Oil-radiator advice

Sunflower49 · 28-03-2013, 10:25

Last night I was in my bedroom with my oil-radiator on... (This room is really cold, and I usually put the radiator on for about an hour before I retire to the room for this reason)! And after a couple of hours I was really cold again, I checked the radiator, and it had switched off, not just gone off-but switched off.

Honestly, I'm a sceptic where things like this are concerned but I was shaken up by it-mainly because there are two switches on the radiator, similar to light switches where they press down for on and up for off. They make quite a pronounced 'click' when the heater's switched from on to off-and I hadn't heard anything.

In the five hours or so before sleeping (with one eye open!) I had left the room only once, to go to the loo-the room was already cold by then so I'm inclined to think the heater was already off.
Is there a reasonable explanation why it would do this?It's never done it before-if it could be that the fuse or something's gone on it-would this activate the switch to off?
I've only ever had issues with the heater when I moved house-it took a while to get going again once in the new location-but as I said, it's never actually flicked off like this.

maxthecollie · 28-03-2013, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarmouse0707

Last night I was in my bedroom with my oil-radiator on... (This room is really cold, and I usually put the radiator on for about an hour before I retire to the room for this reason)! And after a couple of hours I was really cold again, I checked the radiator, and it had switched off, not just gone off-but switched off.

Honestly, I'm a sceptic where things like this are concerned but I was shaken up by it-mainly because there are two switches on the radiator, similar to light switches where they press down for on and up for off. They make quite a pronounced 'click' when the heater's switched from on to off-and I hadn't heard anything.

In the five hours or so before sleeping (with one eye open!) I had left the room only once, to go to the loo-the room was already cold by then so I'm inclined to think the heater was already off.
Is there a reasonable explanation why it would do this?It's never done it before-if it could be that the fuse or something's gone on it-would this activate the switch to off?
I've only ever had issues with the heater when I moved house-it took a while to get going again once in the new location-but as I said, it's never actually flicked off like this.

Has it not got a thermal trip switch on it that need resetting?

maxthecollie · 28-03-2013, 10:31

Have you tried the fuse in the 13 amp plug

gpick24 · 28-03-2013, 10:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarmouse0707

Last night I was in my bedroom with my oil-radiator on... (This room is really cold, and I usually put the radiator on for about an hour before I retire to the room for this reason)! And after a couple of hours I was really cold again, I checked the radiator, and it had switched off, not just gone off-but switched off.

Honestly, I'm a sceptic where things like this are concerned but I was shaken up by it-mainly because there are two switches on the radiator, similar to light switches where they press down for on and up for off. They make quite a pronounced 'click' when the heater's switched from on to off-and I hadn't heard anything.

In the five hours or so before sleeping (with one eye open!) I had left the room only once, to go to the loo-the room was already cold by then so I'm inclined to think the heater was already off.
Is there a reasonable explanation why it would do this?It's never done it before-if it could be that the fuse or something's gone on it-would this activate the switch to off?
I've only ever had issues with the heater when I moved house-it took a while to get going again once in the new location-but as I said, it's never actually flicked off like this.

Are you saying the actual on/off rocker switch had moved from on to off, have you any history of walking in your sleep?

Sunflower49 · 28-03-2013, 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxthecollie

Has it not got a thermal trip switch on it that need resetting?

I'm googling the make and model to see now!

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxthecollie

Have you tried the fuse in the 13 amp plug

Not yet-if it's a fuse though, I'm thinking it unlikely that the actual switch would go off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpick24

Are you saying the actual on/off rocker switch had moved from on to off, have you any history of walking in your sleep?

Yes it had-the switches (there are two and they were both on) were both set to off.

No-but in any case I wasn't asleep, I was doing some work on the laptop!
I'll see if I can find out more about the model and whether it is set turn off by switch, if something's wrong with it or it overheats or something... Will update if I find out!

gpick24 · 28-03-2013, 10:41

I doubt that the on/off switch would be used as a trip switch, may have a seperate one inside somewhere, but that wouldn`t move the on/off switch in my limted experience with these radiators.

Sunflower49 · 28-03-2013, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpick24

I doubt that the on/off switch would be used as a trip switch, may have a seperate one inside somewhere, but that wouldn`t move the on/off switch in my limted experience with these radiators.

That's what I thought, and that's why I slept with one eye open! I want there to be a straightforward explanation-I've not found anything on the internet yet, though.

MargaretR · 28-03-2013, 10:43

Maybe that large dog you have has found out how to do it.

(I had a cat who learned how to open the fridge)

gpick24 · 28-03-2013, 10:50

I`ve seen some strange things happen when people (kids in my case) are half asleep or have just nodded off, or if as said above, you have a dog wandering the house, he/she may have caught it. I`m sure it`s nothing to worry about.

Sunflower49 · 28-03-2013, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

Maybe that large dog you have has found out how to do it.

(I had a cat who learned how to open the fridge)

You had a cat with thumbs!

imagine how doomed we'd all be if they all had them!

I have a house with my partner ,where Kya the dog lives, but at the moment I'm also renting this room from my friend-where I live usually Monday through to Thursday or Friday depending on work. So no, unfortunately I can't blame the dog-had she been here I would have for definite!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpick24

I`ve seen some strange things happen when people (kids in my case) are half asleep or have just nodded off, or if as said above, you have a dog wandering the house, he/she may have caught it. I`m sure it`s nothing to worry about.

I have too lol-my ex-partner used to sleepwalk-he locked himself out of his house with no clothes on once!

But as I said, I wasn't asleep or anywhere near asleep. If I work from home I work until around 4 am or later. And as above, the dog isn't here. The only people in the house were me and the friend I rent the room off-he was asleep in his bedroom the whole time.
Thank you-I just wanted to know if anybody had a straight up reason why the heater would have done this-I have had some strange goings-on in houses all my life-but I like to think that most things can be explained rationally.

gpick24 · 28-03-2013, 10:53

But if you are worried about whether the radiator is safe to use, take no chances, get a new one.

gpick24 · 28-03-2013, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarmouse0707

You had a cat with thumbs!

imagine how doomed we'd all be if they all had them!

I have a house with my partner ,where Kya the dog lives, but at the moment I'm also renting this room from my friend-where I live usually Monday through to Thursday or Friday depending on work. So no, unfortunately I can't blame the dog-had she been here I would have for definite!

I have too lol-my ex-partner used to sleepwalk-he locked himself out of his house with no clothes on once!

But as I said, I wasn't asleep or anywhere near asleep. If I work from home I work until around 4 am or later. And as above, the dog isn't here. The only people in the house were me and the friend I rent the room off-he was asleep in his bedroom the whole time.
Thank you-I just wanted to know if anybody had a straight up reason why the heater would have done this-I have had some strange goings-on in houses all my life-but I like to think that most things can be explained rationally.

Could your friend have turned it off, they aren`t cheap to run, when we had to use them, i was forever going round the house turning them off.

Sunflower49 · 28-03-2013, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpick24

But if you are worried about whether the radiator is safe to use, take no chances, get a new one.

I should have probably added that it isn't working at all now-I've just checked it. I'll get my partner to take a look at it and yes if in any doubt I'll go and get one-I was wanting a halogen heater anyway after being recommended one from Margaret P.

Sunflower49 · 28-03-2013, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpick24

Could your friend have turned it off, they aren`t cheap to run, when we had to use them, i was forever going round the house turning them off.

No, he was asleep the whole time-he goes to bed at 10 am as he gets up around 6 am every day.
I know they're not cheap but I pay him enough to cover because he doesn't use his central heating so I'd freeze otherwise!

gpick24 · 28-03-2013, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarmouse0707

I like to think that most things can be explained rationally.

Me too, unfortunately Mrs 24 is the opposite, slightest thing and it`s something supernatural