Hydronic baseboard heaters, also known as hot water baseboards, are more commonly used as a primary source of heat for your home. Hot water heaters also use convection to heat the air, but instead of using electrically heated fins, they use hot water that flows through tubes in the heater units.

Are hot water baseboard heaters efficient?

Hot Water Baseboard Heaters



Hydronic baseboard heaters are considered an efficient heat source. In fact, these are considered to be more efficient than central heating systems. Hot Water baseboard heaters are an excellent alternative for hydronic heating without causing the initial installation to skyrocket.

Can hot water baseboard heaters cause fires?





Bottom line; these line voltage electricity suckers get really hot and if flammable materials get close enough, a fire can result.

Can a tankless water heater be used for baseboard heat?

Though they are sold primarily for domestic hot water, tankless heaters are actually well-suited for radiant heating, which operates at low temperatures compared with, for example, hot-water baseboard.

Is hot water baseboard heat gas or electric?

Electric: The most popular baseboard heaters are electric. These systems house their heating elements in metal pipes, and each baseboard heater is paired with its own thermostat.

Is hot water baseboard heat Expensive?

The cost of installing a hydronic or hot water baseboard heating system can be approximately $6,000 to $8,000. The exact cost of the installation depends on the type of heater it is, labor cost, and whether you’re replacing an existing baseboard heater or installing a new one.

Can PEX be used for hot water baseboard heat?





A: Oxygen barrier type PEX pipe has an external polymer coating called EVOH or “oxygen diffusion barrier” and it’s the type used for all standard closed loop heating applications, including floor heating, baseboard/radiator heating and snow melting.

What are the disadvantages of hot water heating systems?

The Cons of Hot Water Heating:

  • More expensive to install. Hot water systems are more expensive upfront. …
  • Cannot add an air conditioner to a boiler. Furnaces are convenient because they can use the same ductwork as air conditioners.


Can furniture touch hot water baseboard heaters?

Most electric baseboard heaters operate on 240-volt power and can get hot. Blocking them with furniture can cause them to overheat and create a possible fire hazard.

Can you hang curtains over hot water baseboard heaters?



In forced hot-water baseboard heaters, hot water in the baseboard unit heats the incoming air. Naturally, hot-water baseboard heaters can become quite hot. For safety’s sake, you shouldn’t have anything within 12 inches of a unit. As fabric can be a fire hazard, you must keep your curtains away from a baseboard heater.

How do you install hot water baseboard heat?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So installation is pretty simple once you have all your baseboard. And you have your layout ready you can just take the heating element out of the the casing. And run this along your wall.

How do I turn on a hot water baseboard heater?

How to Turn on a Hot Water Baseboard Heating System

  1. Turn the thermostat up. …
  2. If the hot water baseboard is still not working, open the manual gate valve located directly above the zone valve — the zone valve is located close to the boiler. …
  3. If there is still no hot water coming into the baseboard, Check the zone valve.



Is hot water baseboard heat dry?

According to Service Magic, the electric heat produced by baseboard heaters will not dry out a room as much as heaters that blow the air into a room via heater vents. Electric baseboard heat radiates much like a furnace that uses water radiators to heat.

Do space heaters make air dry?

While they’re often helpful, space heaters can greatly affect the humidity of a room. Unfortunately, space heaters produce a lot of dry air, which can have a serious effect on your health and well-being.

Do you need a humidifier with electric heat?

If you have a high-efficiency furnace, a humidifier is required as these devices will deplete any humidity in the home. Extremely low levels of moisture put you at risk of dry skin and irritated airways.

How do I add humidity to my baseboard heater?



Place a pot of water on your radiator, wood stove, register or baseboard heater. As the heater heats up, the water will evaporate into the air, adding moisture to your home. If your heater is narrow, as in the case of a baseboard heater, a narrow dish such as a bed pan will work nicely.

Do baseboard heaters help with humidity?

Yes, there are a variety of options for adding humidity to your home during the winter when you have a hot water baseboard heating system in your house.

Will a pan of water humidify a room?

Boil a Pot of Water on the Stove



Before long, even a decent-sized pot of water could add a substantial amount of moisture to the humidity in your air.

Does baseboard heat cause humidity?

Place a pot of water on your radiator, wood stove, register or baseboard heater. As the heater heats up, the water will evaporate into the air, adding moisture to your home.

Can baseboard heaters cause dry air?



Electric baseboard heaters are notorious for producing an incredibly dry heat. Residents of homes with baseboard heaters may experience dry skin, dry throats, bloody noses and dry eyes, especially if they’re prone to these problems to begin with.

What symptoms does dry air cause?

From irritated eyes and sinuses to respiratory and skin conditions, overexposure to dry air can cause a variety of symptoms.



  • Asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory ailments. …
  • Sore throat. …
  • Eye irritation. …
  • Dry skin and dermatitis. …
  • Nosebleeds. …
  • Higher stress levels. …
  • Dehydration.