Electric Baseboard Heaters
Most homes in Newfoundland and Labrador, including most new homes, are heated by electric baseboard heaters that run along the bottom of walls.
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Electric Baseboard Heaters
Most homes in Newfoundland and Labrador, including most new homes, are heated by electric baseboard heaters that run along the bottom of walls. The amount of heat that is generated is controlled by a dial on the heater or a thermostat on a nearby wall. Thermostats turn the heaters on when the air temperature falls below a set temperature, and off when the appropriate temperature is reached.
The biggest advantage of electric baseboard heaters is that you can control them room-by-room. Instead of having a central system that heats all rooms in your home to the same temperature, you can decide to have one room warmer or cooler than another.
Tips to improve the energy efficiency of baseboard heaters:
- Put the right heater in the right spot. Some heaters are more efficient than others in how well they circulate heat and they should be sized appropriately for the area. Plus, location matters. Baseboard heaters should be located in areas of maximum heat loss, such as under a window.
- Keep them clean and unobstructed. Dust and dirt collect on baseboard heaters and this can negatively impact how much heat they produce and how much energy they consume. Clean them at least once a year and keep them free of obstacles, like curtains or couches.
- Don't crank the dial. The room will not warm up any faster and you will likely waste a lot of energy by setting the dial to a temperature above what you want. If you leave the room and forget to turn back the thermostat, you waste even more energy.
In this section
Electric Baseboard Heaters
Oil-Fired Furnaces
Wood Stoves
Heat Pumps
Programmable Thermostats