Welcome to our comprehensive guide on baseboard heaters, a vital component of HVAC systems. In this article, we will delve into the world of baseboard heaters, discussing the three main types: electric, hydronic, and gas.
Whether you’re looking for energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, or specific heating requirements, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s jump right in and explore the fascinating world of baseboard heaters.
Electric Baseboard Heaters
Electric baseboard heaters are a popular choice due to their simplicity and efficiency. They work by converting electrical energy into heat using a series of heating elements. When an electrical current passes through these elements, they radiate warmth, effectively heating the surrounding air.
How Does Electric Baseboard Heaters Work?
Electric baseboard heaters come in two types; they are either convection heaters or hydronic heaters.
Although these two types work efficiently and quickly, they also work differently.
In order to understand how they work, this part of the article would explain each type.
Electric conventional baseboard heaters use a coil that warns up without making a sound.
They also usually feature an adjustable thermostat that is either built-in the heater or installed separately with the wired on the wall.
Most conventional heaters that have built-in thermostats are a great choice because they allow you to control your comfort and heat up the room according to your desired temperature.
They also allow you to heat up different rooms while using just one heater. Electric convection baseboard heaters are also easy to maintain and are very affordable.
The electric hydronic baseboard heater is what you would usually call an oil-filled radiator.
The heater heats up a room by warming up the heating element, which would heat up the oil or water depending on the one you use, and then this would heat up the air and increase the temperature.
A great feature of hydronic electric baseboard heaters is that even after they have reached the set temperature and turned off, they can still retain the heat for hours.
They are a bit more expensive than the convection electric baseboard heaters, but they are also more energy-efficient.
Advantages of electric baseboard heaters:
Firstly, they are highly energy efficient, converting almost all the electricity they consume into heat. This efficiency makes them a cost-effective option, saving you money on your energy bills.
Secondly, electric baseboard heaters are easy to install and require minimal maintenance. You can mount them directly on the wall, and they don’t need any complex ductwork or piping systems. Additionally, they offer individual room control, allowing you to customize the temperature according to your preferences.
When considering electric baseboard heater installation, here are some important factors to keep in mind:
- Sizing and positioning: Ensure you choose the right size heater for the room to achieve optimal heating. Place the heater along an exterior wall, preferably under a window, to counteract cold air infiltration.
- Thermostat options: Consider installing a programmable thermostat for better energy management and precise temperature control. It allows you to set different temperatures for various times of the day, ensuring comfort while optimizing energy usage.
- Safety precautions: Ensure proper clearance around the heater to prevent fire hazards. Keep flammable materials away and avoid blocking the airflow. Regularly clean the heater to remove dust accumulation that can affect its performance and safety.
Electric baseboard heaters may encounter a few common issues, but troubleshooting them is usually straightforward. If you experience uneven heating, ensure there are no obstructions blocking the heater’s airflow. If the heater operates noisily, check for loose components or foreign objects inside. In case the heating system doesn’t turn on, inspect the electrical connections and the thermostat settings.
Now that you’re familiar with electric baseboard heaters, let’s move on to hydronic baseboard heaters.
Pros and Cons of an Electric Baseboard Heater
The electric baseboard heater provides a wide range of benefits for you and your family when being used, but it also has some small disadvantages. Nevertheless, the good outweighs the bad, and the heater is still recommended for use at any time.
Features
Electric baseboard heaters are flexible for use, especially if you are using them around the house.
You can easily place them in particular rooms with no problem because these electric baseboard heaters are available in different wattage levels and sizes that can be suitable for different rooms.
If you are using more than one heater, you can control them with just one thermostat by connecting them together.
You can also decide to have different temperatures in different rooms, especially if you have a large family.
Because of the electric heating technology, separate spaces can be heated up with ease, and there would be no case of anyone being too cold while another person feels warmer.
You do not have to worry about costs because they are very affordable to buy and even better to run and maintain.
They range from $40 to a little over $100 depending on your preference and budget, and some large ones are even as cheap as $80.
With their technology, electric baseboard heaters are also very good at reducing your electricity bills.
This is because of the way they are designed to use less power, and they have a safety cut out in case the temperature is higher than a set temperature.
Your heater would stop running once your desired temperature has been reached, and this also saves energy because it consumes less power this way.
They are also user-friendly, easy to use, and operate. It is rare for the heater to fall down because of the way it is designed, encased in a metal box, and fitted with metal fins for spreading a lot of hests.
These heaters also do not need repairs often because they do not have computer modules.
Unlike the case of a central heating system, if your electric baseboard heater does break, it would be very cheap to replace or fix.
A central heating system can take thousands of dollars to return, but an electric baseboard heater would only take about a hundred.
When it comes to power surges and brownouts, your heater would be safe because they are insensitive to those.
A significant advantage of these heaters is that you can place them in the coldest, draftiest places in your home, and they would work efficiently in keeping you warm.
As long as the heater is the ideal size for the room, there would be no problem in warming up the room even if the temperature outside eventually reaches below zero degrees.
When it comes to warming up your bedrooms, they are also very safe for use because they run with electricity and. Its natural gas or liquid propane.
Those fueled heaters might be cheaper to buy and operate, but they end up emitting harmful gases into the air and depleting the oxygen levels in the air.
If used in a room, They can cause serious health issues and contamination.
Electric heaters use safe electricity, and this makes them safe for use even in your children’s rooms.
Apart from being safe for us humans, they are also safe for the environment because they do not emit any harmful gases such as carbon monoxide poisoning. This makes them environmentally friendly.
Most of them also have safety features that prevent fire hazards or lower the risk of an accident, thereby keeping you and your family warm, toasty, and safe.
These safety features include the overheating protection feature, which turns the heater off once it is overheating or emitting heat higher than the set temperature and the tip-over safety feature which turns the heater off automatically if it is knocked or tipped over.
Some heaters are also cool to touch on the outside and do not cause burns or injuries when you touch them. Another reason why they are ideal for bedrooms is that they are usually silent when working.
Baseboard Heaters hardly have any moving parts or fans, and so there is no noise when it is warming you up.
For those that do have a fan, they work silently, and you can hardly hear the sound at all.
Another benefit of electric baseboard heaters is that they are ideal for supplemental heating, especially when they are portable.
In rare cases, if you live in a small apartment, they can also be used as a primary source of heat.
The electric baseboard heater is also easy to install, as well as the thermostat that may or may not come with it.
You can install the thermostat on the heater itself or mount it on a wall away from the heater.
It all depends on the wiring. Once the wiring has been installed, the installation of an electric baseboard heater is pretty straightforward.
You can mount them to drywall by keeping them close to the floor for efficiency and using heavy-duty toggle bolts or wall anchors, or you can use a few screws to install it onto a flat baseboard.
Most modern electric baseboard heaters now have contemporary and stylish designs that would fit in with the decor of your home and bring elegance to it.
They are also easy to maintain as all you have to do clean them regularly, every month or before every winter, depending on how you use it. Maintaining it would keep it in good condition.
Cons:
Electric baseboard heaters usually have a thermostat with high voltage, or they require high voltage thermostats.
This means that the thermostat is able to switch between 110 and 220 volt supply lines, and this can spoil the heater if it keeps switching like this.
You can also install equipment to control this electricity like a low voltage operated switch and relay.
This would help you by controlling the high voltage with a low voltage thermostat. You can also ask your electrician for help.
Electric baseboard heaters also usually need a lot of insulation because they are mostly placed close to the floor, and they use convection heating technology to warm up the room.
This means that the heat rises, and so the heat makes sure that the whole place is warmed up from top to bottom.
But if there is no proper insulation, the heater would be inefficient in warming up the whole room.
Another disadvantage is that electric baseboard heaters emit dry air.
If the electric baseboard heater that you purchased does not have a built-in humidifier, you would be left with a lot of dry heat, and this can cause health issues such as bleeding noses or raw throats, especially if the winter months are super cold.
You can purchase a humidifier separately so you would be comfortable when it moistens the air.
When installing your electric baseboard heater, you would need separate wiring to do so.
This would prevent your lights dimming or your electricity current becoming low because of possible overloaded circuits in your home.
Your electric baseboard heater must have a separate circuit so that it would not interfere with the operation of other appliances in the home as well as the lighting.
When you first turn your electric baseboard heater on, especially if it is newly purchased or if you have not used it for a long while like during this summer months, it gives off a nasty burning smell when you first turn it on during the winter.
This is because when it is inactive, dust rests on the heating element in the baseboard heater and then it is finally turned on after a while, all this dust burns off the heating element.
You do not have to worry because the nasty smell would be gone within minutes, and it would not happen again as long as the heater is being used a couple of times a month.
If your electric baseboard heater is powered by alternating current electricity or used an integrated fan to spread heat through the room, it can emit a humming sound when emitting.
If you want to use the electric baseboard heaters in places where you need peace and quiet like your bedroom, office, or den, then you can probably spend a little more money and buy a hydronic baseboard heater, which makes no noise at all.
Most of them also make an annoying clicking sound when it turns off, on or is indicating a change in temperature.
Electric baseboard heaters can also really increase your electricity bills if you use them as a primary source of heat in a large house.
It is fine for a small apartment, but in a large house, it is advisable to use it for zone heating around the home instead.
Common Problems with Electric Baseboard Heaters and How To Solve Them
When using your baseboard heater, you may encounter some problems along the line.
These problems might not necessarily be cons but just that there can be some issues with it and so we give you a few of these problems and how you can easily solve them.
If you notice that your electric baseboard heater is not warming up a room efficiently, there can be a number of things that can be causing this problem since electric baseboard heaters are usually very efficient.
It can be because something like furniture or upholstery is placed near or in front of the heater. This can interfere with the distribution of hot air o the room because the air would be hindered by the obstruction.
If you check and see that there are no objects in front of the heater, make sure that there are also no loose drapes that can be obstructing the heater.
If there is nothing blocking the airflow from your heater, it can be because of the size of the room.
Each electric baseboard heater like the ones mentioned above have different physical sizes and wattage levels, and so it might not be big enough to warm up the room.
You can consider checking the measurement of your room and juxtaposing that with the room size recommended by the manufacturer to ensure that the heater you.purchased as the ability to warm up your room.
If the case is yes, then there is a high chance that the valves of your heater are corroded.
These valves are what the electric baseboard heaters use to emit heat freely without any interference, and they usually need to be lubricated regularly.
You can lubricate your valves, and if that does not watch, contact a professional.
If your electric baseboard heater is not coming on, it might be because the heater does not have enough power to work.
Baseboard heaters make use of a lot of energy, and when there is no power or a low voltage, your heater will not come on.
If the power is sufficient, then you would have to fix the circuit. When you switch your electric baseboard heater on a typical day, the circuit will close, and the element would heat up.
But if there is a fault in the circuit, the element would go off immediately. You can call a professional technician to fix the circuit.
If your electric baseboard heater constantly trips off, it could be because of a circuit shortage or a loose wire.
In the case where the breaker would trip after you turn the heater on before you’ve even turned on the thermostat, then there should be a shortage between the thermostat and the breaker.
But if it starts properly, overheats and then it trips, there should be a loose wire somewhere.
If you have no knowledge of electrical matters, do not try to fix the heater. Instead, call a professional technician to do that for you.
If your electric baseboard heater gives out an inconstant temperature often, it is probably because your electric baseboard heater has a built-in adjustable thermostat.
You can buy and install an external thermostat to fix this problem. If you have already done this and the problem is not solved, there is a possibility that your heater is blocked.
This is probably because you do not maintain it regularly.
You can blow out the heater with a vacuum to remove anything clogging the inside of the heater.
It can also be because of low voltage or just a problem with the wiring. If your warranty is still valid, talk to your manufacturer to make use of it.
Do not bother going to a professional technician if your warranty is still intact because if the technician ends up unable to fix it, the manufacturer would not recognize your warranty.
As mentioned earlier, a new heater or a heater that has not been used for a while can give out a smoky smell when it is first turned on because of the particles that would have been left on the heating element when manufacturing or being stored.
But you can get rid of the smell by keeping your heater on for thirty minutes so that it would clear.
What To Consider Before Purchasing An Electric Baseboard Heater?
The first thing that you should consider before you buy your electric baseboard heater is the size of the room you want to use it in and the size of the heater as well.
You must have had a particular space on the wall where you want to place the heater.
Since they come in a lot of different sizes, you have to consider the size so that you do not get frustrated when you are trying to install it, and it turns out to be too big.
Another important factor that you need to consider is the heating ability of the electric baseboard heater.
This is determined by the size of the room that the heater is made for.
The manufacturer usually provides the heating capability of the heater, which is the size of the space that the heater can effectively warm up.
So before you purchase the heater, you are advised to measure your room and buy the heater for that size.
You would also need to look at the type of electric baseboard heater that is ideal for you.
As we mentioned earlier, there are two types of these heaters which are the hydronic baseboard heater and the convection baseboard heater.
When you are looking for something cheap, fast, and reliable, then you should go for the convection baseboard heater.
The only disadvantage with this type is that they are not very good at retaining heat.
As soon as the desired temperature is reached and the device turns off, the heating element cools down quickly, and you would have to turn the heater on again.
If you want something that retains heat and saves you money on your electricity bills, then go for they hydronic baseboard heater.
They are reliable too, but they are more expensive than the convection heaters, and they do not warm up the room as quickly as the convection heaters.
The wattage level of the baseboard heater that you want is also something you have to decide.
Although all-electric baseboard heaters are energy-efficient, some would still consume more energy than the others.
You have to look at the wattage level of the heater as provided by the manufacturer.
If the wattage level is high, then the heater would need a higher voltage, and that means more money.
But if you want to decrease your electricity bills and do not want a heater raising it up, then you should get a heater with a lower wattage level.
You ‘re advised to get the heater with dual heat settings like some of those mentioned above.
These heaters have two wattage levels and give you a choice while helping you control your consumption of energy.
Before purchasing your electric baseboard heater, find out what you would need to install the heater and start using it.
While some of them do not come with a built-in thermostat, some others come fully assembled.
You might also need to purchase some wires separately depending on the heater or hire a professional to do the installation for you.
If you would be using your electric baseboard heater in somewhere you need silence like your bedroom, children’s room, office, or den; then you should invest in the heater that is completely silent.
All-electric baseboard heaters work quietly and make little to no noise, but some of them, especially those with fans, can emit a low whirring sound.
There are also some features that you would have to consider before purchasing an electric baseboard heater, which would keep you safe and provide convenience. Some of these heaters have a lot of these features, but not all of them.
For safety, get a heater with an overheating protection feature, which or thermal overload protection; these features turn your heater off when it overheats, emits a temperature higher than the set temperature, or when the circuit is being overloaded.
Another safety feature that you must look out for is one with the anti-tip shut-off feature, which turns the heater off if it gets knocked over.
If you are living with children, pets, or older people, this feature is essential in your heater.
Some heaters also have a cool to the touch exterior that keeps the casing of the heater cold so that you do not get hurt when you touch it.
You can purchase a heater with two out of three of these safety features.
Apart from these must-have safety features, you can also lookout for some convenience features such as a digital display for easy use, an adjustable thermostat for comfort control, a humidifier because of the dry heat that it emits, a timer and a remote.
Think about the features that are most essential and purchase the heater with these features.
You should also make sure that your electric baseboard heater is certified by a certification lab such as UL or ETL.
These labs test the heater for quality and safety, and so such heaters highly recommended.
You also have to consider if you would be moving your heater around or using it in one place.
Electric baseboard heaters are quite flexible, and so you can decide to get one that is wall mountable or one that can be moved around.
If you want to use your heater in one place, you do not have to worry about the portability of the heater, as you can just place it in the room that needs warming up.
But, if you plan on moving from place to place with the heater, the purchase a heater that had carry handles and is lightweight so you can carry it around easily.
If you are a person that cares a lot about the decor of your home, then you can you should consider this before purchasing an electric baseboard heater.
Although most of these electric baseboard heaters have elegant and contemporary designs, not all of them would actually fit in with your home decor.
To prevent having a heater that would stand out awkwardly in your home, look out for the heater that goes best with the room you want to install it in.
When purchasing your electric baseboard heater, there are some features that you must keep in mind.
An ideal electric baseboard heater must be reliable and durable, convenient and easy to use, easy to clean and maintain, energy-efficient and friendly to the environment must work with little or no noise at all, and it must not exceed your budget.
Saving More Money With Your Electric Baseboard Heaters
Although electric baseboard heaters are known for their energy efficiency, they still consume electricity based on their wattage level and how often you use them.
To save more money on your electricity bills, you would have to decrease the energy that the heater consumes.
These are some tips to help you do this.
You must learn to calibrate your heater properly if you do not want to use up a lot of energy.
You should make sure that the temperature readings are set correctly, and you can do this by making use of a thermometer.
Constantly track the readings and take note of the temperature when the heater reaches the desired temperature.
You also have to ensure that your heater sticks to your desired temperature. When you raise the temperature of the heater, it does not heat up the room more quickly or even decreases the heating cycle. Instead, it is just taking in a lot of power and doing nothing.
For efficiency and money-saving, make sure it is working with the set temperature.
Also, when the heater finally reaches the set temperature, do not turn the heater off but instead turn the heater down to the lowest temperature.
When you constantly turn your heater on and off, it consumes a lot of energy, unlike the little power it would consume when you just reduce the heater’s temperature to the lowest level.
To save money with your electric baseboard heater, you also have to place it in a strategic place.
When you install your heater where there can be interferences and obstructions to the heating flow, you reduce the efficiency of the heater.
These objects that can obstruct the heater include furniture, upholstery, drapes, carpets, and rugs.
When they are placed in front of the heater, they interfere with the emitting and distribution of hot air into the room, and so the heater does not reach the set temperature as quickly as it should.
This also makes it consume more energy because it is running longer than usual.
To avoid this, install your heater in a place where furniture cannot obstruct it.
Any rugs or carpets should be put below the heater at least two centimeters so it would not block the flow of hot air.
If you have any heavy household appliances that emit heat while working like a dryer or dishwasher, do not use them in the day time.
When they work, they emit heat, and so it does most of the work for the heater. There is no point turning them all on because of the energy they consume.
Also, when your heater is working, do not leave doors and windows open because they let the heat being emitted escape, and then the heater would have to work harder and for a longer time to warm up the room evenly.
Close every outlet so you can reduce the time the heater would use to operate. If the heater takes a short time to warm up the room, it will turn off quickly, and then you save energy and thus money on your electricity bills.
You also have to maintain the heater regularly.
When your heater accumulated too much dust, that dust would interfere with the emitting and distribution of hot air into the room.
And so your heater would try to make use of more energy to emit more heat, and this would take longer than usual.
Constantly vacuum your heater so that it would not be clogged and cost your money on bills.
If you are using your electric baseboard heater as a supplement to the central heating system in your home, then there are some things you must do to ensure that you spend double on electric bills because of the two heaters.
Ensure that you turn the temperature of your central heating system down during the day, especially if you are using the electric baseboard heater at that time.
This would help you save energy and money rather than running them both at high temperatures.
If your electric baseboard heater is installed in your bedroom, then the central heating system off at night and use the electric baseboard heater only to warm you up.
Also, if your electric baseboard heater is portable, you can use it for zone heating and eliminate cold spots.
Cold spots are areas in the home where the heat from the central heating system cannot reach.
When you are in a room, use your electric baseboard heater in that room while the temperature of your central heating system is turned down to the point where you might need a sweater to warm up if you did not have the baseboard heater.
When you are moving to another room, turn the heater off and take it with you.
Do not use your electric baseboard heater as a primary source of heat if you live in a large house.
This would consume a lot of energy, and this would not be ideal if you are trying to save money on electricity bills.
Instead, use it in the rooms that you are making use of while leaving the other rooms, especially rooms in the home that you hardly use.
These tips would help you save money when using your electric baseboard heater.
Electric Baseboard Heaters and Safety
When it comes to purchasing electric baseboard heaters, and even heaters in general, safety issues might be a factor that would discourage buyers from purchasing the heater.
But most people now use heaters to heat up during cold winter days, and electric baseboard heaters are designed to be safe.
These heaters usually come with built-in safety systems such as the overheating protection feature, which turns the heater off automatically if it is overheating and the tip-over safety feature, which turns it off once it is knocked over or just not standing upright.
There are also heaters with an overload protection feature, which turns the heater off once the circuit is overloaded.
There are other safety systems that would be unique to the heater.
With these safety features, electric baseboard heaters are safe for use, but it is advisable to take safety precautions still to avoid fire accidents in your home or office.
Safety Guidelines
Safety risks can start with the installation of the electric baseboard heater. Even though installation is pretty easy in most cases and it does not take long to do so and get the heater working, you are advised to hire a professional technician to install your heater.
For efficiency and safety, your heater would need to be properly calibrated and wired. It has to be working with the correct voltage, and if your heater is not installed properly, it can damage the heater or even cause a fire hazard.
You should also pay attention to where you would install the heater for safety reasons.
You should not install the heater where furniture or upholstery like window drapes can rest on it, and you should not install it close to a power source either if you want to prevent a fire.
You must also handle your electric baseboard heater with care.
They give out a lot of heat and so they should be handled with discretion. Keep it away from children or pets because they can play with it or knock it down, thereby increasing the risk of a fire.
Inspect the plug of your heater and your heater in general before you turn it on. If there are any signs of damages, do not use the heater.
Instead, contact a professional technician.
You should also never yank the heater’s plug from the wall outlet carelessly.
Always from the plug carefully and pull it out so there would be no accident.
Do not place the heater or the cord of the heater where it can easily trip someone. Keep it out of the way and in an isolated corner.
You must never leave your electric baseboard heater unattended to, especially if you are living with children or pets.
Ensure that you turn the heater off once you are leaving the room and turn it on when you get back.
You should also not sleep off while your heater is on because this is the same thing as leaving it unattended.
You should warm up your room before going to bed so that you do not have to leave the heater running while you sleep.
Because of the heat that electric baseboard heaters emit, you should keep flammable objects and combustibles away from the heater.
Flammable objects such as furniture, upholstery, drapes, rugs, carpets, paper, clothing, bedding, and others; and combustible like alcohol, air fresheners, perfumes, oily rags and clothing, newspapers and magazines and others.
When an object is obstructing the heater, it blocks the outflow of heat into the room, and so the heat becomes concentrated behind that object. The object would eventually spark and catch fire.
From there, your whole house can burn down.
Watch your children and pets when they are around the heater and make sure that they do not leave objects in front or close to the heater that can get heated up and burn them when they go back to pick it up.
Do not place objects like documents on your heater or use your heater as a table.
Also, do not use it to dry your wet clothes. Except it is indicated, do not use your electric baseboard heater in the bathroom.
Also, you should not place power cords close the heater or hanging over them because they can drop into the device and cause a fire.
Do not think that cranking your electric baseboard heater to the highest temperature can make your room warm up faster.
This is a risky move and even worse when there is an object obstructing or placed near the heater.
When the temperature of the heater is too high, it can cause the heater to overheat, and it might not only reduce the efficiency of the heater or damage it internally, but it can also cause a fire.
If you are using more than one heater in your home, you are advised to make use of one thermostat to adjust the temperature on all the heaters.
This move would keep them working the same way and at the same speed. It would not allow them to affect their warming cycles.
To keep yourself and your family safe, you must also regularly maintain the heater so it would work properly.
Your electric baseboard heater would need constant cleaning, blowing out and dusting so that dust particles do not rest on the applications because this would interfere with its efficiency.
You must also make sure that you vacuum the heater every three months, depending on how often you use it.
Always call in a professional technician to check the heater just in case.
Hydronic Baseboard Heaters
Hydronic baseboard heaters use heated water or another liquid to provide warmth. They operate through a network of pipes that circulate the heated fluid, releasing heat into the room. This type of baseboard heater offers several advantages worth considering.
Advantages of hydronic baseboard heaters:
One of the key advantages of hydronic baseboard heaters is their quiet and consistent heating performance. The heated liquid retains warmth for longer, ensuring a stable and comfortable indoor environment.
In terms of energy efficiency, hydronic baseboard heaters are highly efficient, especially when paired with a modern boiler or an energy-efficient heat source. They offer precise temperature control, allowing you to customize the heat output in each room.
When installing hydronic baseboard heaters, consider the following:
- Plumbing requirements: Hydronic heaters require water supply and return lines, as well as a boiler or a heat source to heat the liquid. Professional installation is recommended to ensure proper plumbing connections and system integrity.
- Zone heating options: Hydronic systems can be divided into zones, enabling independent temperature control for different areas of your home. This flexibility allows you to save energy by heating only the occupied spaces.
- Maintenance tips: To keep your hydronic baseboard heater operating optimally, regular maintenance is essential. This includes inspecting the system for leaks, checking pressure levels, and flushing the system periodically to remove any air or debris.
Hydronic baseboard heaters may encounter a few common issues. If you notice leaks or pipe damage, it’s important to address them promptly to prevent further damage to your home and system. Air bubbles in the system can cause reduced heating efficiency, so bleeding the air from the system is necessary. If you experience inefficient heating performance, ensure that the boiler or heat source is functioning correctly and that the system’s water pressure is within the recommended range.
Now, let’s explore the third type of baseboard heater: gas baseboard heaters.
Gas Baseboard Heaters
Gas baseboard heaters utilize natural gas or propane to generate heat. They are known for their powerful and quick heating capabilities, making them ideal for colder climates or situations where rapid heating is required. Gas baseboard heaters offer several advantages worth considering.
Advantages of gas baseboard heaters:
One of the key advantages of gas baseboard heaters is their cost-effectiveness. Natural gas and propane tend to be cheaper fuel sources compared to electricity, allowing for potential savings on heating expenses.
Gas baseboard heaters also provide independence from electrical power, which can be beneficial during power outages. Additionally, they offer a high heat output, quickly warming up a room and providing a cozy environment.
When installing gas baseboard heaters, consider the following:
- Fuel source options: Determine whether natural gas or propane is available in your area and choose the appropriate fuel source for your heater. Ensure that the gas supply and connections comply with safety standards and regulations.
- Ventilation requirements: Gas heaters produce combustion byproducts that need proper ventilation to ensure indoor air quality and safety. Adequate ventilation is crucial, and professional installation is recommended to ensure compliance with ventilation codes.
- Safety precautions: Gas heaters require careful attention to safety measures. Ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are installed near the heater and in sleeping areas. Regularly inspect the system for gas leaks, and if you notice any gas odor, immediately shut off the gas supply and contact a professional.
Gas baseboard heaters may encounter a few common issues. If the pilot light fails to ignite or stay lit, it may require cleaning or adjustment. Gas leaks are a serious safety concern, so if you suspect a gas leak, evacuate the area, open windows for ventilation, and contact your gas provider or a qualified technician for immediate assistance. Inadequate heating output can be due to various factors, including issues with the burner or fuel supply, which should be inspected and addressed by a professional.
Comparing Electric, Hydronic, and Gas Baseboard Heaters
Now that we have explored each type of baseboard heater, let’s compare them based on various factors to help you make an informed decision:
A. Energy efficiency comparison: Electric baseboard heaters are highly efficient, converting nearly all the electricity they consume into heat. Hydronic baseboard heaters, when paired with energy-efficient heat sources, offer excellent efficiency. Gas baseboard heaters can be cost-effective due to the lower cost of gas as a fuel source.
B. Heating performance and consistency: Electric and hydronic baseboard heaters provide consistent heat output, while gas baseboard heaters offer powerful and rapid heating capabilities.
C. Installation and maintenance costs: Electric baseboard heaters are generally the most affordable and easiest to install, requiring minimal maintenance. Hydronic baseboard heaters involve plumbing and may require professional installation. Gas baseboard heaters have installation and ventilation considerations, and professional installation is recommended.
D. Suitability for different environments and preferences: Electric baseboard heaters are versatile and suitable for most residential and commercial settings. Hydronic baseboard heaters are favored for their quiet operation and even heat distribution, making them ideal for bedrooms, living rooms, and areas where noise reduction is important. Gas baseboard heaters are often chosen for their high heat output, making them suitable for larger spaces or areas with high heat demand.
E. Environmental impact and sustainability considerations: Electric baseboard heaters produce zero emissions at the point of use, making them a cleaner option. Hydronic heaters can be environmentally friendly when paired with renewable energy sources or high-efficiency boilers. Gas baseboard heaters emit combustion byproducts, so their environmental impact depends on the type of fuel and combustion efficiency.
Radiant floor heating is another popular heating option worth considering alongside baseboard heaters. Unlike baseboard heaters that rely on convection to heat the air, radiant floor heating utilizes the principle of thermal radiation.
This system involves installing heating elements, such as electric cables or water-filled pipes, beneath the floor surface. The heat radiates upward, providing consistent warmth from the ground up. Radiant floor heating offers several advantages, including energy efficiency, uniform heating distribution, and freedom from visible heating units.
However, it requires professional installation and may have higher upfront costs compared to baseboard heaters. Consider the specific needs of your space and preferences when deciding between radiant floor heating and baseboard heaters for optimal comfort and efficiency.
Other Things You Should Know About Baseboard Heaters
When using an electric baseboard heater, it is much better to use a separate programmable thermostat to operate it rather than the inbuilt ones that are in your heater because the former is more precise than the latter.
Most electric baseboard heaters are operated using a dial thermostat that is mounted on the wall or a dial thermostat that is placed beside the baseboard.
But these kinds of thermostats are less accurate and are not easy to control like the digital or programmable thermostat.
A thermostat that is attached to the heater is slow when it comes to detecting and acting on an increase or decrease in the room temperature. In the room where you install your baseboard heater, you should change the thermostat and use a model that is wall mounted.
If you want your thermostat to be precise, do not install it on or on top of the electric baseboard heater, close to a powerful household appliance, or where it would be exposed to the sun.
Although electric baseboard heaters are good with warming up other cold areas, they do not do well in circulating the heat around the room.
This is because they usually do not use a forced fan system to distribute the air.
They are more efficient when used for zone or supplemental heating, which means that you should use them to warm up the area that you are in and not your whole house.
Because of this, you should not use them to warm up placed like hallways or spaces that are adjacent because of the open doors.
Use them to warm up the spaces that you are in because that’s how they can work more efficiently.
When you are not at home, or when you are asleep, it more much more energy-efficient and a good way to save money by adjusting the temperature of your baseboard heater to 16 degrees Celsius or 61 degrees Fahrenheit.
This would help you save at least ten percent on your electricity bills, and you would not be affected by the cold because you would not be around, or you would be wrapped up in your bed.
During this time, you should also refrain from using the central heating system if your goal is to save more money.
You should also keep it in mind that increasing the temperature of the heat that your electric baseboard heater emits would not cause the room to get hot faster than normal.
It can be quite frustrating to go home to a cold house and want to get warm quickly, but turning the thermostats dial at five or six degrees more than the usual set temperature would not warm the room up faster.
An electric baseboard heater would heat up the place in the normal time that it usually does so and consume way more energy because of the increase in temperature.
When the temperature of your electric baseboard heater rises above 20 degrees Celsius or 68 degrees Fahrenheit, your electricity bills go up about five percent for every single degree.
So the more you increase the temperature of your heater by one degree, the more five percent is added to the bills.
This is why you should use the electric baseboard heater and the central heating system together so they can both work at low temperatures, and while one keeps the whole house from freezing, the second keeps your personal space warm.
When you do not maintain your electric baseboard heater and keep it from being dusty, it would probably stop working.
Every electric baseboard heater features a metal pipe, and in that metal pipe lies the electric heating element that does the job.
When you switch your heater on, the electric currents will go through the heating element so it can warm up and heat the room.
When there are dirt or dust particles on the heater, it would obstruct the heat and stop from going into the room.
Because of this, your heater would work twice as hard and for a very long time in trying to make the room reach the set temperature because the heat is not coming out like it’s supposed to be.
Every three months, you should clean your electric baseboard heater. Clean the surface with a dry rag and use a vacuum or a blower to blow out any dust that might have accumulated in the fins.
If you can attach a small brush to your vacuum so it would clean out the corners of the heater well, that would be even better.
To measure the room that would use the electric baseboard heater, keep it in mind that for every square foot of a room, it needs 10 watts to heat it up.
So if your room is at 150 square feet, it would require 1500 watts to heat it up.
