Baseboard ELECTRIC heat

[MED]

I will be purchasing a new to me home in about 6 months. In my mind, I have the mentality that baseboard electric heat is junk. Costs an arm and a leg, not efficient at all, and just avoid the house if it has it. My other mindset that baseboard water/boiler is a little bit better as far as costs go, but still not very efficient. Gas forced air is the way to go.

Should I avoid baseboard heat, or consider it? Thanks.

I won't live in a house with forced air or carpet because they aggravate my asthma and allergies so much. The self contained hydronic baseboards are nice but expensive to upgrade. The old heating element convection heaters are very costly to run, and I wouldn't want them as my primary source of heat. I have baseboards but never use them since I have two wood stoves. I'm slowly upgrading to the self contained hydronic for resale value when I retire.

Edit, I also purchased eight upright radiant heaters that I use when I am gone for extended periods of time, and they work well.

[ray1970]

Just more food for thought. If electric heat is your only heat source you better hope the power doesn't go out for an extended period of time.

[MED]

Just more food for thought. If electric heat is your only heat source you better hope the power doesn't go out for an extended period of time.

It's not an issue with a good plan. I don't think a single source of heat is a good idea with gas or electric. I don't need either to heat my house, and the power could go out for months and I wouldn't care. I also need electricity for water because of the well pump. I cover that with a generator and backup supply. I'm certainly not an advocate of electric baseboard, but there are ways to work through it. The only thing I cared about when I purchased my house is that it had wood stoves; I wouldn't buy a house that didn't have either fireplace(s) or stove(s).

[Wulf202]

Just more food for thought. If electric heat is your only heat source you better hope the power doesn't go out for an extended period of time.

Electric loss will take out almost all types of heat other than some fireplaces but if you're using a generator as a backup it's a small power draw for a gas furnace or rediculous for an electric system

[ray1970]

Electric loss will take out almost all types of heat other than some fireplaces but if you're using a generator as a backup it's a small power draw for a gas furnace or rediculous for an electric system

I get that point. I went for about four days without power after a big ice storm in southeast Texas once. The gas stove and gas water heater let me cook and bathe. I had an old Dearborn heater that kept the house warm until the power came back on. My in laws home was all electric. After the second day without electricity they came and stayed with us.

[fly boy]

Thank you all for the help. Sounds like I should go with my original thought and try to avoid baseboard electric heat.

[jmg8550]

I have baseboard water heat. Occasionally it can't keep up with the cold, but it never gets too cold to be dangerous. My house was built in 1955, and the boiler is probably original. I like the boiler heat, and if the house here in Cheyenne is insulated well enough, you won't need A/C.

[fly boy]

Thanks Jeff,

I would still consider baseboard WATER, but not Baseboard Electric. Your boiler was fine when it was -50's a few weeks ago?

[jmg8550]

My house isn't insulated very well, so it struggled to keep up. I have some electric radiator type space heaters that I use to help out when it gets that cold. My gas/electric bill has never been over $200 in a month. My last bill was $173, so it wasn't too bad. I also have a gas clothes dryer, and gas water heater.

The baseboard heat is blocked in some areas by furniture, shelves, and cabinets. It still does pretty good for an old system.