When you are looking at installing baseboard heating in your home you need to look at the pros and cons. This will also help you determine if you should upgrade your baseboards to central forced heat and air or stick with what you're already using.

The Pros of Baseboard Heat

Baseboard heating is an easy thing to install yourself, so if you are looking at putting in your own heating system this might be a good option for you. They are able to operate a lot quieter than other heating options barely making any noise and you don't have to have ductwork installed for baseboard heat. This helps reduce the amount of maintenance needed to maintain your heating system and the installation is even easier because you don't have to put in ductwork.

The Pros and Cons of Forced Air Systems

There are advantages and disadvantages to going with a forced air heating system. For one, you need to install a lot of ductwork to send heat throughout your home. This means you will need to bring in a company that does installations rather than doing it yourself. A good thing is that the same ductwork installed for the heat can be used for the air. When moving air throughout your home through forced air you might put more allergens into the air you breathe and this type of unit tends to be louder.

Electronic Baseboards

If you decide to go with the baseboards that only operated by electricity then you can install them in every room if that's what you want to do. This way each room can be run individually giving each person in the house the ability to adjust the temperature to their liking. This is good for saving energy because you can turn off the baseboard heat in the room you aren't using.

Hydronic Baseboards

While you can turn off and on the electronic baseboards to save energy, the hydronic baseboard unit doesn't use as much electricity. It is the greener option of the two. Hydronic baseboards are ideally installed below a window and when hot water flies through the elements it creates energy to heat the room. 

The Cons of Baseboard Heat

While there are a lot of benefits to using baseboard heating there are also a few cons. A lot of the baseboard heating units have internal thermostats so that means there might be some fluctuation in the temperature at any given time. They might find it hard to stay at the same temperature for an extended period. You also need to be aware that things such as curtains and piled up clothes shouldn't be put in front of the baseboard to keep everything safe.

Cons of Hydronic vs. Cons of Electric

Some cons of the hydronic baseboard heaters are you don't have as much control with the rooms you heat as you do with electric baseboard heating. On the other side of the coin electric baseboards use a lot more electricity so they aren't as energy efficient. Knowing all the pros and cons of baseboard heating versus forced air and the different types of baseboard will help you make the best decision for your home. A heating services company can help you to decide which system is best for you.