fall over.
• Do not leave heaters on when you go to sleep or leave home.
• Place heaters on a level, hard, and non-flammable surface and use a heater mat.
• Never leave children unattended around convection heating appliances. They could easily climb onto the appliance while playing.
• Keep pets away from desirable parts of the heater. Pets often lick their paws on heated objects. This can cause burns.
• Do not use extension cords to connect electric powered accessories like lamps, fans, etc., to the heater. Use only approved cord extensions.
• Check the label before plugging the heater into outlets. The labels contain warnings about which electrical devices they’re compatible with.
• Place fan heaters away from all windows and doors.

Last words

The ceramic space heater market has been growing at a rapid rate for several years. During the same period, the oil filled heater market shrunk.

A ceramic heater is a good choice for a variety of rooms in your home, from the kitchen to the family room. The ceramic heater’s design makes it safer, quieter, and easy to use. In addition, a ceramic heater heats the room faster and doesn’t dry out the air, which makes it a brilliant choice.