Dangerous and uncomfortable The heat generated by baseboard heaters is a very dry heat. People who use them often get dry skin, dry throats, dry eyes, and bloody noses. You can use a humidifier to add moisture to the air, but this requires more electricity and regular cleaning.
If you rely mostly on electric baseboard heaters to heat your home, they probably make up a big part of your annual electricity bill – sometimes as much as 44%. However, there are plenty of ways to maximize the efficiency of your baseboard heaters to cut down your winter heating costs.
Dust and Debris: Accumulation of dust, pet hair, and debris on or around baseboard heaters can increase the risk of fire. Regular cleaning is essential to minimize this risk. Electrical Issues: In electric baseboard heating systems, frayed wires or faulty connections can lead to overheating and potential fires.
Cons of Baseboard Heating: Heating Speed: Baseboard heaters can take longer to warm up a room compared to forced-air systems. Aesthetic: Some people find baseboard heaters unattractive, as they can take up wall space. Maintenance: If it's hot water baseboard heating, the boiler and pipes require maintenance.
Lack of Cooling Functionality
Heating-Only - Electric baseboard heaters offer no cooling capabilities, so homeowners in warmer climates or with hot summers will need to invest in a separate air conditioning system.
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.
Heat pumps, which use electricity to transfer heat from outside the home into it, rather than heating up like a toaster oven, are 3 times more efficient than electric furnaces and baseboard heating systems. That inefficiency means electric heating uses more electricity, which translates to higher utility bills.
Disadvantages Of Electric Heating
Although the advantages are great, here are some drawbacks homeowners experience with electric heaters: You'll experience higher overall operational costs. It takes longer for these systems to heat your home. They're less efficient at converting energy to heat.
Electric baseboard heaters have an on-and-off switch, but you can leave them running at a regular temperature setting.
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.
Is your baseboard heater continuing to blow hot air even when the room feels like a sauna? This is an easy-to-fix issue that often points to a malfunctioning thermostat. Test the thermostat by turning it to the lowest setting. If the heater persists, the thermostat might need calibration or replacement.
Hydronic baseboard heaters radiate heat heated water and are the most efficient form of heating and costs significantly less than electric. Electric heaters, generate and maintain their temperature through electricity.
NOTE: Baseboard heaters should sit at least 3/4-inch above the floor or carpet. This is to allow the cooler air on the floor to flow under and through the radiator fins so it can be heated.
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.
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.
May Not Be Suitable for Large Rooms
Baseboard heaters may not be the best option for living rooms, open floor spaces and other large areas. It's because the warm air they produce only slightly rises before dissipating into the room's atmosphere.
Maintain Clearance: Keep furniture at least 6 inches away from baseboard heaters. This prevents the blockage of heat and reduces fire risk.
Thermostat settings play a pivotal role in managing your heating system's efficiency. It's a common misconception that leaving your heating on at a constant temperature is more energy-efficient than turning it on and off. Does turning the heat on and off raise the bill each month? The answer is no.
Another reason is that Electric Baseboard heating units are typically placed on exterior walls, and under windows. Heating an exterior wall automatically demands more energy because the heater is always 'up against' the cold outdoors and heat is lost regardless of the insulation.
Portable electric heaters are high-wattage appliances that have the potential to ignite nearby combustible materials like curtains, beds, sofas, paper, clothing, and flammable liquids. If ignition results from a heater left on and unattended, a major fire could result. damaged.
Ductless HVAC systems, also known as mini-split systems, are a good alternative to baseboard heating that can provide efficient and flexible heating and cooling.
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.
While electric baseboard heaters are known for their resilience and require minimal maintenance, they aren't invincible and may eventually need replacement. Typically, a well-maintained baseboard heater lasts 15-20 years before decline.
Cost Per Month to Run a Baseboard Heater
If you're heating your home for ten hours a day, running a baseboard heater could cost between $500 to $1,000 per month, depending on the home's size and quality of insulation.