Can you leave an oil-filled electric heater plugged in, on low setting, for two weeks, while out of town?

Question

I have two great, new, oil-filled plug-in electric radiators. Most of the time I use them on and off, because it's more economical for me to use them at night, for example, in my bedroom and in the kitchen (to keep pipes from freezing) instead of heating the entire house the regular way, which is with forced hot air coming thru a natural-gas-fed furnace in the basement. I'm going away for 2 and half weeks, it's really really cold, and i HATE the idea of having to leave the furnace thermostat set "on" while I'm away, with those zillions of gas dollars going out the window. But i don't want my pipes to freeze, and it's not economical to get the plumber to drain pipes and set 'em back up again just for this short period, either. SO, QUESTION: Is it safe to leave two brand-new oil-filled portable heaters plugged in, on a low setting, for two and a half weeks? They don't get warm or anything in the socket (I check all the time to be safe). One in kitchen, one in bath, for pipes' sake?

Answer 1

Sigh,,,why?

First of all they are statistically innefficent and cost innefective, beyond the fact that they are very localized in any benefit.

Beyond that, unless you're leaving animals alone for two weeks??? Yikes,,,or have a problem with exterior temps equating to interior temps, what cause is there for the issue?

Certainly if you think there will be freezing extremes indoors, you might consider something other than plug in heaters. Without knowing at all where this structure is located, if it gets to freezind or below indoors, then you might want to consider options like better insulation. Even in sub freezing temps, and withouth knowing your frost line levels, your greater issue is likely Outside of the dwelling. If they are your ONLY source of hear I suspect you have a challenge. If it's merely to return to a comfort level after that time away, then you might want to find someone to run by once a day or so, to check

Beyond that you should be considering other methods to keep plumbing safe.

Answer 2

I would not leave an oil-filled radiator unattended for two weeks. I would turn my whole-house furnace as low as possible while I was away. Frozen pipes can be a disaster. I don't know for sure that the two portable radiators would keep the pipes in the rest of the house warm enough if it got extremely cold - the pipes run to the bath and kitchen under the house. At my river house, I turn my water off at the main and then open a few faucets in the house to take the pressure off the lines. I'm sure there is a cutoff that you could close and drain your own lines. Or maybe you could get a friend to come over and turn the heat on if it gets cold enough to do damage. Good Luck and do what your logical mind tell you to do. Worrying about your house while you are gone will ruin your Christmas vacation.

Answer 3

Oil Filled Heater Safety

Answer 4

In my humble opinion, it is very unsafe to leave any electrical appliance turned on and unsupervised for several weeks. Even though they are new, they can still malfunction, short, catch fire, etc. Personally, I would set the household thermostat at about 55 degrees, enough to keep pipes from freezing and still help manage the heating bills.

Answer 5

The electric heaters will do the job, but it will be cheaper to leave the furnace turned on with the thermostat set to a low setting. Electric resistance heat is expensive.

Answer 6

To late to insulate before you leave?lol

You are far better off to leave your main heat on and set at the lowest possible setting to prevent freezing,both money wise(plumbers aint cheap)and sanity wise as you wont be worried about a faulty heater for 18 days.

An option would be to let the water run at a trickle out of the faucets to prevent frozen pipes but toilets and traps freeze also.To prevent them from freezing,pour anti freeze in to the traps and rig the toilet to run at a trickle,as your supply line to it might freeze.

Keep in mind water isn't cheap either-but I wouldn't leave a heater unattended for two+weeks

Answer 7

What you need is a friend to come & check on your apartment/house. What happen if a another event happens like.....
-Loss of power because of a winter storm?
-Loss of water beacuse of a water main break?
-Loss of house/apartment beacuse of fire?

That's why friends/family need to beable to check on you'r things. Lock up anything you value. Then give the person(s) the number where you will be for the 2+ weeks. & enjoy with-out the worry.

Answer 8

I use one and would never leave it on even if I'm only gone for a few hours so for that long never. they get way too hot to the touch even on the low settings.