There’s a specific kind of chill that central heating never seems to conquer. It’s the cold that seeps up from the floorboards in a home office, the persistent draught in a small box room, or the nippy air in a conservatory on a cloudy afternoon. For years, my home office was a personal battleground against this very problem. Despite the house thermostat being set to a comfortable temperature, my feet remained stubbornly icy under the desk. I tried everything: thick socks, slippers, even a small, noisy fan heater that either blasted my ankles with scorching air or did nothing at all, all while making a racket and sending my electricity meter spinning. This isn’t just an issue of comfort; it’s a drain on focus and productivity. The constant distraction of being cold makes it impossible to settle into deep work. The challenge is finding a solution that is effective, quiet, and doesn’t result in a shocking energy bill at the end of the month. That’s the precise niche the Dimplex OFRB7N Eco Mini Oil Free Radiator Heater aims to fill.
- DIMPLEX ECO CHICO MINI RADIATOR - A compact and versatile home heating solution with near silent operation, oil free energy saving technology, rotary dial and 700 watt heat output
- PORTABLE FREESTANDING HEATER - Dimplex mini oil free heaters are ideal for heating smaller rooms, such as a lounge, study or bedroom, by efficiently heating your space whilst using less electricity
What to Consider Before Buying an Electric Heater
An electric heater is more than just an appliance; it’s a key solution for creating a comfortable, usable living or working space, especially during the colder months. It offers targeted, controllable heat exactly where you need it, avoiding the cost and inefficiency of heating an entire house just to warm up one room. The main benefits are flexibility, ease of use, and immediate warmth. Whether you’re supplementing an existing heating system or providing the sole source of heat for a small area, a good portable electric heater empowers you to reclaim those chilly corners and make them cosy and inviting again.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing a specific heating challenge: the home worker with perpetually cold feet, the student in a small dorm room, or anyone needing to add a boost of warmth to a guest room, workshop, or conservatory without overhauling their central heating. It’s for those who value efficiency and targeted application. However, a small, personal heater might not be suitable for those who need to heat a large, open-plan living area or are looking for a primary heat source for an entire flat. In those cases, a more powerful, higher-wattage unit, or even a professionally installed system, would be a more appropriate investment.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: The physical footprint of a heater is paramount. You must consider where it will be placed and ensure there’s adequate clearance around it for safety and effective heat distribution. A model like the Dimplex OFRB7N is designed specifically for tight spaces, easily fitting under a desk or beside a chair without being an obstacle. Always measure your intended space before purchasing.
- Capacity/Performance: A heater’s power, measured in Watts (W) or Kilowatts (kW), directly correlates to its heating capability. A 700W unit like this Dimplex is perfect for personal use or rooms up to 10m². For larger rooms, you would need to look for heaters in the 1500W-2500W range. Also, consider the heating method—radiant heaters, like this one, warm objects and people directly, providing a gentle, lasting warmth, whereas fan heaters circulate hot air for a quicker but sometimes less consistent feel.
- Materials & Durability: The construction of a heater impacts both its longevity and safety. Look for sturdy metal casings and well-made components. While many heaters use plastic for controls or feet, the quality can vary. As we’ll discuss, user feedback suggests that while the core heating technology of the Dimplex is robust, some of the smaller plastic components can be a point of failure over time.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: The best heaters are simple to operate. Look for intuitive controls, like a straightforward thermostat dial and a clear on/off switch. One of the major benefits of oil-free and oil-filled radiators is that they are virtually maintenance-free. There are no filters to clean or fuels to top up; you simply plug them in and enjoy the warmth.
While the Dimplex OFRB7N Eco Mini Oil Free Radiator Heater is an excellent choice for its category, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
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First Impressions: Compact, Simple, and Ready to Work
Unboxing the Dimplex OFRB7N Eco Mini Oil Free Radiator Heater is a refreshingly straightforward experience. There’s no complex assembly; you simply screw on the two small feet, and it’s ready to go. The first thing that struck us was its genuinely compact size. At just 45cm tall and weighing a little over 5kg, it lives up to its “Mini” and “Chico” (Spanish for “small”) names. It’s incredibly easy to pick up and move around, a far cry from the cumbersome, heavy oil-filled radiators of the past. The design is clean, functional, and unassuming in its white finish, allowing it to blend into most home or office decors without drawing attention.
The controls are the epitome of simplicity: a single illuminated red rocker switch for power and a rotary dial for the thermostat. There are no confusing digital displays, remote controls, or multiple heat settings—just pure, uncomplicated function. Upon plugging it in and switching it on, the speed at which it begins to generate heat is immediately noticeable. This is the oil-free technology at work, and the difference is palpable compared to traditional oil-filled models that can take 15-20 minutes to get going. It delivers on its promise of rapid warmth right out of the box. You can see its full feature set and user reviews to get a better sense of its straightforward appeal.
What We Like
- Rapid warm-up time due to oil-free technology
- Extremely energy efficient at only 700W, ideal for personal use
- Near-silent operation, perfect for bedrooms and offices
- Compact, lightweight, and highly portable design
What We Didn’t Like
- Plastic on/off switch is a reported point of failure over time
- Some units may ship with minor cosmetic factory flaws
A Deep Dive into the Dimplex OFRB7N’s Performance
After our initial impressions, we spent several weeks putting the Dimplex OFRB7N Eco Mini Oil Free Radiator Heater through its paces in various scenarios—under a desk in a chilly home office, in a small guest bedroom, and in a draughty hallway. Its performance isn’t just about getting hot; it’s about how it delivers that heat efficiently, quietly, and cost-effectively. This is where the unit truly begins to distinguish itself from the competition.
Performance and Heat Output: Mighty for its Size
Let’s be clear: with a 700-watt output, this heater is not designed to warm up a large living room. Its purpose is targeted, personal heat, and in that arena, it excels. The radiant heating method is key to its success. Unlike a fan heater that churns out hot air, the Dimplex OFRB7N warms you and the objects around it, creating a gentle, pervasive warmth that feels incredibly natural and comfortable. We placed it under a desk, and within 10 minutes, the entire space was enveloped in a cosy heat bubble, eliminating the icy-feet problem entirely.
This experience is strongly corroborated by user feedback. One user, who previously struggled with a 1220W fan heater, noted, “It would either burn my shoes or let all heat escape. This one is just above 700W and as it heats more evenly and slowly I have heat all around the underneath of my table.” This perfectly captures the heater’s primary strength. It’s not about brute force; it’s about smart, consistent heat delivery. The built-in thermostat works effectively, clicking off quietly once the desired ambient temperature is reached and back on when it drops, maintaining a steady level of comfort without constant manual adjustment. For a small box room or study (up to its recommended 10m² coverage), it is more than capable of taking the chill out of the air and making the space usable and pleasant.
Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings: The Oil-Free Advantage
In an era of rising energy costs, efficiency isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. This is where the Dimplex OFRB7N Eco Mini Oil Free Radiator Heater becomes a standout product. The manufacturer’s claims of being up to 30% faster to warm up and using 9% less energy than oil-filled counterparts feel entirely credible during testing. The rapid heat-up means you’re not wasting electricity for 20 minutes just waiting for the unit to become effective. You switch it on, and it gets to work almost immediately.
The low 700W power draw is the real hero here. Many portable heaters start at 1500W or 2000W, making them far more expensive to run for extended periods. The Dimplex’s modest consumption makes it an ideal appliance for having on for several hours a day without inducing anxiety about your next electricity bill. The same user who praised its even heating also provided concrete data: “It also stops and starts when it gets warm so it has really halved my electricity bill… You can see on the graph it has reduced my daily consumption from 7.42KWh to 4.32KWh.” This is a staggering real-world testament to its efficiency. Over a winter season, this heater could genuinely pay for itself in savings compared to more power-hungry alternatives. It’s an investment in comfort that provides a tangible return, a feature that really sets it apart in the crowded heater market.
Design, Portability, and Usability: Silent, Simple, and Sometimes Flawed
The heater’s design philosophy is one of functional minimalism. Its small stature and 5.4kg weight make it effortlessly portable. We found ourselves moving it from the office to the living room to place by the sofa in the evening, and then to the bedroom to pre-warm the room before sleep. Its integrated handle is well-placed, and the unit feels stable on its feet. Perhaps its most underrated feature is its near-silent operation. Aside from a very faint, occasional click from the thermostat, it is completely silent. This makes it an outstanding companion for light sleepers, anyone easily distracted by noise while working, or for use in a nursery.
However, this simplicity is also where we encounter the product’s primary weaknesses, as highlighted in several long-term user reviews. The most common complaint centres on the red plastic on/off rocker switch. Multiple users reported that this switch became brittle and broke after a year or more of use, rendering the heater inoperable. One user stated, “…the flimsy red plastic on/off switch broke a little after one year of use… With a broken on/off switch I obviously can’t operate the heater – rendering it useless.” Another had it fail after 11 years of intermittent use. While Dimplex offers a 3-year warranty, which is commendable, this appears to be a known weak point. Additionally, we noted a review mentioning a cosmetic flaw—a malformed casing—that must have occurred at the factory. While this didn’t affect function, it points to occasional lapses in quality control. Our test unit was flawless, but it’s a reminder to inspect the unit carefully upon arrival.
What Other Users Are Saying
Aggregating the wider sentiment from users, a clear picture of the Dimplex OFRB7N Eco Mini Oil Free Radiator Heater emerges. The vast majority of owners are exceptionally pleased, frequently praising its perfect balance of size, silent operation, and remarkable energy efficiency. Phrases like “Great heat great value lightweight and manoeuvrable” and “Dimplex Number one👍” capture the positive consensus. The most compelling stories come from those, like the office worker we mentioned, who were able to track significant reductions in their electricity usage, validating the heater’s “Eco” branding in a very real way.
However, the praise is tempered by consistent and credible reports regarding the durability of the power switch. It is the single most cited point of failure in negative reviews. While many users have had theirs for years without issue, a sufficient number have experienced the switch breaking just outside of the warranty period to make it a valid concern. It seems the core heating element is built to last, but the Achilles’ heel is a small, inexpensive plastic component. This feedback is crucial for potential buyers: it’s a fantastic heater, but one that may require a gentle touch on its power switch to ensure its longevity.
How Does the Dimplex OFRB7N Compare to the Alternatives?
No product exists in a vacuum. To truly understand the value of the Dimplex OFRB7N, it’s essential to see how it stacks up against other popular heating solutions, each designed for a slightly different purpose.
1. Dreo 25 Inch Oscillating Ceramic Space Heater
- The Ultimate Heating Experience: Dreo's upgraded 25" ceramic space heater brings 11.5 ft/s fast heat thanks to its new hyperamics thermal design, while the extended impeller doubles the heat range...
- Unbreakable Safety: This room heater for indoor is fully packed to safely warm up your winter. Built with V0 flame retardant material, reinforced plug, 45° tip-over and overheat protection. An...
The Dreo heater represents a completely different approach to personal heating. As a ceramic fan heater, it uses a fan to push air over a hot ceramic element, delivering heat almost instantaneously. Its 70° oscillation spreads that warmth over a much wider area than the Dimplex’s radiant heat. It also comes packed with modern features like a remote control, timer, and multiple fan speeds. This is the better choice for someone who wants to quickly heat a larger section of a room and values modern conveniences. However, it will never be silent like the Dimplex, and some people find the forced hot air to be drying. The Dreo is for fast, broad heating; the Dimplex is for silent, gentle, focused warmth.
2. Belaco 11-Fin Oil-Filled Radiator 2500W
The Belaco is a traditional, high-power oil-filled radiator. With 11 fins and a massive 2500W output, it’s designed to heat much larger rooms and serve as a primary heat source. It will take significantly longer to warm up than the oil-free Dimplex, but once hot, it will retain and radiate heat for a long time, even after being switched off. This makes it efficient for maintaining a constant temperature in a big space. Someone needing to heat a large, draughty lounge or a master bedroom would choose the Belaco. It’s a powerhouse, but it’s also larger, heavier, and far more energy-intensive than the Dimplex, which is specifically designed for smaller-scale, supplemental heating.
3. Warmlite Whitby 2kW LED Electric Fire Inset
- 2 HEATING OPTIONS: Choose from 1000W and 2000W of power and get your living room heated effectively
- MODERN INSET STYLE: Fit the heater neatly against the wall and help save vital space in your home
The Warmlite Whitby is as much a piece of furniture as it is a heater. Its primary appeal is aesthetics, creating the cosy ambiance of a fireplace with its LED flame effect. While it provides a powerful 2000W of heat output, its main function is to be a visual centrepiece in a living room. It is not portable and requires installation into a fireplace surround. This option is for someone who is prioritizing style and atmosphere over portability and utility. The Dimplex, in contrast, is a purely functional appliance, designed to be moved where needed and to provide heat discreetly and efficiently without drawing any attention to itself.
Our Final Verdict: Is the Dimplex OFRB7N Eco Mini Worth It?
After extensive testing and careful consideration of user feedback, our verdict is a resounding yes, but with a specific user in mind. The Dimplex OFRB7N Eco Mini Oil Free Radiator Heater is an absolutely brilliant solution for personal, supplemental heating. It is the perfect antidote to the localised cold spots that plague so many homes and offices. Its genius lies in its low-power, high-efficiency performance, delivering gentle, silent, and wonderfully consistent warmth right where you need it most.
We wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone working from home, for students in small rooms, or for adding a touch of comfort to a chilly bedroom or conservatory. The potential for real, measurable energy savings is its killer feature. The only significant caveat is the questionable durability of the plastic power switch, a point of frustration for some long-term owners. If you’re looking for an economical, silent, and effective way to conquer personal cold spots, and you’re prepared to be gentle with the controls, this little heater is one of the best investments you can make for your comfort. If you believe this is the right solution for your space, you can check the latest price and secure one for your home.
Last update on 2025-11-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API