Your Options for Baseboard Heating Alternatives

Baseboard heating systems sit near the baseboard that is placed against the wall of a room. They get their name from this position. Baseboard heating heats up rooms at a low temperatures, which makes these heaters safer for children, pets and the household in general. The other benefit is that they make very little noise when working and are cheaper than any central-heating system. None of these use a blower to move the heated air. The warm air naturally radiates toward cooler areas so there is no need for central heating or ductwork. There are several types of baseboard heating options to choose from. Below the different types are described.

Electric Baseboard Heater

This type of baseboard heating unit uses electricity to heat special filaments inside the unit that heat the surrounding air. The best place to position this type of heater is under a window so that it can make use of the air that is naturally flowing into the room. Warm air rises from the heater meeting the colder air coming off the window, warming it as it moves into the room. This can help prevent cold spots near windows.

Hot Water Baseboard Heater

This baseboard heating style is a type of central-water heater. Hot water flows through pipes of every water baseboard in the house. This type of baseboard heater is good for heating floors and works hand in hand with radiant flooring. Radiant flooring is also a central-water heating technique where hot water pipes run under the house floor, thus keeping it warm. The hot water baseboard heater has fin tubes which connect the heater to a boiler or other central water-heating source. Convection is used to draw air across the fin tubes from where the central-water heating pump moves hot water to warm the room. The hot water in the tubes circulates between the room and the central water-heating source. Using this water-heating system is much safer than a steam radiator.

Portable Baseboard Heater

This is a single unit baseboard heater that is convenient for use in any room. It contains a built-in thermostat and works suitably well for a house that already has an electric central-heating system. This baseboard heater is also used in creating extra heat in areas that are more prone to cold and dampness. For example, garages, attics, and basements are good candidates for these heaters. They are generally lightweight and easy to move from one area to another as needed. They also are useful for children or the elderly who need a warmer room.

With this information, you can pick whichever baseboard heater suits your needs. They are safe, for not only your house, but also children and pets. None of these heaters get too hot. The other good thing is that since baseboard heating is radiant heat you save money on electricity bills because there's no blower to power for pushing the air around.