Electric baseboard heaters have offered this option for years because each baseboard unit has its own thermostat. Or, if your child is away at college most of the winter, you can turn off the unit in their room and then flip it back on when they come home for the weekend. In homes where it might be difficult to install new ductwork or the cost is too high, baseboard heat can be a more economical alternative.
In areas prone to extreme winter temperatures, baseboard heaters make a great secondary — or backup — source of heat. Besides keeping the house warmer, this keeps the heat pump from running constantly, trying — and failing — to keep up. Why is that?
Is baseboard heating expensive? In general, electric baseboard heaters use more electricity than an electric heat pump. The placement of baseboard heaters — near windows and exterior walls — can also work against you.
It responds to the temperature nearest the thermostat. This can increase your energy expenses even more. Also called a mini-split system, a ductless HVAC unit combines the best of both types of heating and cooling systems.
The ductless system is comprised of a compressor installed outside of the home that is connected to indoor air handlers throughout the house. Rather than connecting the air handlers via ductwork — which can be costly and difficult to install — the air handlers are connected with a copper conduit that runs through the wall to the compressor outside.
What are the benefits of ductless HVAC units? Our Elizabethtown location makes it convenient to offer service throughout Central Pennsylvania, including Dauphin, Lancaster, Cumberland and York Counties. We also offer convenient scheduling — no more waiting around the house all day wondering when your technician will show up! Have an HVAC system that needs to be repaired or replaced? Schedule a repair or in-home estimate now.
Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. The Different Types of Baseboard Heat There are different types of baseboard heat out there, such as gas baseboard heat and hydronic baseboard heat. But Is Baseboard Heat Efficient? What are the cons? In a whole-house hydronic system reliant on water circulated from the water heater, the lines can be disturbed by an intrusion of air.
Another drawback is that compared with electric baseboards, hydronic units take longer to heat up. For many homeowners, however, the efficiency of hydronic baseboards amply makes up for their slow start. Baseboard heating offers several advantages over the average forced-air system. For one thing, baseboards operate almost silently, in contrast to the noisy blowers of forced-air heating. Another advantage of baseboard heating is that it requires no ductwork. Last but not least is a matter of preference: Many homeowners like how baseboard heat comes out evenly, not in intermittent blasts.
Disclosure: BobVila. You agree that BobVila. All rights reserved. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Some homeowners initially reported sub-par experiences trying to use some of the most popular Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats with their baseboard heaters.
These programmable thermostats are designed to allow users to adjust heating settings from other internet-connected devices, such as a laptop or smartphones. You probably know that carpets and rugs can warm up a room and help keep your feet warm. But ensure that they're not impacting the efficiency of baseboard heaters. Although it may look like warm air is only coming out of the front of your heaters, the air is actually circulating all around.
Your heaters should sit at least two centimetres three-quarters of an inch above the floor or carpet to allow the cooler air on the floor to flow under and through the electrical element.
If your carpet is especially thick, trim it down around the base of your heaters. The bottom of your drapes should end at least 10 centimetres four inches above your heaters or, if your drapes run floor-to-ceiling, at least three centimetres above the floor. Make sure you have at least five centimetres two inches between the back of the drapes and the front of your heaters.
It's all about airflow; don't let flooring or window coverings block that flow anywhere around your heater. An electric baseboard heater has an electrical heating element inside a metal pipe. When the heater is turned on, an electric current flows through the heating element. Although baseboard heaters will always turn electricity used into heat, dust and dirt on your heating system can block that heat from circulating through the room.
You may end up running heaters longer because it's more difficult to release the heat that's generated, through dirty fins, into the room. At least once a year usually in the fall, before using them for the first time , wipe down the surface of your heaters and vacuum the fins and housing to remove as much dust as possible.
A brush attachment for your vacuum works well if you have one. Most heaters are controlled by a wall-mounted dial thermostat or a dial on the side of the baseboard itself. But they're less precise and harder to control than a programmable or digital model.
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