Baseboard heating utilises convection to heat a certain area, often beneath windows to counteract the heat loss that occurs through the glass. They are generally a wide and a shallow device, placed horizontally along the baseboard, or any other effective and suitable position. One of the benefits of baseboard heating is that the units can be placed directly against a wall or cavity, as their low external temperatures will not affect the surrounding structure. They work by heating the air inside the unit, and then expelling the heated air, warming the outside area until a thermostat has reached a certain level.
The principle of convection works by drawing in cool air from the bottom of the machine, which is then heated internally, and as warmer air rises, reaches the top of the unit where it is expelled through the upper vent. This is a continuous process that carries on for a specific time, or until a specific temperature is reached.
Baseboard Heater Advantages
Baseboard heaters provide the advantage of providing a simple solution to heating problems, as electric versions can be placed in many places, and as such frees up the space that larger heating solutions would take up unless you install systems such as radiant floor heating. Although not heating a room as quickly, baseboard heaters can provide all the functionality required from an appliance, such as thermostat control, but without the hassle of rerouting existing forced air supplies and hot water plumbing.
Different Types of Baseboard Heaters
There are obviously a variety of designs and styles that these heaters can be provided in, but there are also different heating options. The most common heating type is electric, which use elements that dissipate heat when a voltage is applied to them. When the cold air passes over these coiled elements, it heats, rises, and exits through the top of the machine. The main alternative to the electric baseboard heater are the hydronic baseboard heaters. These are principally the same as their electric counterparts, although instead of using elements and electricity to heat the air, hydronic heaters use a heated liquid, generally water, to heat the air. This style of heater needs to be connected to the general water supply, and so is generally only installed in a new house.
To combine the advantages of hydronic baseboard heaters with the flexibility of their electric counterparts, you can also get electric hydronic heaters, which still use a heated liquid to heat the air, but they use electricity to internally heat the liquid, as opposed to having the heated water supplied from your household supply.
Using hydronic, or electric hydronic baseboard heaters have a number of advantages over electric ones, as they don't dry out the air, or expel the heated air at a rate that would spread dust or allergens. They are also quieter and generally efficient, and as they are a sealed unit, they don't need to be periodically topped up with liquid.
Baseboard Heater Covers
Although you may think that adding a heater to a room may detract from the overall style and decor, there is a large range of baseboard heating covers, which can be manufactured to co-ordinate with the decor of the room, while not obstructing the heat flow. They're not particulary expensive either, and we share a few of the different types of covers available in our page dedicated to baseboard heater covers.