Some of the well-known brands of these oil-based room heaters currently available in the domestic market include Delonghi, Usha Lexus, Lexicon, Fedders Lloyd, Remson, Laminox, Airmax and Life Style. According to Birla Electrical's spokesperson Rajeev Chandra: ``We are the first in India to have started selling these heaters, which are imported from Spain and Italy. Birla Electricals is marketing Delonghi room heaters in India since 1997.

The special feature of Delonghi heaters is that they have slotted fins, with holes in them that facilitate faster circulation of air." Delonghi heaters are available in four models. The first model, RA 3425 (2500 w) comes with a built-in humidifier and is priced at Rs 8,900. The second model, RA 3420 (2,000 w), is priced at Rs 7,900. The third, RA 30920V (2,000 w), which comes with a fan and thick fins, is priced at Rs 9,990. Mr Chandra adds: "This model is the latest in Europe as it permits instant heating. One can switch on the warm blower for about half an hour, which is the time taken for the oil in the fins to get adequately warm." The fourth model, H191120T (2,000 w), comes with a thermostat and a timer and is attractively priced at Rs 7,900. This traditional model also comes without a fan. The H191129 model without the timer comes for Rs 6,900. Mr Chandra adds: ``Earlier we were dominating the market, but now with the export and import barriers being relaxed other brands are also making a foray intothe domestic market."

Explains the USP of oil heaters, Mr Rajeev Vij, showroom manager of the Usha Lexus outlet in Delhi, says: "The earlier models of the heat convector threw air through the element resulting in dryness. Now, the heat is radiated from the surface of an oil filled film, which takes the moisture from the oil so that it causes no dryness." Launched about two years back, the Usha Lexus model has an output capacity of 2 kw and comes with a thermostat and a fan.

It carries a price tag of Rs 8,590. The other model without the fan costs Rs 6,590. Austria-based Lexicon launched its diathermic oil heater model NY15A with 2,000 w output capacity about a month ago and priced it at Rs 4,620. Mr Atul Kumar Dwivedi of Strategic Alliance, which markets Lexicon room heaters says: "There is no burning out of air as the heat is radiated from the surface, so the product is safe for new babies and asthmatic patients."

Remson launched its diathermic oil heater equipped with a fan two years ago and it is priced at Rs 4,350 in Delhi, and Rs 5,000 outside Delhi. Mr Deepak Singh Khetwal, quality control manager at Remson, explains: "The heater has two switches. When the first switch is on, the output touches 600 w. When the second switch is on, the output increases to 900 w, and with both the switches on, the output reaches 1500 w." He adds: ``The thermostat serves as the timer because as soon as the surface temperature of the heater touches the one user has specified, the power is cut off. These heaters are safe to use keeping in mind the erratic electricity conditions." Other available brands include Airmax from China (priced at Rs 4,990) and Laminox from Italy (priced at Rs 4,500). Lifestyle markets its oil heater under the brand name Sing (priced at Rs 4,350). All of these above have an output capacity of 2,000 w.