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What is the difference between an Oil Filled Radiator and an Oil Free Radiator?



Besides stating the obvious, an Oil Filled Radiator is filled with oil and an Oil Free Radiator contains no oil, but if there is no oil in an oil free radiator how is it heated?


A traditional Oil Filled Radiator is filled with an oil called Thermodynamic Oil. The electric element within the radiator heats the oil which in turn heats the metal walls of the radiator. When the air in the room meets with the metal walls of the radiator the air is warmed, raising the room temperature.


An Oil Free Radiator works in a very similar way. As the Oil Free Radiator contains no oil it uses a Dry Thermal Heating Element. It is for this reason that an Oil Free Radiator can be referred to as a Dry Electric Radiator. The Dry Heating element is usually aluminium or ceramic plates. The electric element of the radiator heats the aluminium or the ceramic plates and this then heats the metal walls of the radiator. Again, when the air of the room meets with the metal walls of the radiator the temperature of the air in the room is warmed.


Both Oil Filled Radiators and Oil Free Radiators heat the room in the same way although their internal workings are different. It has been said that an Oil Free Radiator will warm up and also cool down quicker than an Oil Filled Radiator but this can depend on what Dry Thermal Heating Element has been used.




Tags: radiators oil free radiators oil filled radiators home heating electric heaters