Please put my mind at rest - oil filled radiator!

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ghostbusterbunny

ghostbusterbunny

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So, I followed the general rule on piggy heaters and got a little 800kw oil filled radiator with the intention of keeping it on over night in the shed. Dad's wired it up, and it's currently on but I can't help but worry!

The instructions say that it needs to be 1m away from any walls (my shed is 2m wide not including the things I need to store in there), should only be used indoors and shouldn't be left unattended. I'm not normally one to worry about these things but when it's my piggies I can't help. Will it be okay in the middle of a 3x6 space (our storage area) and as far away from plastic as we can get it?

:...
 
I'm sure it will be fine! I have an oil filled radiator in my conservatory for the pigs because it can get quite cold in the winter. It's right up next to their cage - no more than 4 inches away - and I leave it on all night. I wouldn't let it touch the cage as the radiator naturally gets very hot. It's also right up against the wall, not a metre away and this doesn't cause any problems at all. The manufacturers of the product naturally have to be cautious and advise people correctly. They'd be sued if someone stuck it underneath their curtains and the heater singed or burnt them. As long as it's not touching either the shed walls or the piggy cage, it should be absolutely fine.

I also have tubular greenhouse heaters in my bunny sheds and they stay on all night in very cold weather. In fact, they're on now as it's been a very damp day today and my oldies appreciate the warmth.

ETA - the instructions say "for indoor use" only because it must be used in a weatherproof environment. As long as your shed isn't leaking water, it will be fine!
 
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I've had one on all day too because all mine have been bathed today - will be leaving it on all night to make sure they are dry. Did the same all last winter.

As long as it;s dry in there should be fine.
 
Hi, I'm a worrywart too about my oil filled radiator but I've used it for a couple winters with no problems. It's in the middle of my shed but closer to the piggy hutches. I have free ranging bunnies so I have it inside a wire cage. 'Sort of hard to explain but my bunnies can sit right next to it and warm up and the heat goes up to the hutches. I'd say my heater is about a foot away from the hutches.

:)
 
I use one in my shed and its wall mounted on the wall mountings provided so designed to be attached to a wall or on a stand this leaving loads of room. I just make sure there is no hay or other loose stuff too near it and give it a thorough dusting every so often. Had mine a few years now and its great.
 
I used one for a few years with no problems - as a heater in my room not for piggies, they are fairly economical on the electric and safer than electric heaters.

But I did have an unusual incident after we moved, I had stored it away for a while and admit it was upside down - didnt know at the time, dug it out as an extra heater and left it to settle once uprigting it as the instructions said. I turned it on hours later and it exploded :o - not huge gas like exsplosion, it hissed, boiled, the covers cracked and smoke billowed out of it till I managed to run and unplug it. I am too scared to use them now.

Not wanting to scare you off them, like I say, used one for years and I think it was the way I stored it and didnt leave it to settle for a long enough time, but take care with them.
 
Just make sure it's not touching anything and there's nothing nearby like a precariously balanced bag of hay/heap of fleeces/sawdust/whatever that might topple on to it and it should be fine. :)
 
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