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Electric Resistance Heat
Electric resistance heating converts nearly 100% of the energy in the electricity to heat. However, most electricity is produced from oil, gas, or coal generators that convert only about 30% of the fuel's energy into electricity. Because of electricity's generation and transmission losses, electric heat is often more expensive than heat produced in the home with combustion appliances, such as natural gas, propane, and oil furnaces.
Electric resistance heat can be supplied by centralized forced-air furnaces or by zonal heaters in each room, both of which can be composed of a variety of heater types. Zonal heaters distribute electric resistance heat more efficiently than electric furnaces because you set room temperatures according to occupancy. In addition, zonal heaters have no ducts that can lose heat before it reaches the room. However, electric furnaces can accommodate central cooling easier than zonal electric heating, because the air conditioner can share the furnace's ducts.
Electric resistance heat can be provided by electric baseboard heaters, electric wall heaters, electric radiant heat, electric space heaters, electric furnaces, or electric thermal storage systems.
Electric Baseboard Heaters
Electric baseboard heaters are zonal heaters controlled by thermostats located within each room. Baseboard heaters contain electric heating elements encased in metal pipes. The pipes, surrounded by aluminum fins to aid heat transfer, run the length of the baseboard heater's housing, or cabinet. As air within the heater is warmed, it rises into the room, and cooler air is drawn into the bottom of the heater. Some heat is also radiated from the pipe, fins, and housing.
Baseboard heaters are usually installed underneath windows. There, the heater's rising warm air counteracts falling cool air from the cold window glass. Baseboard heaters are seldom located on interior walls because standard heating practice is to supply heat at the home's perimeter where the greatest heat loss occurs.
Baseboard heaters should sit at least three-quarters of an inch (1.9 centimeters) above the floor or carpet. This is to allow the cooler air on the floor to flow under and through the radiator fins so it can be heated. The heater should also fit tightly to the wall to prevent the warm air from convecting behind it and streaking the wall with dust particles.
The quality of baseboard heaters varies considerably. Cheaper models can be noisy and often give poor temperature control. Look for labels from Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) and the National Electrical Manufacturer's Association (NEMA). Compare warranties of the different models you are considering.
Electric Wall Heaters
Electric wall heaters consist of an electric element with a reflector behind it to reflect heat into the room and usually a fan to move air through the heater. They are usually installed on interior walls because installing them in an exterior wall makes that wall difficult to insulate.
Electric Radiant Heat
Electric furnaces and baseboard heaters circulate heat by moving air. In contrast, radiant heating systems radiate heat to the room's objects, including its people. For example, you can feel a ceiling-mounted radiant heating panel warming your head and shoulders if you stand underneath it.
There are several types of electric radiant heaters. The most common are electric heating cables imbedded in floors or ceilings. Other radiant heating systems use special gypsum ceiling panels equipped with factory-imbedded heating cables. Newer ceiling-mounted radiant panels made of metal provide radiant heat faster than other types because they contain less material to warm up.
Radiant heat offers draft-free heating that is easily zoned. Unlike other heating systems, it occupies no interior space. This allows you complete freedom to place furniture without worrying about impeding air flow from floor registers or baseboard heaters. Manufacturers claim that radiant heat can provide comfort similar to other systems at lower indoor air temperatures, saving around 5% of space heating costs.
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