Baseboard heating can be quite expensive. Here are the advantages of using it, though, and some excellent ways to minimize your costs and stay warm efficiently.
There some fine reasons for using electric baseboard heating,
but it really the most expensive kind of heating there is. You will want to consider some cost saving measures if you have to rely on this type of heat.
Electric baseboard heating mainly works on the principle of convection, instead of radiation. Radiation is that warm glow you feel. Convection is when the surrounding air is warmed and then naturally moves elsewhere. Cooler air replaces it and a cycle is generated. You can increase efficiency by placing a small fan near the unit to speed the process.
The benefits of this type of heating are that you can control your heating in zones. If there are rooms that do not need constant heat, you can simply shut off the units in that room. You may also find that baseboard heating does not dry out the air as quickly as forced air heating.
The quickest way to save money is to keep the baseboard heat shut off in rooms that you seldom use, and then have a space heater for when you need heat. A fan driven space heater will economically keep you warm in a sewing room, for example, where you only spend a couple of hours a few days a week. The fan will warm you effectively and quickly.
The second way to save money is to make sure your heater is set up efficiently. Air flow around the heater is a must, so check and see if there is anything limiting the air flow. Is thick carpet underneath your unit? Is your unit clean? Are drapes or furniture blocking the air flow? Eliminate or reduce these obstructions and your baseboard units will work far more efficiently.
Next you will want to assess your insulation. There are some tricks to improving your insulation without much cost. Quilted wall hangings can insulate your walls. Check behind the face places of your outlets and switches. You can put a cheap foam gasket in there to slow heat loss. If your decor is not paramount, you can add plastic over drafty windows.
Ideally, you would want real insulation in the ceilings, walls and floors. In the ceilings aim for at least enough for an R38 rating. The floors should have R30 and the walls, around R20. Windows too, get rated. They go by U-Factor, which should not be above .35, where a higher number is worse - contrary to other insulation, where a higher number is better.
It is important that for any room that you use daily, do not turn the heat off completely. It is more expensive to completely heat a room back up every day. Keep it at a reduced, but warmer than unheated, temperature, instead.
If the cost of electric baseboard heating is getting to be too much, you can expect to pay $4,000 to $6,000 to have a whole ducted forced air furnace system put in. Make sure you hire a quality contractor, because when they start cutting things away under your house or in your attic, incompetent installers can cause structural damage to your home.
Be smart with the use of your electric baseboard heating and you will be able to keep warm and control the costs. A few efficiencies here and there will make a big difference in your utility bill and you will get to enjoy the feeling of beating the electric company who loves to see your meter spin.
