Efficient baseboard heaters are not the only types of electric heaters available although if they suit your requirements they are said to be one of the most efficient electrical heating sources. In fact, there are several alternative heater options that might be more suitable for you and your home.
When reading through reviews of the best electric baseboard heaters for your home, you should also dive in a little deeper and learn more about electric baseboard heaters and their advantages and disadvantages.
What Types of Electric Heaters Are Best for Your Home?
So which form of electric home heaters for your heating is best for you?
There are some things you need to think about when looking for. Always consider the alternatives when making a purchase that is an investment that should last you for years.
To help you out, here is an overview of electric heating options available on the market today. This will help you decide which heater types are the best for your home.
1. Wall/Fan Heaters
The mechanics behind a wall heater is quite similar to a baseboard heater. The only difference is that wall/fan heaters have a fan that blows hot air through the room, hence their name.
If you are looking for a discreet source of heat then this is a good option. This type of heater is generally small in size and can be mounted high up on a wall.
Since this unit actively spreads warmth through the air the space it is in heats up much faster. This type is often recommended for rooms that are used less often so that you waste less time and electricity for the room to get to a comfortable temperature.
2. Floor Heating
This form refers to electric cables, electric mats or heated water tubes installed between the floorboard and floor covering. These electric heating systems heat up the surfaces around it, not the air.
Since an actual surface is warmed up, the heat stays in the room for longer, even after the floor heating has been turned off. Floor heating works best when the house is already insulated in which case it can help lower energy bills even further.
The disadvantage is that it takes quite a long time for the room to warm up since it depends on conduction instead of convection. The floor material also influences how fast the heat travels and stays contained, with concrete floors being the most suitable. But you may need a secondary source for a faster heat if the room has become too cold to bear.
3. Radiant Panels
If you are thinking of using this type of heaters then you must consider the following.
Radiant panels are a good additional source of heat but they are not efficient enough to be the primary source. Like floor heating, these units warm up a surface instead of the air, similar to the sun’s radiation.
These panels are good for directed heating but won’t bring the entire room to a comfortable temperature. On the other hand, it heats up fast so they are useful for maintaining the room temperature longer or maybe temporary heating.
Another advantage is that one of the safer options when installing properly. It is suggested to place them high up on the wall, out of reach from children.
4. Portable Space Heaters
These you can plug into a wall-outlet and move around whenever you like. Being portable, they are a great heat source as an electric house heater, for in the garage, in the caravan or as an additional heat source in that room is only used occasionally.
It depends on the model how efficient and powerful they are so doing some quick calculations on the size of the room and how much power you need. Most of the smaller versions don’t cover a large area, despite heating up the air.
These portable heating appliances are a good backup but they are not the best choice for daily use. Also, there is a risk of them falling over since they are not secured to anything which poses a potential fire hazard.
5. Baseboard Heaters
These are very popular heating units because they are energy-efficient, are easy to install and can be quite discreet depending on the model. Baseboard heaters use convection to heat the surrounding air, either by creating steam in the case of a hydroponic baseboard heater or through heating elements in a conventional model.
This type is great for warming up an entire room but its placement is very important in maintaining a steady temperature. When choosing this type of heating, make sure to always keep all the doors and windows closed to prevent hot air from escaping.
One disadvantage is that they require more time to get to the desired temperature, meaning higher running costs than the faster heating alternatives. Also, make sure you get the right size for the room so that it is able to warm up a larger area.
6. Heat Pumps/Mini-Split
This is the most efficient choice because it makes use of the ducts in the building, ducts that would otherwise be a source of heat loss. It is simple to install, customizable and can even be used for cooling.
Installation requires a professional which is where the biggest price tag is attached to. However, running costs are much lower especially considering it makes the entire house more energy-efficient.
Heat pumps are the best option for whole house heating.
