Baseboard heating adds warmth to your home to augment an existing furnace and target cold spots without raising the monthly central heating bill. The unit is placed at floor level and usually attached to the baseboard. From this lower position, heat generated by the baseboard unit rises upward to warm occupants of the room effectively and efficiently.
Baseboard heating comes in two versions:
- Convection units utilize electric heating elements like the portable electric space heaters commonly used in homes. Usually, they are wired directly into the electrical circuit in a room and don’t occupy a standard AC outlet.
- Hydronic baseboard heaters circulate warm water to generate heat. This configuration typically requires warm water from the household boiler that supplies radiators.
Here’s a brief rundown of the benefits of adding baseboard heating to effectively enhance the comfort level in your home this winter.
- Targeted heat. Baseboard units allow you to more accurately heat a specific area in a particular room — and only when needed. The unit may be simply switched on when an area is chilly and off when the extra heat isn’t required.
- Lower operating costs. Adding one or more baseboard heaters may allow you to lower the thermostat setting of the central furnace and cut monthly costs without compromising comfort.
- Quiet operation. The on and off sound of forced air circulating through the main HVAC ductwork is often distracting. A baseboard heater doesn’t incorporate a fan nor any ductwork. Instead, gentle heating is dispersed into the room as it naturally rises in the air.
- Extended service life. Because there are no moving parts in a baseboard heater, wear and tear is minimized, and these units typically last for many years with superior reliability.
- Easy to relocate. If a particular room is no longer occupied for a long term, the baseboard unit can be removed from the room and installed in another location where heat is needed.
Ask the professionals at Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing for more information about the pros and cons of baseboard heating.
