How to use a De'Longhi oil radiator
Updated: 22 October 2026
You have unboxed a De'Longhi Dragon 4, Radia S or Nano and want heat without tripping over the cable or fighting a smell that might be normal on day one. This page is setup and everyday control: where it stands, the first run, thermostat versus timer types, and ECO. Rankings stay on the [De'Longhi radiator comparison](/hub/heating/de-longhi-radiator). Peter F. compared the amazon.co.uk listings, read on 20 October 2026, with public UK sources. There was no lab test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
You have unboxed a De'Longhi Dragon 4, Radia S or Nano and want heat without tripping over the cable or fighting a smell that might be normal on day one.
You have unboxed a De'Longhi Dragon 4, Radia S or Nano and want heat without tripping over the cable or fighting a smell that might be normal on day one. This page is setup and everyday control: where it stands, the first run, thermostat versus timer types, and ECO. Rankings stay on the De'Longhi radiator comparison. Peter F. compared the amazon.co.uk listings, read on 20 October 2026, with public UK sources. There was no lab test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Timer | Output | Movement | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  De'Longhi De'Longhi Radia S TRRS0920E.G | 0.5–24 h | 2000 W | Folding castors | 8.5 | about £132.99 | View offer |
| Best value |  De'Longhi De'Longhi TRNS0505M | Not in bullets | 500 W | Carry handles | 7.8 | about £82.99 | View offer |
 De'Longhi De'Longhi Dragon 4 TRD41025T | Pin timer in reviews | 2500 W | Wheels and handle | 7.1 | about £266.00 | View offer |
On this page
Where it stands and how it plugs in
Stand the radiator upright on a level floor. Oil-filled units are designed to work vertically.
Plug directly into a sound BS 1363 wall socket. Dragon instructions forbid extension leads and running under a fixed socket outlet. Electrical Safety First gives the same extension-lead warning for portable heaters in the UK.
Dragon manuals often quote about 50 cm from furniture. Electrical Safety First asks for about one metre from bedding, curtains and clothes. In a bedroom, use the metre. Overnight limits are on De'Longhi radiator for bedrooms.
Do not use these products in a bathroom, en-suite or wet room. Do not cover the fins, dry washing on the body, or place the unit in a room under 4 m². The Nano manual also specifies a 13 A fuse to BS 1362 and supervised use for young children. Castors are for rolling on a flat floor, not for tipping the unit.
The first two hours
First switch-on is a burn-off, not a fault by default. Dragon instructions say run at maximum for at least two hours in a ventilated room. A new smell and creaking are described as normal if they fade. If a chemical smell persists, or you see oil on the floor, stop and contact De'Longhi. The oil is sealed and should not be topped up at home.
Keep windows ajar for that first run if the manual asks for ventilation. Surfaces get hot even when a listing mentions a low surface temperature. That is listing text, not a cool-touch guarantee. After burn-off, use the built-in thermostat and timer. De'Longhi warns against adding an external timer.
Thermostat and the two timer types
Comfort comes from the set temperature and how long the heater runs, not from leaving it on maximum all evening.
Mechanical 24-hour pin timers, typical on T suffix Dragons such as the TRD41025T, use rotating pins and a manual or timer switch. Reviews mention a small switch and ticking in a quiet bedroom. Align the disk to UK time. It is not an LED panel.
Electronic timers on E models, such as the grey Radia S (0.5 h to 24 h) or the Dragon TRDSX40820E.WB (0 h to 24 h), need the clock set on first use. Reviewers often call electronic Dragons fiddly until they follow the booklet. There is no single button map. Read the sheet for your model code.
The Nano bullets list a thermostat and anti-frost but no timer. Turn-and-push controls on the TRDX40820E put temperature, power and timer on one cap, with a night setting in the bullets for that model only. A Radia S with pre-assembled folding castors is often listed as needing no assembly.
ECO and night setback
Where the listing names ECO or ECO Plus, the heater reduces output as the room approaches the set point. On the Dragon 4 Pro, reviewers describe ECO dropping to a lower step once a living room is warm. That is comfort control, not a lower bill at full blast.
Programme lower targets or shorter on-periods for a cooler night. ECO does not fix an undersized heater. If the room never reaches the set point, the element still runs at high steps.
Stop using it
Stop and unplug if you smell hot plastic from the plug or socket, see discolouration on the faceplate, or notice oil under the unit. A warm plug can happen. A scorching plug or a crackling socket needs an electrician to check the outlet, not a longer extension lead.
Stop if the cable is damaged, the body is dented enough to worry about the seal, or children cannot be kept away from hot fins. Contact De'Longhi for oil leaks. Do not drill, bleed or refill. If controls become unresponsive or the safety thermostat trips repeatedly, treat it as a fault rather than turning the dial higher. This page ends at safe use.
Common questions
Why does it smell on the first day?
Manufacturing residue burns off during the first maximum-power run in a ventilated room. Dragon manuals describe it as normal if it fades.
Is creaking a fault?
Often it is expansion noise on the first heat cycles. Persistent banging, or smell plus leaking oil, is not normal.
How do you set a pin timer versus a digital timer?
Pins rotate with a 24-hour disk you align to real time. Digital panels need the clock set, then programme slots. Follow the packed manual for your model. Steps differ between Radia S and Dragon panels.
What does ECO do?
It lowers heat output near the set temperature. It does not replace a correctly sized heater, and it does not remove running cost at full power when the room is cold.
Can you add a smart plug or a second timer?
De'Longhi warns against an external timer. Use the built-in programme or switch the heater yourself.
How close to a curtain is too close?
Plan for about one metre from bedding and curtains under UK safety guidance, even if a manual mentions 50 cm to furniture.
Do you fill the oil?
No. The circuit is sealed. Leaks mean stop and contact the manufacturer.
When do you stop and call someone?
Hot plastic smell from the plug, scorch marks, a repeated safety cut-out, oil on the floor, or a damaged cable. An electrician for the socket, De'Longhi for the appliance.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK and De'Longhi GB sources named below. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts on these seven listings were taken from the listing files read on 20 October 2026. Page updated October 2026.
- De'Longhi GB Dragon 4 TRD40820T (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- De'Longhi GB TRDX40820E (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- De'Longhi GB TRDSX40820E.WB (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- Dragon 4 instructions (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- De'Longhi GB Nano TRNS0505M (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- Electrical Safety First, portable heaters (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- legislation.gov.uk, Regulation 2015/1188 Annex II (retrieved 20 October 2026)