The Different Types of Baseboard Heaters and Why Are They Used

You can identify a baseboard heater by its shape and size. It’s longer than other conventional heaters and is usually installed on or close to your baseboards. These heaters are used to supply additional heat in your home or in spaces like garage. Baseboard heaters in Toronto are not installed to beautify rooms. Instead, they’re used as energy saving heaters that are capable of cutting your energy bills.

There is a variety of baseboard heater models for you to choose from and here we discuss some of the most popular ones. You may consider buying one of these as per your needs. They are one of the safest heating options available since they can’t tip over. Baseboards are safe for kids and pets, but keep them away from the unit and especially the interior fins which can be warm to the touch! It is important to know that all floor and baseboard heaters must be used with a thermostat to control the overall temperature and usage.

Baseboard heating really refers to two separate kinds of heating systems:

1. Electric baseboard heaters – are individual units that heat a house and room by room. They require no central heating and no expensive duct work. They are less efficient than most central heating systems, but use principles of radiation and air flow to work better than most other space heating units.
2. Hot water baseboard heaters – these heaters use central heating, but channel hot water through pipes to individual baseboard heating units to heat the rooms. These are an efficient heating source. In fact, they tend to be more efficient that other central heating systems. Hydronic heating is ideally used with radiant heat systems where the heating pipes run under your floor. Hot water baseboard heaters are an excellent alternative for hydronic heating without causing the initial installation to skyrocket.

Electric Baseboard Heaters

These baseboard heaters heat a house room by room and they do not require central heating or any expensive duct work. They use electric to provide their own kind of baseboard heating. Cables inside the heating unit warm the air, pushing it out of the unit. Colder air enters through the bottom of the unit to the desired temperature, the unit will shut off until it is needed again. This allows homeowners to heat rooms individually, recovering some of the lost efficiency. This needs to be done by adjusting the thermostat to a lower temperature in unused rooms. Turning the unit off, may cause pipes to freeze and crack during the cold season. Baseboard heaters are less efficient than the central heating systems, but since they work on the principles of air flow and radiation, they tend to work better than most of the other space heating units.

Hot Water Baseboard Heaters

These are also called hydronic baseboard heaters and they have to be connected to the central heating system. However, no water needs to be channeled all the way through the pipes to these individual baseboard heating units in order to heat the rooms. Hydronic baseboard heaters are considered an efficient heat source. In fact, these are considered to be more efficient than central heating systems. Hot Water baseboard heaters are an excellent alternative for hydronic heating without causing the initial installation to skyrocket.

Now let’s take a look at the two most popular models of these baseboard heaters:

1. 1. Ceramic Baseboard Heaters:

To make sure that this model of baseboard heaters is as durable as it can possibly be, it is made from ceramic. In fact, ceramic is an extremely popular choice in the manufacturing of high-quality baseboard heaters. This is because such heaters do not wear out easily with time, and they also ensure unified heat dispersion. Also, you won’t have to worry about the leaks or any risk of explosion in ceramic made baseboard heaters.

2. Direct Vent Baseboard Heater:

Direct vent baseboard heaters usually use gas fired baseboard technology. While using such heaters, it is recommended that the temperature of the room must be reset to 15 degrees Celsius before turning the heater on after an extended period of not being used. This gas fired baseboard technology utilizes the gas lines running around the building. Each heater also has a small fluid pipe that penetrates the wall. This technology is more preferred where hydronic baseboard heaters are considered very expensive.

Why Use Baseboard Heaters in Toronto

There are so many different types of heaters that benefit a homeowner, but the baseboard heaters are preferred because they save energy and cut your energy bills. Also, they are more efficient than those old radiator based heating system. They are easy to install, and they are now available in portable models as well. However, just remember to follow all the safety guidelines in order to make sure that the heater stays in its prime throughout the years to come.