Heater manufacturers typically do not specify a maximum installation height, but there is a reason why these are called baseboard heaters: Most standard heaters provide the best performance when they are placed close to the floor. This is because hot air rises and cold air drops.
Typically baseboard heaters are installed under windows and on perimeter walls of the home.
Myth #2: Bigger is Better.
The rule of thumb for sizing a baseboard, or any electric heater, was 10 watts per square foot. So if you have a 10 x 10 room you would need a 1,000 watt heater.
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.
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.
This is because the heat in the room is easily lost through the thin glass which creates a cold area close to the window surface. By placing a radiator directly underneath the window, hot air is produced and released, which then rises to hit the cold air from the window.
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.
Baseboard heaters supply heat to each room individually, so they are ideally suited to zone heating, which involves heating the occupied rooms in your home while allowing unoccupied area (such as empty guest rooms or seldom-used rooms) to remain cooler.
The single most effective way to to lower the cost of running baseboard heaters is to upgrade your thermostats. Programmable thermostats lower heaters at night or when you are away from home. This is a very effective way to reduce energy use as your heaters can be set to turn down when you leave the house.
Pieces of furniture and other objects increase the risk of fire when they're placed too close to a baseboard heater. You should place all objects, including fabrics, cushions, or wooden items, 6 to 12 inches away from the heaters. These can easily catch fire when exposed to sustained heat.
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.
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.
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.
Better yet, install your thermostat at least 1 stud away from the heater. Moving a thermostat out of the same wall cavity as a heater will help performance. Moving your thermostat into an adjacent stud cavity on the same wall is a better option.
The removal of the "cold wall" effect and the even distribution of heat along the bottom of the outer walls allows the surface of the walls to act as a radiating panel providing exceptional and unequalled comfort.
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.)
Electric baseboard heaters have an on-and-off switch, but you can leave them running at a regular temperature setting.
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.
What Are Their Cons? 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.
This shows natural gas is the cheapest type of heating to run and heating oil is the most expensive way to heat a home.
Most of the heat lost is due to radiation through the glazing, with air leakage coming in a close second, especially from windows with poor insulation. The remaining heat loss tends to be caused by heat convection through cavities and poor heat conduction through the frame of the window.
Putting a radiator under the window helps to avoid cold draughts at foot level which would cause discomfort and would also help to make the temperature more equal at all levels in the room, again avoiding discomfort. Situations do still exist where the heat can be needlessly wasted.
Answer: A heater makes a room warmer by convection currents . The cold air comes down to get heat from heater and warm air (convection currents) lifts up in the room . If heater is placed at a height , then cold air below this height will not be heated by heater therefore it is installed near he floor of room.