Radiant hot water baseboard heaters use a system that is similar to radiant heat. It uses hot water heated by a boiler to heat a space by a combination of radiation and convection. The hot water is heated by boiler and piped to “fin-tube” baseboard units mounted along walls. The fins increase the surface area of heat dissipation making the unit more efficient. The air is then distributed by convection as air rises and is heated by the baseboard unit. Radiant hot water baseboard heaters can be fueled by natural gas, propane, oil or electricity.
The Old-Fashioned Steam Radiators
Old-fashioned steam radiators have given way to longer, sleeker, lighter-weight and more efficient versions that run hot water through pipes housed in baseboard-like enclosures which hug the bottom of the wall. These are referred to as radiant hot water baseboard heaters. Hot water baseboard heat is similar to radiant floor heat but with lower initial installation costs; it doesn’t require tearing up the flooring in an existing home and can be used where there isn’t space for an under-floor installation. Electric hydronic baseboard heaters operate by heating a contained fluid and are another option worth looking at.
Radiant Hot Water Baseboard Heaters
What Is Baseboard Heating?
Baseboard heating really refers to two separate kinds of heating systems. Electric baseboard heaters are individual units that heat a house 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. Electric baseboard heater Installation is a tricky process and should be deferred to a trained professional.
Hydronic Baseboard Heaters
- Hot water baseboard heaters (also called hydronic baseboard heaters) use central heating, but channel hot water through pipes to individual baseboard heating units to heat rooms. These heaters are an efficient heat source. In fact, they tend to be more efficient than other central heating systems.
- Hydronic heating is ideally used with radiant flooring, where the heating pipes run under your floor. Flooring in many homes, however, make this installation impractical.
- Hot water baseboard heaters are an excellent alternative for hydronic heating without causing the initial installation to sky-rocket.
Cleaning Of Hot Water Baseboard Heaters
The cleaning of hot water baseboard heaters can be a bit tricky.You have to remove the covers to the baseboard heat units in every room so they can be vacuumed. Notice the dirt and grime trapped on the water pipe between the fins? They take a while to clean, but the radiant baseboard heaters are easy to maintain otherwise. Remember to always make sure that the electricity and the heating is off on any baseboard heater before attempting to clean it with anything.
The main advantages of using radiant hot water baseboard heaters over other options are as follows:
- They are energy efficient
- They operate quietly and discreetly
- They have close temperature control
Unfortunately, they also come with certain disadvantages. Baseboard radiation / convection units must remain unobstructed and can provide challenges in furniture placement and drape design, they have a very slow temperature increase and air conditioning requires a separate ductwork distribution and cooling system.
Consider Using Radiant Hot Water Baseboard Heaters
Many people need heating solutions around their home or office and they often look at options that are more difficult than something as simple as a baseboard radiant heating panel. There are many instances a baseboard radiant heating panel might be right for you. These include in a garage, basement, and even in your office under the desk.
Your Feet And Legs
One of the biggest complaints people have in their office is that their feet are cold while they are working. Cool air tends to get trapped beneath a desk where you place your feet. This means beneath the desk might be the coldest area in the office. Some people find it difficult to work when their feet are cold. A baseboard radiant heating panel is the best solution to place underneath the desk. Radiant panel baseboard heating solutions allow you to maintain warm legs and feet while you work. In addition, a radiant baseboard heater can work to provide heat to the entire office, provided you keep the door shut. Some people worry about kicking off the replacement cover under their desk but they are easy to replace.
In The Garage
Men like to work in the garage and tinker on various projects at night and on the weekends. During the winter and fall months, it may seem too cold in the garage to work. You might be looking at a heating solution that will cost thousands to integrate into your current home heating system. There is no reason to use the same heat source as you use inside of the home. A baseboard radiant heating panel will provide more than enough heat to keep you warm while working in the garage. You only have to use radiant panel baseboard heating while you are in the garage. A heating panel can warm the area quickly and it doesn’t have to be used when you are not in the garage. This will ensure you are spending less money monthly on a heating solution in an area you don’t spend too much time in by only heating the garage when it is in use. A replacement cover for the heater is less expensive also.
Heating In Your Rooms
Some rooms in the home just aren’t in a good area where the heating vents send warm air. It may seem impossible to get the rooms warm, no matter how high you turn on the heater. If you have a child in the coldest room in your home, chances are good he or she is always turning the heater up. The best way to resolve a problem like this is to install a baseboard radiant heating panel. This way, the coldest room in the house can have sufficient warmth and you won’t have an outrageous electric bill.
Any area in a home, garage, or office that seems as if the heaters aren’t working properly can be remedied by using a baseboard radiant heating panel. This is an excellent solution allowing you to avoid a project that might entail adding to the current heating system. Plus, a radiant baseboard heater will save you a lot of money because it will only be used as needed.
Tips When Buying Baseboard Hot Water Heating Systems Online![Radiant hot water baseboard heaters]( "Radiant hot water baseboard heaters")
If you are looking to buy baseboard hot water heating systems on the web, there are a few things you want to consider before you pull out your credit card. The web is an excellent place to shop. However, baseboard hot water heating systems can be found all over the place and you want to be sure you buy from the best company.
Trustworthy Websites
Always be sure to compare shops when you are looking at baseboard heating systems online. You can find hot water baseboard heat solutions on many sites but you want to compare the company site and the products. Be sure you are purchasing from a site that appears to be established and has longevity on the web. The site rank should be as low as possible also. There should be a lot of traffic to the site. Baseboard hot water heating systems are expensive and if you don’t research the business first, you could regret it later. Shopping online is the smart way to shop but you have to be smart when you shop. Don’t trust every business is the best deal.
Free Shipping
Many companies offer free shipping when you purchase things like hot water baseboard heating solutions because of the high price of the item. Free shipping is very nice. Also, look for businesses offering no tax on the baseboard heating systems too. Many sites will not charge you tax because the state they are established in doesn’t require sales tax. This can save you a lot of money.
The Guarantee
The biggest factor when you are looking to buy a solution for hot water baseboard heat is the guarantee. You must get a guarantee with this product. You might even consider calling the manufacturer of the item to determine the guarantee and the warranty. There should be a warranty offered through the business you are buying it from so you can return it if it is defective. You should also get a warranty through the manufacturer for parts and replacement. If a warranty and a guarantee are not offered then you might be looking at a used product or about to purchase something other than the item in the picture.
Popular Websites
Baseboard hot water heating systems are expensive to buy over the web. It is easy to shop on the web because you can research the items and products without leaving the comfort of your home. When shopping online, be sure you do as much research as possible. You might want to consider sticking to the top shopping sites that are the most popular. Those popular sites earned their reputation and popularity because of the way they treat their customers and their quality product. You can also read reviews from other customers if you are having difficulty choosing which hot water baseboard heating option to choose from.
- Shopping online is an excellent way to find baseboard hot water heating systems.
- This is an expensive product to buy for your home and you should be sure to research the shopping site before you are ready to purchase.
- Be sure the site has an excellent site rank with a lot of traffic and they are credible.
- Make sure the product you are looking to purchase is guaranteed from the business you are purchasing from and by the manufacturer through a warranty.
![Radiant hot water baseboard heaters]( "Radiant hot water baseboard heaters")
You Do Not Have To Sacrifice Carpet For Radiant Floor Heat
Several studies have been conducted regarding installing carpet over electric radiant floor heat. Originally it was thought that if you wanted radiant floor heat; you had to sacrifice having carpeted floors. This however is not the case. When choosing carpet for radiant floor heat; there are certain factors that must be kept in mind.
Factors Affecting the Heat Conduction of Radiant Floor Heat under Carpet
- The insulation capabilities of a material are measured by the R-factor. The higher a substance’s R-factor; the more insulation it provides. When installing carpet over radiant floor heat you must consider its R-factor. The more dense the carpet is, the more insulation it provides (and subsequently the higher the carpet’s R-factor). Density may also be measured by the weight of the carpet. This holds true for the carpet padding as well. The thicker the padding the more insulation capabilities it has.
- While a high R-factor is good for your walls, it is not if you are picking carpet for radiant floor heat. You will want to choose the thinnest carpet feasible. It is recommended that carpet over radiant floor heat have an R-factor less than 4. The R-factor of carpet can be approximated by multiplying 2.6 times the thickness of the carpet. For example, a carpet (with pad) that is 1.5 inches thick would have an R-factor of 3.9 (1.5 times 2.6 equals 3.9). One and a half inches is roughly about as thick a carpet (with pad) as you would want for radiant floor heat.
- The padding you select should be thick enough to keep your carpet from wearing out prematurely. You can achieve this by using padding that is made from slab foam rubber. This type of foam rubber is slightly more costly than re-bond foam rubber, but allows heat to be transferred more efficiently. Re-bond foam rubber is made by taking scrap foam rubber left from manufacturing processes, grinding it up and bonding it back together to make carpet padding. You can tell re-bond foam carpet padding by the way it looks. It will have different colors and pieces of foam rubber mixed throughout the padding (resembling a mosaic pattern). Slab foam rubber padding will be a uniform color throughout.
When purchasing carpet for radiant floor heat always consider the manufacturer’s recommendations. Some manufacturers do not suggest you expose their carpet (or padding) to radiant floor heat. Check the recommendations to be sure.
The biggest favor you can do for yourself when putting radiant floor heat in a home is to tell the heating system designer what your intentions for floor coverings are. This will allow the designer to compensate within the heating system for carpeting. A heating designer can add additional radiant heat loops to your system under the areas that will have carpeting; thus giving more heat to the rooms that are carpeted. When you are shopping for carpet, let the sales person know you will be installing radiant floor heat under the carpet. While not all sales people are knowledgeable about this type of heating system; they should be able to offer you carpets that are manufactured to meet the requirements for your installation.