Your 4 Basement Heating Options This Winter

1/13/2022

Basements tend to be cold. Many homes are not built with ductwork in the basement and hot air rises. So, if there are no heating vents down there, the heater will have little to no effect on it. If you have remodeled your basement as extra living space without considering how to insulate and heat it, you are in for a cold winter.

You are also in for an expensive winter because your heater will have to work harder to keep the basement warm. The best thing to do is to incorporate heating solutions into your remodeling plans, but even if you have already finished remodeling, these solutions are still available to you.

4 Basement Heating Options

1. EXTEND EXISTING DUCTWORK

This is usually the best option. Your home most likely already has an internal heating system, including ductwork that runs through it. In fact, the ductwork is often visible and easily accessible in the basement. You should consult a professional prior to extending the ductwork.

Extending the existing ducts means that your current heating system will be heating a much larger area. You cannot simply have the heating system heat only the basement or only the upper floors. So, the heater will be heating the entire house, including the basement, all at once. Essentially, this means you are expanding the space that the heating system has to warm up by 30-50 percent, depending on the size of your home and the number of floors it has.

Your existing heating system may not be able to handle the increased load and, if that is the case, you will need to upgrade it. A professional HVAC technician can help you understand if you need an upgrade before you begin working on the ducts.

2. HARDWIRED BASEBOARD HEATERS

Baseboard heaters can provide spot heating for the room you want to be heated. These are long, narrow heaters that, as the name suggests, run along the baseboards of the room. Many people do not like baseboard heaters, as they are not particularly attractive. That said, for others who are remodeling a basement, they serve their purpose fine. Even a finished basement is not usually held to the same aesthetic standards as the living room upstairs.

According to HVAC Training 101, baseboard heaters are a great way to employ zonal heating in your house. Neatly tucked behind furniture and low down, baseboard heaters can provide a less visually interruptive form of heating with relatively high energy efficiency.

Baseboard heaters, however, are not easy to install. They are hardwired into the supply circuits, which means that they require a professional electrician. That said, they have the advantage of only supplying heat where you need it. Each baseboard heater can be tied to its own thermostat or shut on or off whenever you like. This way, you can heat your basement without simultaneously heating rooms you are not using.

As with extending the ductwork, you will need to calculate how much heating power you need. Baseboard heaters come in different sizes and different amounts of power. You will need at least one baseboard heater per room, since the heat from one heater will not travel from one room to another.

3. PLUG-IN BASEBOARD HEATERS

These are almost exactly like the hardwired heaters, except they are portable and use the wall plug rather than being hardwired into the circuit. While they are more powerful than most portable heaters, they take up a lot more space than a hardwired heater.

4. WOOD PELLET STOVE

These are a great choice for those who want to save electricity and use less gas. Wood pellet stoves use small manufactured pellets, not unlike those used in some models of barbecue smokers, to generate heat. They still need some electricity to keep the fire going and regulate the temperature, but they plug into a regular 110V outlet.

Because combustion generates carbon monoxide, you will need to vent the stove to the outside.

As an added bonus, the wood pellets are often made from recycled wood or sawdust leftover from other commercial operations, so no one is chopping down trees to supply these stoves with fuel.

Have a Question? We Can Help.

Before you make a decision on your basement heating solution, it is a good idea to consult with professionals. Our Home Comfort Heroes can help you determine which of these heating solutions will best suit your needs and can give you an idea of what it will cost to effectively heat your basement for the winter. Contact Service Legends Heating & Cooling today to speak with an expert about your basement heating needs.

515-657-6634Request Appointment Online

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