Convector Heaters Explained: Panel, Convector and Oil Filled Compared
Convector heaters, explained properly.
What a convector heater actually is, how panel, oil filled, storage and fan heaters really compare on speed, warmth and running cost, and what to check before you buy one.
What a convector heater actually is.
A convector heater warms a room by moving air, not by glowing at you. An electric element inside the body heats the air around it, that warm air rises up through the casing and out of the top grille, and cooler air is drawn in at the bottom to replace it. The result is a steady, silent circulation that lifts the temperature of the whole room rather than one spot in front of the heater.
You will see the same product called a convector heater, an electric convector heater, a convector radiator or a panel heater. They are all the same idea. Our Adax panel heaters are slimline convectors: flat wall mounted bodies only a few centimetres deep, with the element and thermostat built in, made by Adax in Norway. Because convection works on air rather than thermal mass, an electric convector heats up within minutes of switching on, which is what makes it so well suited to rooms you use in bursts.
Convector vs oil filled vs storage vs fan.
Every plug-in electric heater converts electricity to heat at effectively 100 percent efficiency, so the real differences are how fast the heat arrives, how long it lingers, and how well you can control it. Here is the honest picture:
| Heater type | Speed to heat | Warmth after switch off | Running cost profile | Mounting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convector / panel | Fast, warm air within minutes | Fades quickly, little stored heat | Pay only while it runs, precise thermostat and timer control keeps use low | Wall mounted, slimline, some portable models exist |
| Oil filled radiator | Slow, the oil takes time to warm | Good, the oil keeps radiating for a while | Same cost per kWh as a convector, the stored warmth just shifts when you pay for it | Mostly freestanding on castors, some wall mounted |
| Storage heater | Slow release through the day | Very long, that is the whole point | Charges on cheap off-peak tariffs such as Economy 7, wasteful without one | Wall mounted, deep and heavy |
| Fan heater | Fastest, blows hot air instantly | None once the fan stops | High output in short bursts, noisy, costly if left running | Freestanding and portable |
A few honest notes. We sell slimline electric convector panel heaters, not oil filled radiators, storage heaters or fan heaters, so we have no reason to pretend one type wins at everything. An oil filled radiator suits a room you heat for long unbroken stretches, such as a home office all day or an oil filled conservatory heater left on through a winter afternoon, because the warm oil keeps radiating after the element cycles off. A storage heater only earns its keep if you are on an off-peak electricity tariff to charge it cheaply overnight. A fan heater, including fan assisted convector designs, is for a fast blast of heat where noise does not matter.
For most rooms heated on and off through the day, a wall mounted convector radiator with an accurate thermostat and a timer is the most controllable option: it responds in minutes, holds the temperature you set, and stops drawing power the moment the room is warm. That control, not the heater type, is what decides your running cost.
Five things that separate a good convector from a cheap one.
Thermostat accuracy
A precise electronic thermostat holds the room within a fraction of a degree, so the element only runs when it must. Vague mechanical dials overshoot, and every degree of overshoot is money spent heating air you did not ask for.
Timers and scheduling
A built-in timer means the heater warms the room for the hours you actually use it and nothing more. Most of our range has a timer and thermostat built in, and app-controlled models let you adjust the schedule from your phone.
Lot 20 compliance
Lot 20 of the Ecodesign regulations requires fixed electric heaters to carry energy-saving controls such as accurate thermostats, timers and open window detection. Any new wall mounted heater you buy for permanent installation should meet it.
Splash proof IP rating for bathrooms and kitchens
In a bathroom, BS 7671 divides the room into zones and any heater must carry a suitable IP rating for where it hangs, with fixed wiring by a qualified electrician in line with Part P. Our splash proof panel heaters are built for exactly this, and most include a timer as well.
Slimline depth and the right wattage
A slimline body sits tight to the wall and disappears into the room. For sizing, allow roughly 80W per square metre of floor in a typical insulated room, less in a well insulated new build, and more for conservatories or older houses. A small convector heater of 400W to 800W suits a box room or study, while 1000W to 2000W covers most living rooms and bedrooms.
Slimline convectors for every room.
Our slimline electric panel heaters run from small convector heaters for hallways and studies up to 2kW models for open living spaces, in white and black, all wall mounted and all designed in Norway by Adax.
If you are searching for a black convector heater, the ADAX Neo Black Electric Panel Heater with thermostat and timer is on sale at £81.67, and the ADAX Neo Black Low Profile skirting heater, also £81.67, sits low and long against the wall where a skirting board radiator would go, a neat electric answer to the skirting heater problem. For app control, the ADAX VP12 Electric Panel Heater at £91.00 pairs with your phone over Bluetooth, the clearance ADAX Compact WiFi Electric Heater at £121.80 is IPX4 rated for splashy rooms, and the Vitra Verde WiFi Electric Panel Heater at £137.70 is a Lot 20 compliant convector radiator with full WiFi scheduling.
Every heater ships free next working day to mainland UK and the Isle of Man, and if you are unsure which wattage or model fits your room, call us on 01325 717 899 and we will talk it through.
Before you buy.
Are oil filled radiators cheaper to run than convector heaters?
Not per unit of heat. Both turn every kilowatt hour of electricity into heat, so the cost of running an oil filled radiator and a convector of the same wattage is identical while they run. The oil filled unit keeps radiating stored warmth after it switches off, but it also spent longer warming up. What actually cuts your bill is an accurate thermostat and a timer, whichever type you choose.
What size convector heater do I need?
As a rule of thumb, allow around 80W per square metre of floor space in a reasonably insulated room, so a 12 square metre bedroom suits a 1000W heater. Go higher for conservatories, high ceilings or older, draughtier houses, and a small 400W to 800W convector is plenty for a box room or home office.
Can I use a convector heater in a bathroom or kitchen?
Yes, if it carries a suitable splash proof IP rating and is installed outside the restricted zones that BS 7671 defines around baths and showers, wired to a fused spur by a qualified electrician in line with Part P. Our splash proof panel heaters are made for bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms.
Do you sell oil filled radiators or storage heaters?
No. We specialise in slimline wall mounted convector panel heaters, so if an oil filled radiator or a storage heater on an off-peak tariff genuinely suits your situation better, we would rather say so than sell you the wrong thing. For most intermittently used rooms, a well controlled convector is the more responsive and controllable choice.
Are convector heaters wall mounted or portable?
Both exist. Portable convector heaters stand on small feet and plug in anywhere, while our range is wall mounted: fixed installation keeps the floor clear, puts the heater at the right height for convection, and lets it meet Lot 20 as a permanent part of the room’s heating.
Is delivery free?
Yes. Free next working day delivery applies to mainland UK and Isle of Man orders. Call 01325 717 899 for delivery to other areas or for help choosing the right model.
Ready for a warmer room in minutes?
Every slimline convector panel heater, with timers, thermostats, splash proof and app-controlled options. Free next working day delivery to mainland UK and Isle of Man.
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