Best Way to Heat Your Basement
With cooler weather approaching in the Palm Desert area, you may be searching for ways to heat your basement. With increasing electricity costs, you will want to choose a heating option that is energy efficient. Also, you may want to select a heating system that you can regulate. Make sure to conduct research before you select a heating system. To help you choose the best heating option for your basement, we will review some of the available heating systems in the market.
Infrared Space Heaters
The electric radiant infrared heater works like the sun, where it produces rays that heat a room. The rays will warm the furniture, basement floor, and home occupants. However, an infrared space heater system does not use the air to produce heat. Instead, it produces a light spectrum, invisible to the eye, that will be absorbed by objects and the human skin. These types of heaters have different levels of output, designs, and different controls. Also, they vary in size and price.
Advantages
- Air quality remains the same
- Achieve instant heat
- Silent operation
- Directional heating of surfaces
Disadvantages
- Can cause fires
- Fails to keep room warm after you switch it off
- Excessive use can cause skin complications
Oil-filled Radiators
These heating systems are slow when heating a room but will retain a steady temperature. Also, they do not dry the air in the room. Such features make it a preferred heater for many families.
In an oil-filled radiator, oil gets warmed and sets the temperature. Next, the thermal energy carries the heat into the basement or room. The process is known as convection heating. In many systems, they have an adjustable thermostat. This allows you to switch it on or off whenever you need to use it. By using oil-filled heaters, your damp and cold basement will remain warm. Also, it does not incur higher energy costs.
The size of your basement should be considered to determine the size of the heater you need for your basement. You can choose to mount it or let it stand free. Also, the maintenance for oil-filled radiator heaters is low, which makes them a favorite of most homeowners.
Advantages
- Great energy efficiency
- Portable
- Does not dry the air
- Has little to zero noise
- Heats a large surface area
Disadvantages
- Gets too hot to touch
- Heavy to move if the model lacks wheels
Ceramic Space Heaters
Ceramic space heaters give you the option to use fans to heat a room, which heats the room faster. Ceramic heaters work to warm the air and distribute it around the room. You can find many models of ceramic space heaters that differ in size or shape. Also, you get to decide whether to mount them on the wall or place them on the basement floor. Either way, you will get enough heating for your basement.
There is no special installation required for ceramic space heaters. You plug it into a standard outlet and use them immediately. Also, ceramic space heaters are light and portable, which allows you to reposition them whenever you want.
Advantages
- Light and easy to move
- Produces instant heat
- Safe for children as the surface does not get hot
Disadvantages
- Not great for large rooms
- Lacks fan assistance and heats rooms slow
- Needs space for good airflow
Forced Air Heaters
Forced air heaters are like ceramic space heaters, but they use metal elements to produce heat and not ceramic. The system sucks in cool air circulates it around the warm elements, then a fan blows out the air to warm the area.
Advantages
- Light and portable
- Achieve instant heat
- Less expensive
- Great floor heater
- Safe to touch
Disadvantages
- Doesn’t warm large areas
- Heat struggles to get around objects
- Requires space for airflow
Wall Heaters
Wall heaters are new in the market as options to heat a basement, although they are becoming popular. They do not use lots of space, and you can get them in two types: convection and radiant heating. You can power them using electricity or gas depending on your comfort. Also, you can get a wall-mounted fireplace and can pick the style, budget, and heating needs.
Advantages
- Not restricted to a single type of heating
- Can use wi-fi technology
- Can use gas or electricity
- Gas wall heaters for large rooms
- Uses less floor space
Disadvantages
- May fail to heat large areas
- Need technical knowledge to install
When trying to choose the best type of heater for your basement in the Palm Desert area, Breeze Air Conditioning can answer all your questions. Our heating professionals and cooling technicians can also assist you in air conditioning installation, furnace installation, cooling repair, heating repair, and preventative HVAC maintenance plans. Contact Breeze Air Conditioning today for information!
Contact Breeze Air Conditioning today!
Tags: Furnace Installation