Baseboard heaters

yummy mummy

I would like to put in a baseboard heater in my basement.

I was wondering how big I should get it. The space that I am trying to heat is approx. 400 sq. feet.

I am not familiar with baseboard heaters, and was wondering if there is a thermostat that would control the heating?

I have been told that it is hard wired, so I will be calling an electrician to hook it up.


Thanks very much.

Scuba_Dave

Min is usually 10w per sq ft, 12-15w is a better choice
This depends upon the room, heat loss, insulation, windows etc
12 x 400 = 4800w, 15 * 400 = 6000 watts

So how many you need will depend upon their rating
And of course you want more then one in a bigger space to spread the heat out & heat the room evenly

yummy mummy

Thanks Scuba.

There is heating in the basement, but it is not as warm as I would like it.

If I increase the thermostat upstairs, then the basement is warm but the upstairs is too hot.

Right now, it's approx. 67-68 degrees. I would like to bring it up to 70 - 72 degrees.

I thought I would put just one in just to make it a little warmer in the winter. In the summer it is great, nice and cool. In fact, I have to shut the vents as it gets too cool with the A/C.

Scuba_Dave

Ah, in that case you don't need that many
I used one 1500w portable baseboard heater to heat about 400 sq ft when my boiler quit recently
Portables cost cheap money, I bought one for $10 at the end of the winter

Hard wired they can either have the thermostat on the baseboard
Or - probably better - on a wall
All depends upon what you want & how easy it will be to run wires

Yoyizit

Rent a heater and set its thermostat to bring up the temperature to your desired level.
If it's 12,000 BTU/hr and the 'stat is on 80% of the time on a 'typical' day/night, you need 0.8(12000) = 9600 BTU/hr [=2800w].

Your gas bill and a heating/cooling degree day website will tell you what a 'typical day' is in your area.
If you want confidence that your installed heaters will virtually always be big enough, you need to know the Outside Design Temperature for your area. Mine is +14°F so fer' sure yours is lower.

Yummy Mummy? That's pretty good. . .

yummy mummy

Scuba, I did not know that baseboard heaters came portable?

Do they have a thermostat attached to them?


Yoy - I needed a name that would attract some answers when I started to reno my basement........

Scuba_Dave

Yes, I have one that is 4' long - 1500w & plugs into any 120v outlet
It has a dial, not really a Temp setting - but some may have that
I also have one that is an oil filled radiator -bought for $10(75% off 3 years ago)
And another one that is a small heater with a fan to blow the heat around
Its nice as backup heat if ever needed

I actually meant to buy one to replace the small one - as it is failing (no heat at times)
But I forgot, not sure now if stores have any left...they were only 30% off
I was waiting for 1/2 off or more

beenthere

You can use a 2000 watt baseboard heater. That will give you over 6800 BTUs of heat.

And be able to both warm the area, ans take out the dampness(reduce the RH level) on those days when its too warm for the central system to run more then once every few hours.

For what you want, a 1,000 watt heater would work. But a 2000 will work much better.

Yoyizit

1000/120 = 8.3A
but 2000/120 = 17A

We doin' 120v @ 20A or 240v?

1kw vs. 2kw may straddle "the rewiring decision."

The name "Yummy Mummy" will attract all kinds of things. . .

beenthere

I'm talking about mounted baseboard heaters. 240 volt.

yummy mummy

Thanks y'all for your great help.

Thanks Scuba for the pics, and taking the time to post them. I may go that way too. I wonder if the big box stores carry them. Wonder which company would be better?

beenthere: you are correct. When the weather outside is not cold enough for the furnace to go on in the day, it does get damp and cool.
So I am going to go with a baseboard heater. I have seen one that is 1500 watts that has to be hard wired, from HD.

Any opinion on which brand would be better?


Yoy; yes the name does attract a lot of things.... I have been asked a lot to be "friends".......

My profile does have a lot of views. I wonder why......I am 60 and toothless....... in case anyone wants to know.....

tpolk

better yet

__________________
The older I get the better I was

Scuba_Dave

Big box stores, walmart, & other stores will carry the portable heaters
Its the end of the season so you might want to check around ASAP
I bought my oil filled radiator at 75% off
I usually look for seasonal items at the end of the season on sale
I picked up 2 big fans at the end of last summer for 1/2 off

yummy mummy

Thank Scuba, you are always such a big help.

75% off.....I like that.

Hopefully, I can find a good deal.

Yoyizit

You. . .are. . .so. . .bad!