Wall and baseboard heaters are very good choices to use in small spaces with little energy. Check this baseboard heater vs. wall heater article to find out which option will be best to fulfill the needs of your home.
If you have limited space and looking for a heating solution that is not only small but can also produce heat rapidly, wall heating is the ideal option for you. A baseboard heater is the best option if you are looking for a heating solution for a large space with a lot of walls and floor space. In this article, you will know about the wall heaters and baseboard heaters and how they work. In addition, you will also learn about the benefits that set each of these devices unique.
How do Baseboard Heaters And Wall Heaters Unique?
Wall heaters and baseboards use electricity and convection in order to generate heat. During convection, the energy is transferred from one point to another. The actual physical units are unique significantly. The details of differences between the two heating choices are discussed below.
Baseboard Heaters:
Traditional homes and older condominiums used to have baseboard heaters due to their simple installation process. Even though they are no longer common these days, it is replete with advantages and is ideal choice for heating tiny spaces or boosting the existing heating.
The metal baseboard units are 6-8 feet long and less than 1 feet (12 inches). It is convincing to install it in a well-ventilated area such as under a window. The reason behind it is that the heat is produced when cold air enters the baseboard from the vents. To drive the warm air, metal heating elements are used in the baseboard. The heating element of the device generates warm air that rises. By repeating this process again and again, convection currents will emerge. Baseboard heaters are of two different types which you should keep in mind. Electric baseboard heaters are the nearest thing to wall heating, to warm room with scalding water, hydronic baseboard heaters are available.
Wall Heaters:
Wall heaters are perfect for compact rooms and easy to install similar to baseboard heaters. Air runs through the space and enters the wall heating system, which works like a baseboard heating. A metal heating element is present inside the wall heater and it gets power from an outlet it is plugged into. With a fan inside, it can circulate the warm air away from the unit. These fixtures can be attached to the wall directly as the name itself indicates it. the size of the units can differ, but most of them are between 12 and 16 inches long and tall. These gadgets can be installed in any room easily. Baseboard heaters are without a fan, which is a good thing. The reason behind this is that the fans can generate air faster and deeper into a room, wall heating in the long run gives effective heating.
Baseboard vs. wall heater: What is the difference?
Both of them are good options but consider a few things first to enjoy the most out of your heater. We will discuss how heaters dissipate heat, how much noise they make, how much room is required for them, and how long they last.
Efficiency:
Fast-heating rooms are an ideal space for wall heaters. Baseboards depend on natural convection, while fans help the circulation on all over the place. Overall, wall heaters do not consume much energy as compared to electric heaters because of their quicker heating times, electric heaters are 100% efficient.
Degree of Noise:
Baseboard heaters remain almost silent because there is no moving of the parts involved, but all of heaters are quiet. When the fan is rotating, the wall heater can be noisy but do not create noise more than a typical refrigerator. For example, a wall heater generates a noise of about 50 dB at a distance of 1 meter from the heater, while typical household noise is usually around 40 decibels.
Do not Use Enough Space:
Wall heaters use less wall space as they are more portable, and you can be flexible when it comes to arranging your furniture.
Durability:
Generally, wall heaters can last 8-12 years. Usually, baseboards can endure over score (20 years). Baseboard heaters use convection heating rather than fast spinning or moving elements in wall heaters. This boost the lifespan of the baseboard heater and decrease the wear on it.
Final Words:
For many reasons, wall heaters and baseboard heaters are the best choices, and electric heating offers several advantages. So, it is your personal decision when choosing the ideal solution for your place. However, the characteristics and dimensions of your specific room will impact your preference.
The elements that can determine it are wall and floor area, the amount of heating solutions and heating effectiveness. It is necessary to think about how it operates like any other appliance you use in your home. Luckily, baseboard and wall heaters have certain undeniable pros that makes them a perfect option for heating small spaces and houses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do baseboard heaters still function today?
Do you want to replace the baseboard heaters in your home? Although this heating option used to be good one but now it is obsolete and cannot provide the contemporary efficiency that an HVAC system can provide. in our honest opinion, baseboard heating does offer certain advantages.
Can a wall heater be replaced with a baseboard heater?
Most handy people can do the job of changing the electric baseboard heaters with wall heaters without any problems. Go through the installation handbook that came with the unit before beginning the installation process because every brand and model works differently.
Can you place a sofa in front of a baseboard heater?
Yes, you can place a couch or chair in front of a vacant space of Baseboard heaters but it must be at least one foot away. Furniture placement that is too close can increase the risk of fire and also reduce the efficiency of the heater by restricting airflow to and from it.
What are Electric baseboard heating’s downsides?
The main downsides of electrical baseboard heating include high annual heating cost, making them ideal for more heating requirements. In the US, natural gas is always a less costly heating option.
Is the efficiency of baseboard heaters improving?
The modern baseboard heater will not be more efficient as the older one because all-electric baseboard heaters convert 100% of their power into heat.
Should you switch from a baseboard heater to a wall heater?
Baseboard heaters are reasonable, affordable, and excellent methods to reduce the room temperature in your house. Wall heaters will take a little higher cost in the beginning. You will take the benefits from faster and more effective heating along with more furniture placement opportunities.