Safest oil radiator ? A fire could've almost started in my house !

Submitted by hala3mi t3_119x1q9 in BuyItForLife

so i use an oil filled radiator specifically this one, and i know that there is a potential risk when using these, however i heard the oil filled heaters are the safest, i always never turn it on full tilt and only have it running when attended, however after a short trip to the bathroom, i immediately smelled a burning plastic smell in the house, i ran to the the heater to find the wire red hot and melting the plastic on the wire, it could've turned really bad as my entire house is carpeted.

Anyways now i just want the safest possible oil radiator price be damned.

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Spazghost t1_j9onn4s wrote

I'm sure you have heard this before but make sure your heater is plugged directly into the wall and not on any extension cords. If you have to buy an extension cord buy one rated for 1500 watt appliances (I have a special gray extension cord only used for heater)

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davew_haverford_edu t1_j9oodd0 wrote

I've got a couple brands that I've used, but don't know how to assess the safety well; I'll let others speak to that, or perhaps to which rating organizations they'd trust.

[Edit: I strongly agree with your point about how you use the heater.] safety is not just about the device, but also how it's used. I try not to leave a high-current appliance unattended: if I must leave an oil-filled heater on and unattended, I set it to low or maybe medium power, greatly reducing the current; I reduce the amperage on my level-2 car charger, unless I want to charge promptly during a short stop at home. And, don't overlook all those safety warnings that we don't read in the instruction booklet... Occasionally check the cord for wear, and make sure it doesn't get damaged. After your post, I may start feeling the cord after the first 5-10 minutes of use, to see if it's heating excessively or unevenly.

And, beware the phrase "all other things being equal", even when it is unspoken. The oil-filled heaters are said to be safer, but that's if you use them in the same way ... they take time to warm up, so it's much more tempting to turn them on well before you're going to occupy the room. Would it be safer to start an old-style electric room heater only when you're actually in the room? I don't know, but that's a different question, any may have a different answer. [Edit: So, maybe something with a remote control, so you can shut it easily, each time you step out?]

Also, I try not to put the heater between myself and the door. Just in case something gets out of hand quickly.

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Environmental-Sock52 t1_j9p014e wrote

According to the electrician who came out to a similar situation at our house the issue is the circuit the heater is plugged into. It needs its own dedicated circuit to be safe, like your refrigerator or HVAC would have. If you don't know what that is or how to find it, you can have an electrician help with that usually for a service call fee. Maybe a few hundred to set one up, more if you have old wiring.

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cal_per_sq_cm t1_j9pco9z wrote

Why oil radiator?

Possibilities to look into: DeLonghi TRN0812T Vornado VMH600 Honeywell HZ-980

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FrenchFryCattaneo t1_j9r0i6l wrote

It sounds like the cord on your heater may have gotten damaged. The best thing you can do is try and inspect the cord and plug regularly - any cuts, tears, kinks, or abrasions on the cord mean it needs to be replaced. Any heater will be susceptible to damage, so in this case I don't think the heater itself was at fault.

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