The Pluses And Minuses Of Hot Water Baseboard Heating

If you are considering installation of baseboard heating in your house, it is important to know that it comes in two types, electric and hot water. The two types look the same superficially, but the electric baseboard heating warms up the air through heat generated by electrical resistance; and the hot water baseboard provides heat which comes from water that was warmed in a central boiler.

While hot water baseboard heating is the older type, and in use less frequently, many people still prefer it, and it is worthwhile knowing the advantages and disadvantages of hot water baseboard heating.

The major pitfall of water based, as opposed to forced air heaters, is the inability to install central air conditioning. Along with that, there is no way to install an air filtering system. And, there is no way to install a whole house humidifier.

Baseboard units take up more space compared to radiant heating, (which comes through the floor), and forced air heating, (which comes through the wall or ceiling). And another disadvantage, which applies to all types of baseboard units, is there may be uneven room heating depending on the furniture placement. Also, because the units sit close to the floor, there is a greater danger of pets and children being burned by the heat.

The biggest operational problem with the hot water baseboard heaters is their “thermal inertia,” They take a long time to begin producing heat, after they are turned on. This problem can be overcome if the unit has a timed thermostat. Just set the unit to go on an hour before you come home from work, and set it to go off an hour before you are leaving the house.

Finally, the expense of installing and maintaining the hot water heaters is a negative as they cost a lot to put in and, and as they get older, are expensive to maintain.

There are several distinct advantages to the hot water powered baseboard units. First, they run quietly. And for people who are sensitive to dust, they are clean, and don’t blow out forced air, which might contain allergens. So hot water baseboard heat is preferred, as a form of heating, for some people who suffer severe allergies to dust.

While the units are more expensive to maintain, this is at least partially compensated for by the fact that their energy costs are much lower than electric baseboard heaters, and are lower compared to forced air heaters as well.

Another advantage of the hot water versus the hot air heating is that the heat is continual and pleasant as opposed to the hot air heating, which comes on with a blast and then shuts down.

Thanks to A-1 Plumbing of Baltimore, a installation and maintenance of hot water baseboard heating for sponsoring this report. A-1 provides installation and maintenance of hot water baseboard heating.

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