There are many good reasons to get an electric baseboard heater. Poor home insulation, rising fuel prices, and cold toes are all problems that lead many to choose extra heaters in their homes. Finding the right electric baseboard heater can be tough, though, especially if you aren’t used to what they can do for you. That’s why it’s important to not only have a guide to the features of the common electric baseboard heater, but also a list of some of the best heaters on the market today.
Buying Guide
Baseboard heaters tend to come in a few different varieties, but they’re not all that easy to tell apart unless you’re familiar with heaters already. As such, it’s a good idea to look at what you might be buying before you actually make a purchase. Below are the various factors that go into finding the perfect electric baseboard heater.
Electric baseboard heaters come in two basic types – free-standing and mounted. Free-standing units tend to put out less heat in general, though there are some great free-standing units that can heat up a room well. Mounted units are fairly easy to install and tend to be more consistent, but they require some basic DIY skill to install. The former type of unit is generally better for those who need to move a heater around (or who rent), while mounted units tend to be better for those who need to heat up a particular space.
The big thing at which you’ll want to look is the amount of heat that a baseboard heater puts out. Most heaters will tell you the general square-footage in which they’ll work, with is generally a bit more efficient than calculating the amount of space a specific wattage can put out. More heat generally means a larger unit and a bigger price tag, though, so be aware of that factor before you start shopping.
Beyond specific type and amount of heat, you’ll also want to look at features. The type of controls available, automatic cut-off switches and portability might matter to individual buyers. If you’ve got something that you need, that feature might actually be more important than the amount of heat that a unit puts out or the amount of work you’ll need to do to get the heater installed.
Your ideal heater should have a combination of strong features, an adequate heating element, and a installation style that matches your lifestyle. There are many different electric baseboard heaters on the market today, fortunately, and finding something with everything you need is just a matter of searching. With a little effort, you’ll find the perfect heater for your home.
Is This Heater For Your Bathroom?
Electric baseboard heaters are a great option for adding warmth to your bathroom. However, there are some other great options to solve this problem. Check out our buying guides for bathroom ceiling heaters and bathroom wall heaters, you might find something that suits your home a little better!
Product Reviews
1. Cadet 240V
The Cadet 240V is the best baseboard heater on the market today. Reasonably priced, easy to use and easy to install, it’s a fantastic piece of technology that will change the way you feel about your home. It’s a good example of what you can expect from the higher-end electric baseboard heaters, though you’ll still be surprised at how warm it helps to keep your home.
This baseboard heater really shines in two areas – ease of installation and reliability. On the first count, it’s so easy to install that most people who aren’t very DIY-friendly can still install the unit on their own. On the second, this unit has been recorded to keep working and putting out heat for quite some time, with no major interruptions or stuttering. It’s exactly what you’d want in a heater, especially if you don’t want to spend a lot of time on maintenance or installation issues.
The downsides are really minor with this unit. There’s no built-in thermostat, so you’ll have to get one of your own. Beyond that, though, you’re looking at a great electric unit that puts out more heat than you might expect. All things considered, this makes the Cadet 240V one of the best baseboard heaters on the market.
VIEW ON AMAZON →2. Lasko Silent Baseboard Heater
How important is silence to you? If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t want to deal with excess noise, you might have forgone a little bit of heat in order to avoid having to deal with a noisy heater. Fortunately, Lasko’s Silent Baseboard Heater is exactly that – silent. It’s a good piece of heating technology that gets rid of one of the most obnoxious parts of using any heater.
Thjs baseboard heater sits on the floor, circulating hot air and bringing a great deal of warmth into most rooms. Like most electrical heaters, it works best in smaller areas but it can deal with surprisingly large spaces. The real selling point is, of course, the silence of the unit. It is very quiet, virtually silent even – especially when compared to the average electrical heater. It’s a really fantastic piece of work that should impress anyone who is tired of hearing heaters whir away in the background.
The big downside to this unit lies in the control panel. Not only is it fairly inaccurate, but you’ll have to reset the controls any time you lose power in your home. It’s not a huge deal normally, but it is frustrating if you are expecting perfect functionality no matter what is happening in your home.
VIEW ON AMAZON →3. King Electric 120V 1000 Watt
Some heaters are best suited for small-spaced rooms. This doesn’t mean that they can’t put out heat, but rather that they are quiet and efficient enough that they won’t be noticed in a small area. One great example of a perfect small-room heater is the King Electric 120V 1000 Watt electric baseboard heater. It’s a perfect fit for spaces where a larger heater would be too conspicuous or too loud.
There’s a lot to like about this heater. It’s much nicer looking than most of what you’d find on the market, which is a bit surprising. It’s also incredibly quiet, to the degree that most won’t notice if it’s running based on sound alone. Even with that said, you’ll notice that it’s quite effective at keeping small rooms well-heated. It probably can’t help as much as one would like in a huge space, but it does a great job when used in an appropriately-sized area.
The downsides to this one are minimal. It’s not meant for big spaces, so it’s going to struggle if you put it in a large room. There are also a few small installation problems, but customer service representatives are good at walking consumers through them. If you’re looking to keep a small space warm, this is a great place to start.
VIEW ON AMAZON →4. Dimplex Wireless
Dimplex makes heating easy with its wireless baseboard heater. No, it doesn’t have any kind of far-future heating tech – it’s just a very simple, easy-to-install unit that can keep your house warm. If you are looking for a heater that does its job without requiring you to have a degree in electrical engineering, this is the heater for you.
One of the best parts of this heater is how easy it is to install. You really don’t need any background in home installation with this one, thanks to the wireless design and fairly easy directions. It only takes a few minutes to get started, and from that moment on you’ll notice a reasonable amount of heat coming off of the heater. Always pay attention to the clearances in the instruction manual, though – this heater really does heat up quickly, and that can cause problems if you have it stuck against a wall.
The downside to this unit is that it tends to be very hot to the touch. This isn’t a problem for most adults, but it’s not something you will want around a curious child or animal. If everyone in the home can be kept away from the unit while it is running, though, you’ll get all the heat you could need. Consider this one a very adult-friendly heating unit.
VIEW ON AMAZON →5. King Electric 500 Watt
King Electric really is a winner when it comes to making heaters for smaller rooms. This unit is only 500 Watts and its fairly stripped down, but it’s one of the best when it comes to smaller spaces. If you’re concerned about buying a heater that’s going to do too much in a little room, this might be the best fit for you.
King Electric’s heater is rated for a room of about fifty feet. That will take care of most bedrooms with ease, as well as some sitting rooms. Safe and efficient, it’s got a good output for its size and helps to keep most rooms warm without causing any problems. This is as simple as heaters come, and that can be great for some.
The downsides are minor. The big one is that installation is tough. This is only a one-time problem, though, and once it’s installed you won’t have any other issues. The unit also does not come with a thermostat, which will require you to buy one on your own. Once you have everything done, though, you’ll get a great thermostat that does its job well.
VIEW ON AMAZON →6. Fahrenheat Dual Wattage
Farenheat’s Dual Wattage heater occupies an important position in the market. It’s the kind of heater made for people who really need to heat up cold rooms, whether due to poor insulation or just frigid weather. This is a heater that’s designed for more than just fighting off the cold – it’s a heater made to bring real warmth into a home.
This heater is one of the best on the market when it comes to sheer heat output. There’s something about the design that makes it especially useful for putting out heat, to the degree that you might be able to heat up much more than a single room with this unit. Even if you’re not looking for that, you’ll still get a heater that is reliable enough that you can keep it plugged in all the time without having to worry about any major electrical problems.
If you do buy this unit, it’s important that you know about the smell. Like many new electric baseboard heaters, this one throws off a “new heater” smell when you first plug it in. Unfortunately, the smell is particularly pungent and it definitely lasts longer than expected. Once it goes away, though, you’ll get a great heater that really will keep your house warm.
VIEW ON AMAZON →7. Optimus H-3603
One of the biggest problems facing baseboard heater buyers is trying to determine if a value-priced heater is worth the money. The Optimus H-3603 is certainly a low-priced unit, but it doesn’t tend to behave like one. Instead, it gives users a great deal of high-quality heat at a price that’s a fraction of the competition.
It’s actually quite surprising how well this low-cost unit functions. It’s capable of heating up larger spaces than you might expect, and it’s even portable. This unit is one of the best for those who need a little extra heat in their homes, especially if they’re very worried about specific areas. While there are some very minor problems with the unit it terms of noise, you’ll actually get a very comfortable experience with a heater that won’t break the bank.
There are two common problems with this heater. One is rattling – it’s not something that happens with every unit, but it does happen. The other is with the controls, which do tend to fail. These are not problems with every unit, of course, and customer service is usually good at getting repairs done. If you’re looking for a good heater, you’ll still find something to like here.
VIEW ON AMAZON →Wrapping Up
For most people, the Cadet 240V will be the go-to heater. If that unit doesn’t meet your specific needs, though, you’ll likely find them met somewhere else on this list. Whether you are looking for reliable heat, high output or cool new features, you’ll find them here. Ultimately, the perfect heater is in the eye of the beholder – so make sure that the unit you choose really is the one that will be the best fit for your home or your business. These heaters represent the best place to start on the market, so get shopping for a heater that really suits your needs.
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