Baseboard heaters are reliable systems that produce heat in confined areas such as rooms, basements, and cabins. In the market, there are many models and types available, which is why choosing one could be difficult.
The hydronic electric baseboard heaters VS standard is a debate that has been going on for many years. Both of these appliances are good, but how can a homeowner choose one of the two?
Under the first impression, they may seem the same, and they do share plenty of similarities, but some major differences set them apart.
In this article, we’ll cover the information to answer the question regarding which one is the winner between the hydronic baseboard heaters VS electric units. Continue reading to learn more about these appliances.
Similarities Between Hydronic Electric Baseboard Heaters and Standard
Before discussing their differences, we must be aware of the similarities between these two appliances.
Voltage
Baseboard heaters often work in both 120 and 240-volt lines. If you consider another type of heaters, you’ll find that they will run on 120 Volts, but not on 240 Volts. However, a 240 Volt heater will most likely run on a 120 Volt line too.
As a rule, the higher the voltage, the better the heater. On a 240 Volt line, these appliances won’t only produce more heat, but they’re also far better than any of those baseboards running on a lower voltage.
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No Cords
Although it’s not always the case, the standard baseboard heaters don’t require a connection to an outlet. They feature a hard-wired mechanism that goes straight into the electrical line instead.
Naturally, having a heater hard-wired connected requires some extra work that not everyone can do. That’s why most homeowners need assistance from a professional. It may be expensive, but it’s always better than messing up some cables.
As mentioned above, not every baseboard heater is plug-less. Do deep research, and you’ll find some models that do have a cord, and thus, will require a power outlet to operate.
A Quiet Performance
Baseboard heaters don’t have an intricate internal mechanism with parts moving constantly. Their performance is quiet, although there’s a regular noise you’ll hear every time the thermostat turns the heater off, which causes the electric casing to expand and contract.
That’s the only sound you can expect from these heaters. Other than that, these appliances provide a comfortable temperature in the room quietly.
Maintenance Free
Another benefit of the baseboard’s internal mechanism is that it won’t produce dust, pollen, or other contaminants that may be dangerous to have around the room. If someone in the household has allergies, the baseboard heaters won’t cause any negative reactions in their systems.
Slow Performance
Baseboard heaters require little time to heat up internally, but it isn’t the same for the surrounding area. Regularly, it’d take about thirty minutes to affect the room’s temperature.
The slow heating process doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. Constant but stable heating guarantees people in the room will feel a gradual change in the temperature rather than a burst of hot air.
Those are the similarities between the standard baseboard and the hydronic electric baseboard heaters. Now, we’ll take a look at their differences.
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What Makes Hydronic Baseboard Heaters Different?
In this section, we talk about the hydronic baseboard heaters, and what separates these systems from other types of heaters.
Price
Hydronic heaters are nowhere near as affordable as the standard baseboard heater. While you could find standard models available at a price lower than the twenty dollars, the hydronic models are more expensive than that, sometimes being four times more the price you’d pay for a standard.
Of course, hydronic heaters are not expensive for the sake of being expensive. Their internal mechanism helps save a lot of energy in the long run, which means that homeowners would save plenty of money they’d have to pay at the end of the month if they had a standard baseboard.
Arguably, paying the price for electric hydronic baseboard heaters turns into an investment with many benefits later on.
Less Offers Available
If you look for a standard baseboard heater, you’ll find a ton of options from different brands. The same doesn’t happen for hydronic baseboard heaters, as there are fewer options available.
A Durable Heating
The reason why people would want these systems is that the liquid continues to be warm even long after the thermostat shuts down. Hydronic heaters have a mechanism similar to radiators that use steam or water as the power source.
Slow Heating
Hydronic baseboard heaters aren’t quicker to heat up. The process takes the same, and sometimes even more time than what the standard baseboard requires.
However, once the hydronic baseboard heats up, the warm temperature could easily last longer than other heaters.
Standard Baseboard Heaters You Can Buy
If you’re not into hydronic baseboard heaters, how about a standard unit instead? Here are three of the best.
1) Marley HBB1254 Baseboard Heaters
Here’s a standard baseboard heater that surely stands out about the rest. The HBB1254 baseboard heater from Marley guarantees a stable and secure operation, heating the room without spreading allergens. Since it features natural convection airflow, there are no fans involved.
The sealed-tube heating element improves the efficiency of this baseboard heater. It will produce heat to create a warm environment, all of which take place with no temperature swings at all. Once active, the unit runs throughout the day continuously.
Because of the fluid-immersed heating element, the baseboard heater continues to heat the room even with the thermostat off. The interior structure retains the warm temperature better than most heaters, which allows the room to remain comfortable for a longer time.
Like only the best baseboard heaters can do, this model works quietly in the background. There are no frustrating sounds that may get you out of your daily routine. Even better, you won’t have to deal with pinging noises every time you turn on the unit.
The unit follows the Department of Energy’s standards, meaning that it converts the electric energy received into heat. Throughout its lifespan, the baseboard heater has barely any energy loss. Instead, it uses energy efficiently to make the room feel warm while saving you some money.
Before purchasing this unit, you should be aware that the instructions are not the best. Even an experienced professional may have issues understanding the diagrams. In fact, you’d do better looking for guidance online.
Installing this baseboard heater is tricky due to the poor instructions, but it’s not impossible. And, once you set the unit up, you’ll quickly notice why many people consider it as their favorite.
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2) Cadet Manufacturing White 05532 120-Volt Baseboard Electric Heater
The following baseboard heater is a great example of what these standard units can do. For starters, it’s an affordable appliance that doesn’t require too much money invested. In exchange, you get an outstanding heater capable of heating small and medium-sized rooms.
Undoubtedly, the incredible build is one of the reasons to like this unit. It features 25 gauge steel parts and the 20 gauge junction box made with metal. Also, the powder coating guarantees there won’t be any nick or scratches left on the surface any time soon.
Installing this unit is a simple process. Since you can wire the baseboard heater from either side, you can set it up just the way you want. The product rates as 120V, which may seem low, but it’s still capable of delivering a surprising amount of heat.
While operating, that heat stream produced comes out constantly. There are no interruptions, meaning that the room remains at a stable, comfortable temperature all day long.
Much like every other baseboard heater, a shut-off system is necessary for more safety. Luckily, this unit doesn’t disappoint in that area either. If there’s ever an unexpected incident, the heater shuts down automatically, protecting itself and everyone in the nearby area too.
Just as this unit shares some of the best features provided by the highest quality baseboards, it also has some of the same flaws. In this case, it’s the lack of a thermostat. If you want one, which you should because it’s a necessary accessory, you’d have to buy the thermostat separately.
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3) KING 4K1210BW 120-V K Series Baseboard Heater Bright White
Finishing up, we have a product suitable for every household, whether they’re old or newly built. It’s a standard baseboard heater with low installation costs and a design that requires little maintenance at all. Everyone can set up this unit easily in any room of the house.
The SureStop technology allows the unit to shut power off automatically if anything goes wrong. Because of that, even the children’s room would be a great place to install this baseboard heater. Either way, the manufacturer recommends placing it under the window to have better results.
Regardless of the location, the unit works great. There are no annoying sounds produced, making it suitable for living spaces too.
This baseboard heater features rugged steel construction, which is both durable and reliable as time passes. Since you can wire it from either end, you have plenty of freedom to set the unit right at the perfect spot to produce heat evenly across the room.
Despite being an affordable baseboard heater, this unit doesn’t include a thermostat. It’s a shame because some of the money saved goes to buying a separate thermostat.
The same company has several thermostats that are compatible with the baseboard heater. Ultimately, choosing the right one is entirely up to you.
Still, the lack of a thermostat isn’t such an unfortunate event either way. Many baseboard heaters would require you to buy them separately too.
The many other benefits provided by this unit compensate for the missing thermostat. Particularly, we want to point out the crush-proof aluminum design, which ensures maximum heat transfer through a chimney-type flue.
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Conclusion – Which One Wins?
Now that we know plenty about how each of these units works, we can settle the debate on which one is better.
First, we have the standard baseboard units. These appliances are way less expensive than hydronic models, meaning that most homeowners could have access to them even with a tight budget.
Standard baseboard heaters offer a slow but stable performance, for the most part, producing barely any noise that would disrupt the surrounding area.
On the downside, a standard baseboard produces a hot temperature that dissipates rather quickly when compared to the hydronic.
Hydronic baseboard heaters, on the other hand, are way more expensive than the standard models. However, their effect on the temperature in the room lasts longer, and they do a fairly good job of saving a lot of energy.
The hydronic heaters also work quietly, require little maintenance, and they don’t produce pollutant agents that may be dangerous. But they’re not perfect, as these systems would often require more time to heat up internally and to create a comfortable temperature in the room.
So, whether it is hydronic electric baseboard heaters VS standard or hydronic baseboard heaters VS electric heating systems, the hydronic models get the crown. There may be fewer hydronic units available, but they’re totally worth it.
