Replacing Baseboard Heaters with an HVAC System is a Smart Investment in Your Property’s Future
Is it time to upgrade the baseboard heaters at your home? While this heating solution was once the standard, it has now become outdated and does not offer the modern comforts or efficiency that an HVAC system can provide.
In all fairness, there are some advantages to using baseboard heating. For starters, each room has its own baseboard heater and thermostat. You can keep the rooms you don’t use cool while making the living spaces you frequent more often nice and toasty.
However, with modern central heating solutions available on the market today, baseboard heaters are visibly an outdated solution for maintaining an energy-efficient living space. They also do not provide the same uniform comfort across your entire home.
What Makes Baseboard Heaters Popular?
Baseboard heaters look like traditional baseboards and are designed to fit in a nondescript part of a room. They are most effective when installed in small spaces where the heat will not dissipate as quickly. These systems can also be used in larger spaces, but these rooms will often require multiple installations along the walls.
Prior to modern central heating systems, baseboards were popular for their easy installation and room-to-room customization. This was also when many homeowners were not using any type of modern heating system in their homes and were still relying on fireplaces and large, bulky radiators for warmth.
The reason baseboards remain popular is because they are affordable and do not require any ductwork to be installed. For managed properties like apartment complexes, this makes sense from a bottom-line perspective, but smaller units like these can also make use of baseboard heat more effectively than a large house, due to their smaller spaces with lower ceilings.
Disadvantages of Baseboard Heating
While the customization of baseboard heatings is convenient, there are plenty of drawbacks. These are magnified when compared to a modern HVAC solution. They include but aren’t limited to:
Baseboard Heaters Waste a Lot of Heat
Heat rises, so having baseboard heaters on the floor is a positive thing. Over time, the heat emanating from your baseboards will reach the temperature that you desire.
However, baseboard heaters are also known to waste heat. This is usually because an item, such as a couch or other piece of furniture, is blocking the heat’s path, causing the heater to blow more air.
Unlike baseboards, a forced-air HVAC system can blow hot or cold air in a pattern that covers an entire room uniformly. This ensures that you are not wasting energy and can help lower your utility expenses during the colder months. With many modern HVAC systems offering digital thermostats, you can easily fine-tune your settings so that it operates as efficiently as possible.
If you find your baseboard heaters are not efficient enough to keep your home warm, call your HVAC specialist to speak about the different types of HVAC systems you can upgrade to. You and your family will be much happier in a warmer home with a heating system that isn’t using up too much energy.
Baseboard Heaters Are Better for Individual Heating
Homes with baseboard heating need to have an individual installation in every room. Why? They’re designed to heat up small areas of space at a time.
Baseboards are often placed along the floor against the wall. The benefit of using baseboard heaters is that they are easy to install and maintain. However, they are not ideal for providing a uniform temperature to entire living spaces.
Using more than one baseboard heater to heat multiple areas can result in wasted energy because individual baseboard heaters will never be able to match the efficiency of a centralized heating system.
To help offset this problem, some homeowners will install remote thermostats to control temperatures remotely from a smartphone application. While this can appear convenient, the individual thermostats can still be manipulated by others in the home. This, in turn, actually results in a more complex energy management process.
You may find that there are parts of your home that are too warm and others that are too cold. Even though you may still be able to use some electric baseboard heaters to combat this problem, you will find that central heating systems provide far more uniformity in room temperature.
HVAC Heats an Entire Home at Once
Again, an HVAC system is an ideal upgrade over baseboard heaters. With HVAC, each time you turn your modern system on, you allow heat to flow through ducts and vents throughout your entire home. This uses far less energy, saving you money and heating your home more uniformly.
Baseboard Heaters Are Dated
Baseboard heaters were once popularized due to their ease and cost of installation. But now, baseboard heaters are very dated and can actually bring the value of your home down should you choose to sell your property in the future.
Baseboard heaters are seen by most homebuyers as an outdated technology that has
fallen out of favor. Instead of seeing it as a less-than-preferable heating solution, the prospective buyer now views baseboards as a future expense when they eventually will want to pay to upgrade to a central heating system.
How can baseboards affect your sell price? Homebuyers are looking for central heating systems that heat an entire home quickly and efficiently. They also want a home heating solution that they can easily control. Many people today have smart devices in their homes, and they want to be able to manage their heating system with their phone or tablet.
If you are selling your home, you should consider replacing your baseboard heaters. It’s a small investment, but it will make a big difference in the value of your home and the speed at which it sells.
Upgrade Baseboard Heaters with Modern HVAC
Consider upgrading to a modern HVAC system that will allow you to enjoy energy-efficient heating and cooling to keep your home comfortable year-round. Here are some reasons why you should upgrade from baseboard heating to a heating and cooling system that is more modern.
Improved Home Value
An HVAC system is a modern way to heat and cool your home. Having a high-quality HVAC installation can add more value and make your home more desirable to potential buyers.
If you are selling your property, buyers are looking for modern amenities like updated appliances and aesthetics. These indicate the home is “move-in ready” and will require fewer renovation expenses for the new homeowner. By adding a modern HVAC heating and cooling system to your home, you can inspire greater buyer confidence and make your property more marketable.
Do you own a rental property or manage an apartment complex? If so, you may also want to consider investing in an upgrade to central heating. This will attract more qualified renters looking for modern amenities and can help improve your property’s energy efficiency.
Multiple Options to Choose From
There are multiple types of HVAC systems you can choose from when upgrading the way you heat your home. These can include:
- Forced air
- Heat hybrid design
- Packaged heating and air
As a homeowner, you can choose the system that will work best for your budget and your home’s square footage. An HVAC professional can consult with you on the most suitable solution for your specific needs.
The Process for Replacing Baseboard Heaters with HVAC
Are you curious about what an HVAC installation may look like for your home? Here’s an example of how it could go if you are looking to replace your baseboard heat with something like a forced-air system.
Make An Appointment with an HVAC Professional
The HVAC professional will arrive at your home and examine the current baseboards as well as any existing ductwork in the home. They will assess their findings and provide you with an estimated cost and installation timeframe.
Purchasing the Necessary Appliances
There are three main heating components of an HVAC system:
- Furnace (natural gas or electrical)
- The heat pump (air-source, water-source, or ground-source)
- Ductwork components and installation costs
Don’t forget that labor costs and other additional expenses can be factored into the installation project. Be sure to ask your professional HVAC technician about these before signing any agreements.
Delivery and Installation
Once the necessary materials are delivered, the HVAC installer will arrive at your home on the agreed-upon start date. They will begin the installation process, which can include:
- Properly installing and connecting appliances
- Installing ductwork throughout the entire home
Inspection and Approval
To ensure quality, the HVAC professional will test the new system in the presence of the homeowner. Here, you should ask the technician to teach you how to set the thermostat efficiently to cut down energy waste and utility costs.
Once you are satisfied and have approved the outcome, the project has been completed and you can enjoy the comfort and savings of your modern HVAC heating system!
Replace Baseboards with HVAC Heating in Your Idaho Home
Even if you enjoy your baseboard heaters, you should still consider talking to an HVAC specialist about upgrading to a more modern heating and cooling system. An HVAC system will not only provide you with a reliable heating and cooling system but also give your home a modern upgrade you can appreciate.
At Advanced Heating & Cooling, we install cutting-edge HVAC systems in homes and commercial properties all throughout the Boise, Idaho metro area. If you are interested in upgrading baseboard heaters at your own home, contact us today to speak with one of our specialists.
