Is base board heat more costly??

Question

My hubby and I are house hunting and he is tossing out any homes with electric base board heat since he feels that is going to be 2-3 times what our current ac/heatpump system costs us. Is that true? Is baseboard more costly? And will we spend a huge amount more over the summer to run window unit AC's vs the AC/Heat pump? We are skipping over some great homes because of his veiw on this issue-ugh?

Ahh-now here is the rub. We are in Va-the summers lately have been hot and the winters have seen some very cold snaps and ice storms. The best of both worlds I guess. The place I like is near a major river (but not in a flood plane) so it will be a bit cooler in the summer. But if I am getting your point-the ele. base board will likely be going about the same as the elec heat pump since we do have a good bit of time below 40 degrees? To me, the heat pump seems to keep the house chilly anyway-not my fave.

In our area in Va (south to me) most places built prior to 1990 have baseboard heat and no central air. Those that have central heat and air have the ducts in the flooring. And getting central heat and air adds about $10,000 to the price of the home off the bat. We could get a cookie cutter house with all the frills or one with some charm and forgo the ac/heat pump.

Answer 1

Resistance heating usually will be more expensive than a heat pump especially in milder weather.

If you're in the north country it probably won't make a lot of difference since once the temp drops below about 40 degrees or so the resistance elements in the heat pump will kick in anyway.

In southern climes, a heat pump makes much more sense than resistance heating.

Answer 2

Electric baseboard heat is usually placed in a room as an addition. This is because electric heating is actually pretty expensive.
If you're using an AC/heat pump, you already realize this. Try turning up the thermostat in January. This usually kicks-in an electric heating element to aid the heat pump.
To most people, heat pumps don't really put out warm air......you should feel this from your registers. Forced-air gas-fired furnaces are getting more efficient every year. I believe they're the best way to heat a home.
Your best bet, though, is a more efficient insulation. If the home isn't well insulated, any heating system will cost more $.
If you're looking at a home, ask about Typar wraps. They offer another moisture and air barrier on top of insulation.
Ask about the R-Values of the insulation in the walls and in the attic.
Electric heating might be fine if you live in the south and have good insulation.
If you live in ND, it'll be cold outside.....You'll want the best and most efficient heating system you can get.

Answer 3

Not sure how to answer that one, since I've not had baseboard heat in the houses I've lived in (it's fairly uncommon in the south; just guessing you're up north).

However, hot air RISES.

So, using that logic, if you have heat coming from the bottom, it's going to rise and (it would seem) heat the room a little more efficiently since the air would rise from the floor with no additional effort needed.

Using traditional heating (from the ceiling) would seem that it has more work to do since the heat will collect up top first and then gradually make its way down. That would seem to be more inefficient to me, but I'm just speculating.

Answer 4

Depends on relative energy prices in your area.

In some areas electricity is certainly more expensive than gas so he might be right. In some areas it's the other way around.

Not certain why this is an absolute for him. I've never found a house that was absolutely perfect in every respect. He may find something else about the house (including the price) that make electric baseboard heat worthwhile.

Answer 5

Oh boy!!!! -YES !!!! "Base-board" heaters ARE WAY MORE EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!
SO much MORE expensive in fact that one winter(In northern Ontario, Canada) we had to 'close off' our entire apartment, save for our kitchen & living room, which were combined(open concept), which essentially left us with one room to 'heat'. Our 'electric' bills were STILL ABOVE $200 a MONTH!!!! RIDICULOUSLY HIGH!!!! (This was 5 years ago -probably more now...)-And the 'air-conditioners' that you put in the windows run pretty equal to the B.B.heaters.
Although the "central air adds $10,000" to the initial cost of buying a house, if you do the "math", it IS worth it in the long run! (For example, if we had, had to pay $200/month for (ONLY)5years, there's $12,000 right there!...) I can only assume you've got better things to spend you're money on...:)
Happy house hunting!

P.S. -When you're looking at houses, ASK what the "bills" are like....ask neighbours with similar homes, THEY may be more 'forthcoming' (let me just say it "honest"!) about the cost. You could even look into the 'price' of "converting" a homes' heating system.(?)

Answer 6

is this a 1500watt micro furnace you're speaking approximately. Your micro furnace is a ceramic heater and could have been extra useful than an previous base board electric powered warmth. Base board electric powered heating is the main inexpensive to place in and the main high priced to run. interior the U. S. the value of any electric powered warmth is bigger than any gas or gas warmth. you are going to be fairly thrilled with your propane invoice.