Winter is here! For those who enjoy oil column heaters. I tried looking out for one on the street but no luck, caved into buying the Delonghi Radia S with Timer.
Compared to air heater, I find it doesn't make the air dry and it's a lot quieter. Not as energy efficient as a reverse cycle AC but some of us renters don't have that luxury.
Potentially more energy efficient if you get the heat sitting directly next to it but do not officially endorse this for safety reasons.
DeLonghi 2400W Oil Column Heater with Timer
DL2401TF $148.00
DeLonghi 2400W Dragon 4 Oil Column Heater w/Timer
TRD42400MT $212.00
DeLonghi 2400W Dragon 4 Oil Column Heater w/Timer
TRD42400ET $269.00
DeLonghi 1500W Dragon 4 Oil Column Heater w/Timer
TRD41500MT $154.00
DeLonghi 2000W Radia S Oil Column Heater w/Timer
TRRS0920T $118.00
DeLonghi 1500W Radia S Oil Column Heater w/Timer
TRRS0715T $111.00
DeLonghi 1000W Radia S Oil Column Heater w/Timer
TRRS0510T $89.00
DeLonghi 2400W Radia S Column Heater w/Timer
TRRS1224E.G $170.00
DeLonghi 1500W Radia S Oil Column Heater w/Timer
TRRS0715E.G $141.00
No guarantee for renters, but it can be worth asking the landlord/real estate for a request to install a split system. It will be a tax write off for landlord, improves the value of the property and keeps the tenant happy. If the landlord is reasonable they may be accommodating. It will then provide cooling in summer too.
There may be incentives too from the government for landlords to install energy efficient upgrades.
In general a modern split system can use 1/5th the power of a plug in heater. All plug in heaters are the same efficiency in terms of converting electricity into heat. Some work out cheaper if they are radiant - for example only heating the person not the space, but that doesn't change the fact they are still only producing 1 unit of heat for 1 unit of electricity consumed. A split system doesn't create heat, rather it pumps heat from outside by using the refrigeration cycle (in reverse), so get 4-5 units of heat for 1 unit of electricity consumed.
In terms of air heaters making the air dry, I don't know about most people but I'm always struggling to lower humidity in my house during winter anyway, so I don't see this as a problem, but surely you could just have an atomiser going at the same time if this was an issue, or have a clothes rack of damp washing hehe (invariably in winter anyway).