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Although I stick to quality brands when buying oil-filled electric heaters, I tend to buy their cheaper units. In my experience, they last about two to four years of prolonged use.
One satisfied customer of an old De’Longhi heater told me that he’s been running it for over twenty years! But you’ll find online reviews complaining that their heater stopped working within months of purchase.
So how long should you expect your chosen heater to last?
This article gives you some sensible estimates based on warranty information. And we’ll give you tips on how to prolong the life of your appliance.
Using Warranties To Estimate How Long These Heaters Last
The well-known quality brands typically offer a three-year warranty on their electric oil-filled heaters.
Some brands have one-year warranties, but they may be extended by registering with the company’s website.
Warranties are a good way of assessing how durable the manufacturers rate their own products. In general, they expect these appliances to last at least three years.
Typical lengths of manufacturer warranty
I looked for warranties for six top-selling brands on Amazon and other marketplaces.
The table below shows the typical warranty (marked as standard) on their models.
Some brands offer extended warranties. Dreo extends the warranty from one to five years when a customer registers the unit on their website. DeLonghi has some offers with a ten-year warranty, although this seems mostly available in Europe.
| Brand | Standard | Max |
| De’Longhi | 3 | 10 |
| Dreo | 1 | 5 |
| Honeywell | 3 | |
| Pelonis | 1 | |
| Aikoper | * | |
| Kismile | * |
Asterisks and warning signals
Notice the asterisks in the last two brands? These are also the cheapest models.
The Aikoper brand has no warranty information on Amazon and doesn’t even have a website at the time of writing. There is a Facebook page, but I didn’t bother checking that.
The Kismile blurb on Amazon has comically bad English, complete with basic spelling errors. Will you be “dinning” with friends this evening?
This radiator will defend coldness and bring warmth no matter you are staying at home, working or dinning with friends.
I found a warranty page on their website, but I noticed that all questions about warranty service should be sent to a Microsoft Outlook email address.
Personally, I wouldn’t touch these products with a bargepole.
Why These Heaters Are Often Very Durable
Some customers are unlucky enough to get appliances with manufacturing defects.
But let’s say that your appliance arrives in perfect condition. Even with prolonged use every day, these appliances tend to be more robust than some other types of portable heaters.
The frame of electric oil-filled heaters is either metal or ceramic, which makes them very durable.
Unlike fan heaters, they don’t suck in and blow out air. So, they are impervious to dust and particles interfering with their inner workings.
Unlike gas or other fuel-based portable heaters, you don’t replenish the fuel. Check out our article on why you don’t have to change the oil in oil-filled heaters.
These appliances are completely sealed. Because you are not refilling the fuel, there is less opportunity to break the internal components.
Some Vulnerable Parts
Although the frames are very durable, some components lend themselves to breaking.
Beware broken wheels
The most common issues are with the wheels at the bottom of the unit. These are often small plastic wheels attached using narrow metal bolts. The flimsier they are, the more likely they are to break.
The picture above is one of the four wheels at the bottom of my unit.
It’s worth visiting a store to examine the wheels on different appliances. Some are clearly more robust than others.
Digital components
The other vulnerable pieces are the digital controls that ironically tend to come with the more expensive brands.
I tend to go for appliances with manual controls. By this, I mean dials, knobs, and switches.
But some appliances come with digital controls that can be operated remotely.
Sure, you don’t need to get off the couch to turn the heating up. But these units seem more likely to develop faults than the manual controls.
How To Make Your Heater Last Longer
Here are our best tips for extending the life of your appliance.
Tip 1: carry the heater instead of rolling it
Do you want to move your heater to a different part of the room or to the room next door?
My tip is that you pick up the entire frame instead of rolling it across the ground. I’ve had several wheels break off when pulling the unit from one place to another.
I have carpeted rooms so this may have contributed to the issue. If you have wooden or tiled floors, you may have less risk.
Tip 2: place the heater down carefully
I’ve also broken an appliance by placing it down so carelessly that it tipped over with a thud as it hit the floor.
Now, I’m far more careful as I place it on the ground. I wrote in a separate article that there is no problem with laying or storing an oil-filled heater on its side.
The problem is through causing damage through a hard knock to the frame.
Tip 4: use less often
The more the appliance is in use, the more there will be wear and tear over a period of years.
If you live in cold accommodation, then you may not have a choice in terms of using your appliance less often. Just be aware that it’s less likely to last past the warranty period.
