"Emergency heat" from oil-filled space heaters - advice please

[newbury]

Site is northern Mississippi, main concern, other than $$$, is to prevent pipes from freezing.
Motor on heat pump/furnace (~15+ yrs old, 6 ton unit) went out, our son who knows about this stuff (responsible for data center environment, heating and cooling) guesstimates $300 to $500 to replace minimum (motor etc.) will be looking into replacing whole kit and kaboodle partially because it was a cheap unit installed before we bought the house.
Place is unoccupied for a few months, we are stuck in northern Va for months for wifes eyes (surgery etc.). Main concern right now is to prevent freezing if the temps get down like they did for a period in 2021 with about 2 weeks of cold (for the area) weather.
So my first thought was heat tapes around sensitive areas. Son suggested a several oil filled radiator heaters and wait out the winter while he researches quality replacement units. My BIL could wheel them in. Electricity is only ~10 cents/Kwh. They could come in useful in later years in a couple of upstairs rooms.
So without further adieu - any recommendations for such Portable Electric Radiator Heater, Oil Filled in the 1500 watt size? A QUICK search found Kismile Portable Electric Radiator Heater, at $80@

 

[ultrarunner]

Can you drain the pipes and use RV antifreeze in the toilet and traps?

We have done this over 50 years in snow country.

 

[riptides]

If it is unoccupied why not just turn the water off and drain anything holding it? No way I'd chance space heaters without a person with them.

 

[ruffdog]

I have one of these Dragons for the wifes bathroom. It can safely be between her toilet and cabinet because of the design. It really throws the heat out the top but with no fan.

Amazon.com

 

[4570Man]

Just winterize the lines. It would be easier and cheaper than dealing with heaters.

 

[Dftodd]

The oil filled radiator space heaters are pretty decent.

We have one in a small green house enclosure to keep some plants from freezing over the winter.

The one we have is a set and forget type. Set the temperature to the desired temperature and it has a built in thermostat.

The only issue is if there is a power outage then it defaults to off and a 95° temperature.

We have another that has a dial for temperature and then a low, medium, and high setting for output.

If you have someone that regularly checks the place, then the higher end model with the digital temp setting will work great, and save t out some money since it only runs when needed.

If you don't have someone to periodically check on the place, then the dial ones will probably work better since once they are turned on, they stay on.

 

[ponytug]

Much as I like oil filled heaters for their gentle warmth, we have had one leak.

I would not use a heater unattended. Like @ultrarunner suggested, I would drain the house lines, blow them out with compressed air if you need to (there are nice garden hose to compressed air adapters), and pour some RV antifreeze in the sinks, toilets (and dishwasher, and washing machine, depending on the model), and you are done.

Much safer. If a pipe cracks, you can deal with it when you are there, rather than trying to rebuild.

Free advice...

All the best,

Peter

 

[MaxLee]

Like others have said... winterize the house. Much safer and a lot cheaper. You won't need to worry constanly if the heaters are working.

 

[2manyrocks]

Electricity could go out and the pipes could freeze anyway unless you blow them out and use RV antifreeze in the traps as others suggested.

 

[newbury]

I have one of these Dragons for the wifes bathroom. It can safely be between her toilet and cabinet because of the design. It really throws the heat out the top but with no fan.

Amazon.com

The oil filled radiator space heaters are pretty decent.

We have one in a small green house enclosure to keep some plants from freezing over the winter.

The one we have is a set and forget type. Set the temperature to the desired temperature and it has a built in thermostat.

The only issue is if there is a power outage then it defaults to off and a 95° temperature.

We have another that has a dial for temperature and then a low, medium, and high setting for output.

Can you share brand/model?

 

[ultrarunner]

Can you share brand/model?

Visit the De'Longhi Store
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,186Reviews

DeLonghi Dragon Oil Filled Radiator Heater, 1500W Electric Space Heater for indoor use, portable room heater, programmable timer, full room heater with safety features, TRD40615T​

I have the same model in Austria but 220 volts...

 

[ruffdog]

Can you share brand/model?

Yes, I showed a link to the model....

DeLonghi Dragon​

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

To me 1500 Watts is 1500 Watts. Is there anything to show if an oil filled heater puts out more heat than a $19 fan heater? I have lots of those, but yes I would winterize the house.
The best thing I did was replace our fuel oil furnace with propane. We have four, two in house plus a central vented Vermont Castings stove and one in garage. Propane is much more efficient, the exhaust pipe is PVC plastic.

 

[ponytug]

To me 1500 Watts is 1500 Watts. Is there anything to show if an oil filled heater puts out more heat than a $19 fan heater? I have lots of those, but yes I would winterize the house.
The best thing I did was replace our fuel oil furnace with propane. We have four, two in house plus a central vented Vermont Castings stove and one in garage. Propane is much more efficient, the exhaust pipe is PVC plastic.

Yes, 1,500W is 1,500W, aka 5,200BTU/hr, and it doesn't put out more heat, but an oil filled heater under normal circumstances doesn't have a surface temperature that represents a significant fire risk. If it leaks, different story.

All the best,

Peter

 

[masseyrider]

I had a couple of the Delonghi heaters and they worked very well. However I don't think I'd want to leave them unattended for extended periods of time.

 

[jyoutz]

Site is northern Mississippi, main concern, other than $$$, is to prevent pipes from freezing.
Motor on heat pump/furnace (~15+ yrs old, 6 ton unit) went out, our son who knows about this stuff (responsible for data center environment, heating and cooling) guesstimates $300 to $500 to replace minimum (motor etc.) will be looking into replacing whole kit and kaboodle partially because it was a cheap unit installed before we bought the house.
Place is unoccupied for a few months, we are stuck in northern Va for months for wifes eyes (surgery etc.). Main concern right now is to prevent freezing if the temps get down like they did for a period in 2021 with about 2 weeks of cold (for the area) weather.
So my first thought was heat tapes around sensitive areas. Son suggested a several oil filled radiator heaters and wait out the winter while he researches quality replacement units. My BIL could wheel them in. Electricity is only ~10 cents/Kwh. They could come in useful in later years in a couple of upstairs rooms.
So without further ado - any recommendations for such Portable Electric Radiator Heater, Oil Filled in the 1500 watt size? A QUICK search found Kismile Portable Electric Radiator Heater, at $80@

These work great, for small spaces. I use them every winter in a small room off our insulated but unheated attached garage.

 

[ning]

Even at "~10¢/kWh", "several" units (call that three to be conservative) will still cost more than $7/day, more than $200/mo.

Either winterize or get off the pot and replace the furnace.

 

[ultrarunner]

Yes, 1,500W is 1,500W, aka 5,200BTU/hr, and it doesn't put out more heat, but an oil filled heater under normal circumstances doesn't have a surface temperature that represents a significant fire risk. If it leaks, different story.

All the best,

Peter

Yes... it's the safety aspect and a more even heat...

Had close calls where renters have put clothes to dry over a portable heater and a fire started...

I think oil filled is the way to go if at floor level...

 

[Jstpssng]

Yes, 1,500W is 1,500W, aka 5,200BTU/hr, and it doesn't put out more heat, but an oil filled heater under normal circumstances doesn't have a surface temperature that represents a significant fire risk. If it leaks, different story.

All the best,

Peter

They also last longer. I have one I've used to heat a small building for 15 years or longer. I have it plugged into a space heater thermostat and it maintains a steady 50 degrees when I'm not around to feed the wood stove.

 

[newbury]

Yes, I showed a link to the model....

DeLonghi Dragon​

I was referring to DFtodd's post.