How big of an electric baseboard heater do I need?
Generally, an electric baseboard heater should have 10 watts of power for every square foot of space you need to heat. So a 100-square-foot room would need a 1,000-watt heater to serve as the primary heat source.
How many watts is a 10 foot baseboard heater?
For instance, a room 10-by-10 feet has a floor area of 100 square feet. Multiply 100 by 10 to get 1,000 watts. That is the electric baseboard heater power needed to heat the room.
Do baseboard heaters use a lot of electricity?
In general, electric baseboard heaters use more electricity than an electric heat pump. This means higher electric bills, especially in the coldest winter months when they’re working overtime to keep your home warm. The placement of baseboard heaters — near windows and exterior walls — can also work against you.
How many square feet can an electric baseboard heater heat?
Instructions. As a rule of thumb, assume a room requires 10 watts of electric heating per square foot of room. In other words, a 10×10 room (100 square feet) will require 1,000 watts of electric baseboard heating. This heating can be provided by a single baseboard heater mounted on the wall.
How much does baseboard heating cost a month?
In most climates, an average 1,200 square-foot, well-insulated home using an electric baseboard requires about 12,000 watts of power. For a home like this, monthly electricity costs for running the baseboard alone will be approximately $400.
How do I calculate baseboard heat for a room?
How to Size Hot Water Baseboard Heaters
- Measure the height of the room, the width of the room and the length of the room.
- Multiply the cubic footage of a room by 25 BTUs to determine the rough estimate of BTU requirements for the room.
- Add 25 BTU per cubic foot if your home has moderate to fair insulation.
Is electric baseboard heat cheaper than gas?
Electric baseboard heaters are less costly to install but likely come with a higher energy bill than hydronic baseboards due to their inability to maintain consistent heat. In fact, electric resistance heat tends to cost more than other major heat sources, such as propane, oil, natural gas, or a heat pump.