To avoid wasted heat (and higher electricity costs), only turn on baseboard heaters in rooms that are occupied. Close doors to bedrooms and offices when baseboard heaters are turned on to keep the heat in.
Not really. The cost of heat is determined by the time the furnace or heater runs. Whenever it is off, there is no cost. After being off, it takes longer to regain temperature, but not sufficiently to be longer than if it were on all the time.
Baseboard heaters can be controlled in zones, leading to energy savings. Electric baseboard heaters heat quickly but are less efficient. Hydronic baseboard heaters are more efficient but take longer to heat. Maximize heater efficiency by planning zones and sealing drafts.
The cheapest baseboard heat would be electric strip heat...... except for the electricity. If you want a more efficient heat source go to hydronic with baseboard radiators and then use a boiler fired with gas, propane, or wood or a large hot water heater fired with natural gas or propane.
Choose an energy-efficient setting: 68 degrees when you're home and 60 degrees when sleeping or away. (Exception: For ceiling cable heat, change only 2 to 3 degrees at a time for the most efficiency.)
Electric baseboard heaters have an on-and-off switch, but you can leave them running at a regular temperature setting.
This means higher electric bills, especially in the coldest winter months when they're working overtime to keep your home warm. The placement of baseboard heaters — near windows and exterior walls — can also work against you.
Dangerous and uncomfortable
Electric baseboards get hot, which means you have to keep furniture and curtains at least six inches away from them to prevent fire. If you have young children in the house, they can also be a burn risk. The heat generated by baseboard heaters is a very dry heat.
Although turning your heat on and completely off frequently can raise energy bills, you can actually save a lot of money by turning your heat down when you are not at home and keeping it at a reasonable temperature when you are.
According to HomeGuide, it costs between $480 and $900 a month to warm your home with electric baseboard heat. But that will quickly increase if a faulty or poorly programmed thermostat causes your heater to turn off and on or run more often than it needs to.
Maintain Clearance: Keep furniture at least 6 inches away from baseboard heaters. This prevents the blockage of heat and reduces fire risk.
The easiest way to turn off the heat is to adjust the thermostat at least several degrees down. After a few minutes, the baseboard heater should automatically shut off. If the thermostat doesn't work or leaves the baseboard heater on, it's likely developed loose wiring contacts.
To use your baseboard heater, simply set the desired temperature on the thermostat, and the heater will activate until the thermostat senses that the target temperature has been reached. If the temperature decreases later on, the heater will turn on again to maintain the set temperature.
A distance of at least 8 inches / 20 centimeters must be maintained between the baseboard heater and furniture, curtains, bedding, or any object that would trap the heat. Since furniture cannot be placed up against the heater this can limit the space available.
The gist is that cold air from the window mixes with warm air rising out of the baseboard, that warm air moves around the room, cools and sinks back to the floor, where it is eventually re-heated by the baseboards. That's why traditionally it's recommended to install a baseboard under a window.
Here's a quick rundown of the best practices:
Fan heaters work best on an inside wall; baseboards are best under a window. (But you can install fan heaters on outside walls and baseboards on inside walls.) If you're installing a heater by a door, make sure the heater isn't blocked by the door when it is open.
Electric baseboard heaters are generally more energy-efficient for long-term use because they convert nearly all the electricity they use into heat and can be controlled to heat specific areas. Space heaters can consume more electricity, especially when used for prolonged periods.
Because baseboard heaters are outdated systems, you may need to hire heating repair services more often just to ensure they are in good working order. In contrast, more modern HVAC systems won't require as much maintenance, and they can efficiently heat your entire house through ducts and vents.
The general guideline for electric baseboard is 10 watts per square foot of space and 1.25 watts per cubic foot for fan forced heat in rooms with 8' ceilings, rounding up to the product with the next highest wattage rating. Square Ft. Example: 100 sq. ft x 10 watts per sq.
In general, summertime thermostat settings should be set between 73-78 degrees Fahrenheit, while winter temperature settings should range between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you're not able to figure out the voltage from the product label, you can check the breaker powering the heater. In general, a 240 volt breaker will look like the one on the left, while a 120 volt will look like the breaker on the right.
Take the second running side of molding and cut an inside-90 degree corner. This is accomplished by setting the miter angle of your saw to 45 in the direction of the running molding. If the baseboard is coming from the right, the miter angle should be moved to the right, or 3 o'clock.