If you are researching electric heaters for your home, you may have come across an electric baseboard heater. Here is a little information to help you to familiarize yourself with what an electric baseboard heater is and how it heats the air.
Electric baseboards are short, wide electric heaters installed near the floor level, near the baseboard. This is why these heaters are called electric baseboard heaters. These heaters are normally hardwired into the home’s existing electrical wiring. There are electric baseboard units that can be plugged into a standard electrical outlet.
There are either convection electric baseboard heaters or hydronic baseboard heaters. Convection baseboard heaters are more common. Convection baseboard heaters come in a larger range of sizes and power ranges. Plug-in convection baseboard heaters are also easier to find. Hydronic baseboard heaters are considered more energy efficient.
Convection heaters produce heat through the metal fins that turn cold air near the floor into warm air. This warm air then rises and spreads through the room. Hydronic heaters have an electric heating element that warms an internal liquid reservoir surrounded by metal fins.
This is what an electric baseboard heater is and how it works.
