In colder climates, heating your home or apartment efficiently and economically can be difficult. While using a space heater is an option there are other alternatives, including electronic baseboard heaters. These products are an exceptional solution when it comes to dealing with colder areas in the home, and heating individual rooms cost effectively. And there are options such as hydronic baseboard heaters that lead to even larger energy savings than electric models. In addition to all this, they come with a variety of features including wired and portable products, thermostats and heater covers. And compared to units of the past they are safe for home use, and come with a variety of safety features. While all of these options make it a great heating solution for homeowners, apartment dwellers can also take advantage of the features and benefits of electric baseboard heaters. And can be an excellent solution for cold and drafty apartments, since upgrading windows, insulation and other home features isn’t and option.
Reasons to Choose an Electric Baseboard Heater
Similar to space heaters, this type of unit is ideal for heating smaller spaces compared to larger rooms or the whole house. Compared to the past designs of heating units, especially portable ones, these products are significantly safer to use and more efficient. Units manufactured today are required to meet specific safety standards set up by the Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) and the National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association (NEMA). Because of these standards, electric baseboard heaters are now installed with safety devices including an automatic shut-off which is triggered when the unit is accidentally tipped over, thermostats, and thermal cutout protection to prevent the unit from overheating and accidentally starting a fire. Also, both portable and permanent baseboard heaters are ideal for dealing with problem areas in the home. One of the best places to install these units is under the window where cool and cold air pockets are created.
How an Electric Baseboard Heater Warms Your Home
This type of electric heater uses the method of convection to heat a room. This means there is no fan creating annoying background noise. Regardless of the season, air circulates on the basic property that warm air rises and cold air sinks to the floor. This principal is extremely noticeable in apartments (especially in the winter) when you live on the second or third floor. Baseboard heaters take advantage of this principal by pulling the cold air on the floor, warming it, then releases it into the room where it raises back to the ceiling. The newly heated air rises, then cools and the cycle repeats – illustrating the convection process. Once the room reaches the temperature set by the thermostat, the heater shuts off until the area drops below the desired temperature.
Space Heater or Electric Baseboard Heater?
You may be wondering why you should choose one heating product over another. After all both of the above mention products can effectively and efficiently heat a room. While traditional space heaters are less expensive in most cases, you will get what you paid for. These models are less efficient for warming rooms, but can deal with small problem areas such as under the desk at work or near the table or sofa inside the home. Electric baseboard heaters can take care of larger drafty areas such as under windows, and can help apartment tenants upgrade the heating in the apartment so you don’t have an enormous heating or natural gas bill at the end of each month.
Hydronic Electric Baseboard Heaters as an Alternative
There are two basic options when it comes to baseboard heaters – electric and hydronic. Compared to the former option, the initial cost at the time of purchase is more expensive. While you can find most electric versions starting at around $100 or below, hydronic electric baseboard heaters will cost at least $100 or more, with some versions costing several hundred dollars. Despite the higher cost of purchase, this type of heater may save you money in the long run. Why? Hydronic heaters use heating coils that are contained in water, creating steam to heat the air, which is a more effective and efficient way to heat cool air. As a result, the heated air stays warm longer – with is a bonus for both you and your utility bill. Also, they have a unique feature compared to other types of electric baseboard heaters. Wired units can be operated independently, so you can heat only the room you are occupying instead of the whole apartment or house.
An Efficient and Energy Saving Solution
So regardless if you are living in a drafty apartment with poor insulation, or a homeowner that is dealing with a few problem areas – and electric baseboard heater may be the ideal solution for you! Compared to other heating options, this product can target drafty areas, and individual rooms instead of warming your entire home – which can waste heat and energy, especially if you are only using one area. With all the options available, you can find the right baseboard heater for you, your home and your budget.
Portable Electric Baseboard Heaters – An Ideal Apartment Solution
If you are a tenant in an apartment, heating can be a real hassle – especially in poorly insulated units. While there is nothing you can do to improve the level of insulation except hang curtains, use draft stoppers and hang insulated curtains you can also turn to portable heaters as a solution. The advantage of portable electric baseboard heaters is their ability to work independently and not use internal wiring. This means they will not only work in your current apartment, but you can bring them with you when you move. Also, they have built in thermostats installed in each unit, allowing you to easily regulate the temperature in every room. Also, they are ideal for handling problem areas such as underneath your drafty windows. Combined with the other solutions mentioned above, you can easily save on your monthly utilities – instead of being faced with a large utility bill at the end of every month.
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