Cold winter days tell us that it’s the right time to get some warmth in our home. We want to take care not only for ourselves, we want a warm, cozy atmosphere for our children, grandparents and all others who spend a lot of time at home. And baseboard heaters are one solution that will heat up your home and make all your rooms comfortable. There are many heating devices available, and baseboard heater is among popular solutions.
I will explain how these units work actually. The basic principle is: the baseboard is heated with the help of electricity. Than these electric heaters are passing hot air outside in the room, cold air comes to them again and the circulation repeats. Since hot air always goes upwards, cold air will come down again to be heated. Convection heaters work on this principle and this is used for wide range of heating. But the best places for them is to be installed somewhere where the circulation of the air is natural. The better air flow near them, your room will be warmer soon.
One of the advantages of these units is that they do not make any sound while they are working. Since they are noiseless, people usually place them in bedrooms.
I want to talk about 4 different types you can have in your home. Baseboard heaters can appear as:
1. Portable electric baseboard heaters are sleek and maneuverable so you can place them anywhere you want at any time you want. Most of them can fit alongside the wall with ease and will not make any trouble at all. They do provide effective heating, and that is what we want them to do in the first place.
2. Resident convection heaters can be found in sizes from 24″ to 84″ wide.
3. Hydronic convection baseboard heaters have immersion element that is in an anti freeze solution. This makes them more effective but also pricier. If you have a budget, go for them.
4. Commercial convection baseboard heaters are heavy duty devices that come in bigger sizes and are able to heat really large areas. If you have big rooms or your home is requiring a lot of power to be heated, these may be th right solution for you.
You can check your local stores to find these with aluminum elements or with stainless steel heating elements. Aluminum will be heated faster but it also will cool faster, while stainless steel has opposite quality. Of course, both will provide you with effective heating. Almost all the energy will be converted into heat, which is very important.
When it comes ti installation, I have some tips and tricks you should know. First thing is, you should not have any curtains or furniture near these heating devices. And the air flow should not be blocked at all. What I want to say is that there should be no obstacle or element near your heater.
The coil is there to provide heat, but you should take care of it. Clean it regularly because the dust may reduce heat production and this will definitely reduce the life of the baseboard unit in question.
Of course, blankets, curtains and everything that is combustible should be kept away from the heater.
Another thing I want to say at the end is that you should not seek for cheap units, because they will not have the same abilities and qualities. They can be noisy and less reliable. You should find a UL approved baseboard heater in a local store you visit. And of course, looking at the warranty will only help you get a more durable heating unit.