Odor free oil heater? (aka oil heater for smell sensitive people)

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Odor free oil heater? (aka oil heater for smell sensitive people)

TechnoGuy001

853 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#288350 22-Jun-2021 17:13

I'm after an oil heater, as they're near silent, but the one I recently got, Goldair GOC165 gives of a pretty strong plasticky smell, even when off, but more so when on (coming from the plastic control housing vents). I don't think there is anything electrically faulty with it.

Doing some googling it seems like a thing that some oil heaters have. (I'm guessing cheap plastic?) It seemed like more comments were on cheap generic oil heaters, so figured a branded heater should be better. But GOC165 isn't great, even goes as far as giving me a headache if I don't leave the window quite open.

I've tried to "cure" it or whatever, by leaving it running for a day or two, but still same issue. I had it for over a month now.

Strange thing is, we have a GOC320 oil heater from Goldair which is 100% odor free, it's quite a bit more expensive so guess maybe they used different materials, or just got lucky with that one.

I realise new products usually come with some "new" smell, but it usually fades in a few days, this is something else that just doesn't disappear.

Does anyone know any new (ideally 1000w or under) oil heater that comes new without any excessive smell. (ideally from people who are sensitive to smells)

timmmay

20591 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2732777 22-Jun-2021 17:48

I wonder if it's age. My oil heaters are from the warehouse a decade ago and they have no smell unless they are on really high.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29770 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2732781 22-Jun-2021 17:57

De longhi?

TechnoGuy001

853 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#2732782 22-Jun-2021 17:59

I've thought about De'Longhi too, anyone had experience with them?

@timmmay, yeah age could certainly play a role.

tchart

2380 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2732819 22-Jun-2021 20:43

I bought a Delonghi oil free column heater a few weeks ago.

Doesn't smell. Not sure if it's becuase it's a Delonghi or becuase it's oil free.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29770 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2732820 22-Jun-2021 20:45

the smell is not the oil, it's whatever plasticky coating on the radiator fin stuff that releases gas when you heat it.

SATTV

1648 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2732835 22-Jun-2021 21:52

You could try putting the heater outside and giving it a good wash with sugar soap. ( keeping the electronics and electric dry of course ) Put the heater outside or in the garage on high for a day or two over the weekend when someone in home and hopefully the smell will be gone.

John

I know enough to be dangerous

Arsonist

31 posts

Geek

#2732871 23-Jun-2021 07:07

The instructions on my Delonghi Oil fin heater said to run the heater for a few hours at max temp to burn the smell off. I did this the first day I had the heater, and have not had any noticeable smells since.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

SomeoneSomewhere

1805 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2732881 23-Jun-2021 07:49

Yeah, usually there's oil coatings left over from the machining, painting etc. that burn off during the first use. It's worse on heaters that get really hot like radiant ones, but I guess it might last longer on oil columns.

Stick it down the far end of the house or in the porch for 8 hours on full.

TechnoGuy001

853 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#2733323 23-Jun-2021 19:18

Thanks for the replies guys.

I've given the heater about 2-3 days outside (under roof) on full and while the fins don't smell (I don't recall if they ever did), but the side housing where the electrics live still gives of a bad smell.

I also read somewhere that heating/cooling cycle helped cure the materials/coatings, so tried that for a day, also no help.

I'm going to try return it to Briscoes, though I don't like my odds, as it's past the return period, will have to try do it under warranty, as it's not fit for purpose, then get a Delonghi.

I have tried contacting goldair support, but they're about as helpful as you'd expect... They sent 1 reply saying it's my fault (too sensitive to smell), then gone silent.

While I am sensitive to smell, it doesn't make sense why one of there heaters gives of terrible smell, and another from the same brand gives of nothing.

SomeoneSomewhere

1805 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2733325 23-Jun-2021 19:30

If the electronics compartment is still smelling I would be suspicious of an electrical fault. Nothing in there should get hot during use.

TechnoGuy001

853 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#2733330 23-Jun-2021 19:37

It's certainly a possibility. Just re-checking now, it does seem to smell more electrical than plasticky now.

Hard to check if it gets hot, as it all kinda warms up when the heater warms up :P

bfginger

1271 posts

Uber Geek

#2734050 24-Jun-2021 23:56

What I'd do is go to Placemakers and get one of these

https://www.dimplex.co.nz/en-nz/heating-range/panel-heaters/1500w-alta-top-outlet-panel-heater

They have a 1kW model too which is smaller but the price difference is minimal.

I just don't think it's worth the time or potential issues going cheap when it comes to heaters or heat pumps.

TechnoGuy001

853 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#2734234 25-Jun-2021 11:51

Agreed, I would get a panel heater if I owned the house (or probably a heat pump), but it's rental.

TechnoGuy001

853 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#2740667 7-Jul-2021 15:52

For anyone still following, after trying to "heat" out the smell I gave up on the goldair and talked with briscoes, and they agreed to accept return (it was a week outside there 30day return too), though one can argue that my return was due to a fault (e.g. warranty), not change of mind.

Anyway, whatever the internal reason briscoes used, they accepted the return (and paid for return shipping) and I got a refund a few days later. I've not used briscoes much in the past, but at least this time, they were pretty easy to work with, from an online purchase perspective.

Once I got my money back I bought the DeLonghi Radia S Oil filled radiator (TRRS0510T) direct from DeLonghi (Briscoes was out of stock), both heaters cost the same atm, and it is smell/odor free (after the initial "burn in" period, which is talked about in their manual, and even stapled to the power cord). The DeLonghi heater also feels like higher quality materials were used.

While I do think I ended up with a faulty goldair unit, I don't think I'll be buying goldair products again, after there shocking (direct) support.

Also, this DeLonghi has 7 years warranty... vs the 2 years with Goldair.

Thanks again for the help from people here.