| |
|
 | |  | Typical Home: $6,000-$8,000 | |
|
Old-fashioned steam radiators have given way to longer, sleeker, lighter-weight and more efficient versions that run hot water through pipes housed in baseboard-like enclosures which hug the bottom of the wall. Hot water baseboard heat is similar to radiant floor heat but with lower initial installation costs; it doesn't require tearing up the flooring in an existing home and can be used where there isn't space for an under-floor installation.
Typical costs: |
- Installing a hydronic (hot water) baseboard heating system in a 1,400 square foot home runs about $6,000-$8,000.
Related articles: Electric Baseboard Heater, Radiant Floor Heating, Central Heating
|
|
What should be included: |
- Hydronic (hot water) baseboard heaters are relatively inconspicuous and don't have the fan noise of a forced-air system. They can be used to replace expensive-to-operate electric baseboard heaters where adding ducting for a forced-air system is cost-prohibitive, according to the US Department of Energy. These systems are relatively inexpensive to operate, are energy efficient and provide a constant flow of warm air, but can take time to heat up or cool down. Another disadvantage is that there's no way to add air conditioning to the system. The Eugene Water & Electric Board in Oregon provides an overview[1] of hydronic systems.
- These systems use a water heater system to heat water and a pump to circulate hot water, which is piped through enclosures styled to look like large decorative baseboards.
Shopping for a hot water baseboard heater: |
- Manufacturers include Embassy Industries[2] and Runtal[3] .
- Get several estimates, making clear what is (and isn't) included in each quote. Request and check references; ask about the contractor's length and type of experience; and be sure they're properly bonded, insured and licensed in your state.
|
| |
|
|
|
CostHelper News
| 
7 Lesser-Known Discounts for the 50+ Crowd
As they age, members of the Baby Boomer generation don't like to admit that they're senior citizens, but they love getting discounts. It's kind of a quandary, because some of the best deals available are reduced prices for older folks. || Posted October 21 2013
| | 
7 Ways to Stretch Your Reduced Food Budget
End of the year budgets are tight for everyone, especially in this economy.It's especially hard for the millions of Americans who depend on government programs like food stamps to help make ends meet. || Posted November 11 2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: kevinj in warwick, RI. | Posted: December 12th, 2014 10:12AM |
| Number of Rooms: open space |
We are framing and finishing our basement and want to install 4 8ft hot water baseboard units to the existing system. How much should we budget for this. Thinking of putting in an electric water heater also. |
|
|
| Posted by: HAN in Hiawatha, KS. | Posted: May 17th, 2010 01:05PM |
| Number of Rooms: 2 effected |
We have had baseboard forced hot water heat for at least 45 years and love it. When we remodeled we put in little units under the cabinets with a fan to blow the heat out through vents which is with the forced hot water heat. The fans have quit and we have not been able to find them. Do you have any suggestions? The water still runs through the pipes and keeps it somewhat wartm but is much better with a fan. |
|
|
| Posted by: Cornelius J McKenna Sr in Ontario, NY. | Posted: November 26th, 2009 07:11PM |
| Number of Rooms: 10 |
I have a 40 year old raised ranch with 3 zones of hot water baseboard heat. One zone is the entire 2nd level. One zone is the entire 1st level, and the 3rd zone is at the lower level, but it's a converted garage to an office area. My interest is in respect to the 2nd level bathroom. Currently, there is a hot water baseboard heater element in this bathroom, and I would like to install in-floor heating in this bathroom. Is it feasible to integrate in-floor heating with hot water baseboard? What I essentially saying is could I remove the baseboard element and divert the water throught coils in the bathroom? That took a lot of words of explanation, but I think it's not that complicated. Let me know what you think. |
|
|
| Posted by: KGB in Meriden, CT. | Posted: March 27th, 2009 06:03PM |
| Number of Rooms: 9 rooms (1,500 sq ft) |
Got two quotes for adding a new hot water baseboard system to our home renovation. Both quotes came in similar and included the boiler and use Pex. Let's home the quotes are accurate! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
External Resources: |
- www.eweb.org/saveenergy/home/hydronic
- www.embassyind.com/panel/index.asp
- www.runtalnorthamerica.com/residential_radiators/index.html
More Home and Garden Topics
|
Search Thousands of Topics on CostHelper.com
|
Post
