Baseboard Electric Heaters
- Can be Cheaper to Run

Baseboard electric heaters are cheap, clean, quiet and efficient heat sources that can cost less to run than gas or oil fired heaters.

They have become quite popular among homeowners who use them to replace their existing systems.

Replacing existing heating systems with baseboard electric heaters may seem a costly exercise but it can save you money - long term.

Baseboard electric heaters work best when placed under a window and at least 12" (30cm) from furniture or other objects.

They should also be kept at least 12" (30cm) minimum from over hanging objects (i.e., curtains & drapes) and should never be installed below electrical outlets.

The electric baseboard heaters come in two main types, one for wall mounting (as above), the other for floor mounting (seen opposite).

There are only a few exceptions to these mounting arrangements.

When placed under windows, baseboard electric heaters circulate air around the room through natural convection.

The low-sitting baseboard electric heaters release heat low to the floor that rises slowly and naturally to circulate warm air throughout the room.

Having lived in homes with oil and gas heating systems, baseboard electric heaters are far more convenient.

When using oil for heating we had to determine the best time of year to order and since oil prices have become so volatile it became impossible to get cost estimates for more than a week in advance.

As a result suppliers would not commit to long term pricing and we had no other choice but to accept whatever price they gave us.

Ordering heating oil in the summer used to be the most cost effective, but with oil prices subject to constant global terrorist threats, nothing was certain.

With oil fired heating someone also had to be at home to accept delivery and sometimes that meant taking time off work.

Often deliveries scheduled for a morning didn't turn up until the afternoon so half a day off work turned into a day off, which caused problems at work. 

With baseboard electric heaters, we don't have these problems any longer. Our bills are pretty consistent and we can budget more accurately in advance.

Household Tips & Do-It-Yourself Advice