Everything You Need to Know About Electric Baseboard Heaters

Everything You Need to Know About Electric Baseboard Heaters

How Do Baseboard Heaters Work?

What is baseboard heating? It’s a way to provide heat using baseboard electric heaters. Unlike forced-air heating systems, they don’t blow air which means less dust, allergens, and pet dander being blown around. They also eliminate the need to run air ducts in your home. You won’t hear the sound of a furnace firing up or rushing air as forced-air systems send air through ducts. Instead, you’ll get a nice, gentle heat without any of the noise.

If you’re asking what is a baseboard heater, there are two types. They’ll both provide the heat you need, but they do it in different ways.

Electric Baseboard Heaters

You might hear electrical heating baseboards called convection baseboard heat system. This is the most common type of base board heater and is designed to control the temperature within rooms.

Inside each heating unit is a heating element made of electric coils. They work similarly to the way the heating coils inside a toaster work. When the switch is turned up, the coils heat up and disperse heat into the room. These baseboard heaters are controlled by a thermostat that is on the heater or mounted to the wall. As the air is heated, it will rise in the room and cooler air will be drawn into the bottom of the heater. There will also be some heat radiating from the pipes, fins, and housing.



They are typically used to supplement HVAC systems or in places where your central heating doesn’t reach, such as a basement.

Hydronic Baseboard Heaters

Hydronic heaters use liquid to provide the heat. They can be connected throughout a home to a central boiler. The heating element in the boiler warms the water (or oil) in a sealed system. The warm water is sent through tubing to provide baseboard heating in individual rooms. As the water cools, it returns to the boiler to be reheated. It works similar to the way old-fashioned radiators work.

They do take longer to heat up vs convection heaters. It will take a bit longer to reach your target temperature. However, they provide longer-lasting heat and will continue to radiate heat even after they are turned off until the liquid cools.



Hydronic baseboard heaters can also be used as stand-alone units.

How Much Do Baseboard Heaters Cost?

An electric baseboard heater is relatively inexpensive. You can find them for $100 to $250 apiece depending on the options and quality. They’re the cheapest to buy, but they are also the most expensive to operate. Hydronic heaters can cost 2-4 times as much.

Installation

Compared to forced-air systems, a baseboard heating system is relatively easy to install. They’re mounted to the wall and hard-wired into electrical lines. There are some plug-in models, but that’s usually reserved for portable units rather than wall-mounted units.

For hydronic heating systems, tubing can be run inside walls, through floor joists, or in ceilings. This is cheaper and easier to do than installing ductwork.

If you have a choice, opt for a baseboard heater with thermostat that can be mounted to the wall. Placing the thermostat on the unit itself means having to bend over to make adjustments. It also reads the temperature where the thermostat is located. It will be warmer near the unit and may not produce as much heat as you need where you’re sitting or standing.

Lifespan

Convection heaters are simple devices with no moving parts. They can last up to 20 years (or more depending on usage). If a unit fails, replacements are inexpensive. Maintenance is typically limited to keeping the unit clean and free of dust. Hydronic heaters can last 10-20 years but may require maintenance to prevent corrosion.

Safety

You won’t have to worry about carbon monoxide with electric baseboard heaters. They don’t burn fuel. Because they are mounted, you don’t have to worry about them falling over like portable heaters or space heaters. You can also get units that have built-in thermal cut-out switches to prevent overheating.



The unit itself can get warm, so you want to keep drapes, furniture, or other potentially flammable objects away from the baseboard units.

Is Baseboard Heating Expensive?

Comparing hydronic electric baseboard heaters vs standard electric baseboard heaters, both will use a similar amount of energy to create heat. Because hydronic baseboard heaters will continue to provide heat after they’re shut off (and before the liquid cools), there may be some energy savings because it doesn’t need to be on as long.

As far as efficiency, both types of base board heaters are energy-efficient. They use 100% of the energy (electricity) and convert it to heat.

Electricity is more expensive than gas, however. This means you’ll spend more using baseboard heaters to heat your home. A standard gas furnace will be your cheapest heating option if you’re heating your entire home. By comparison, electric baseboard heating can be as high as 4 times the cost, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That’s why many people use baseboard heaters as a supplemental heat source. Some of this cost can be offset by using zone heating strategies.

Baseboard heaters can supply heat to individual rooms so they work well for zone heating. By heating only the occupied rooms, you can leave guest rooms or unused bedrooms cooler. This can produce energy savings up to 20% versus heating your entire home.

You can also save money by running your baseboard heaters constantly. Baseboard heaters tend to be more expensive to power if you regularly turn them on and off or if you tend to change the temperate a lot.

5 Ways to Reduce Your Heating Costs With Baseboard Heaters

There are other ways you can maximize your energy efficiency and reduce the heating costs of using electric baseboard heat.

1. Placement and Size
   Electric baseboard heaters come in varying sizes and watts. Make sure you get one that’s the right size for the room. For spaces larger than 200 square feet, you may need more than one unit. You should also make sure the unit is located on a baseboard where it will provide even heating in the room.
2. Regular Cleaning
   Dirt, dust, pet hair, or spider webs can impact efficiency. Clean your heater’s exterior and fins before the heating season starts and then every month or so during the winter. Be careful not to bend the fins.
3. Keep the Area in Front of the Heater Clear
   Besides safety concerns, you want to enable the airflow into your room. When it's blocked, it can take longer to heat up the room.
4. Choose a Programmable Thermostat
   A programmable thermostat for your baseboard electric heater lets you set it and forget it. This provides consistent temperatures with the ability to kick it up or down a few degrees as needed. Many baseboard heaters are also compatible with today’s popular smart thermostats.
5. Insulate Your Home
   One of the best things you can do to lower your energy bills regardless of the type of heating solution you use is to insulate. Insulating walls, floors, basement, and attics will increase the efficiency and lower your utility bills.