Electric radiators

[TeenToTwenties]

I see there are ceramic radiators and oil filled ones at least.
If I wanted one to heat a bedroom, to be on a timer, have a thermostat and most of all be safe, what do I need to look for?
(Older house, central heating in bedrooms may have given up, cost and disruption of full repiping not wanted at the moment).

Plug in oil filled ones are great for a temporary extra bit of heat. I assume you have already bled the existing ones to check it isn't just that and opened the valves at the bottoms to make sure they are on?

Elderly parents house. Old 'single pipe' system. Even the exposed leading pipes currently not getting hot. May or may not be rectified by new hot water tank. (Newer part of system working fine.) Def not a bleeding radiators situation.
Thinking ahead if new tank doesn't resolve, need something suitable in bedrooms.

As per @Geneticsbunny just get a decent oil filled one. They have thermostats or timers, or buy a plug in timer and leave the radiator always on, but timed from the plug.

Are ceramic ones just for aesthetics then?

Oil heats up then loses (radiates) the heat very quickly. Ceramic will warm up slower and radiate the heat slower. They all use the same amount of electricity. It’s just the heat dissipation that’s different. As this is not a permanent solution, just get the oil ones.

If they have stopped working since the new bit was put in. They might just need balancing. What happens if you shut all the new radiators off and just turn one of the upstairs ones on?

The 'new' bit is 50 years old!

We'll see if the new tank does the trick and go from there.

Electric radiators may need to be a 'permanent' solution, so maybe ceramic in that case?

They will be 3x more expensive to run than radiators, assuming they have gas central heating as electricity is three times more expensive per kWh than gas.

Hopefully all resolve.
But if it comes to it we would need to balance disruption (and cost) of repiping v extra costs of electric radiators.
House will be demolished when parents don't need it any more.

Also ceramic radiators won't add to the value of the house if they move as anyone looking round will almost certainly want a working central heating system and so will want the price of repair or a full new system (maybe 5-6000) taking off the house price.
Getting new pipes and or radiators put in often isn't as disruptive as people think if there are wooden suspended floors. a good plumber can do a room at a time and put everything back exactly as it was when they finish.

Edited - you got there before me. I guess plug in electric are definitely the best option for you then.

How many bedrooms need heating immediately? An oil fired radiator can be moved room to room, and one the heating is all resolved can just be used to take the edge off one room rather than fire up the heating for the whole house.
You can leave an oil rad on a low temp, not too dissimilar to having the ceramic radiator.
I think the USP on ceramic or brick is you heat them up overnight on Economy 7, and then you don’t need to use expensive daytime electric.
However a poorly insulated house will lose heat so fast, they won’t manage to keep the house warm until bedtime.

Oil filled ones that plug in and have built in timers are best and safest. Around £50 each. Get 2000w minimum or it won't heat up the room.

Are your parents on benefits and have you had a benefits check done recently to make sure they are getting everything they are entitled to? Especially if circs have changed.

My mum got a free central heating boiler as she's on pension credit. Problem solved.

@DeliciousApples Def wouldn't qualify for benefits. That is one problem we are lucky not to have.

Thank you @DeliciousApples @Geneticsbunny @HellsBalls .

Turns out my DB has been having similar thoughts. 1 radiator unilaterally ordered for this side of Christmas, with plans for more later probably.