My home is currently heated with an electric baseboard hot water system - what would be the most cost-effective replacement system?
Q. What is the most efficient way to use electric baseboard heating?
A. Electric baseboard heating typically has a separate thermostat in each room. With this type of system,
you should heat the room you are in to a comfortable temperature (typically 68 - 70o), and set
unoccupied rooms back to 55 - 60 o, keeping interior doors closed.
Q. My home is heated with an electric furnace and it can be quite costly - what are my
replacement options?
A. Either an electric heat pump or a natural gas furnace will be less costly to operate. Ask your heating
contractor to assess the current system and recommend which would be the simplest and most cost-effective replacement.
Q. What is the "auxiliary" or "emergency" heat switch on my heat pump
thermostat? How does it affect my heating bills?
A. Most heat pumps are supplemented by electric resistance heating elements, which provide additional
heat in very cold weather and "emergency" heating if the heat pump's compressor malfunctions.
The supplemental heat comes on automatically when the heat pump is unable to meet the heating demand,
while the emergency heat is switched on manually. Excessive use of this supplemental or emergency
heat can increase heating costs significantly. Most heat pump thermostats have a small light that
indicates when the supplemental or emergency heat is operating.
Q. If I have a heat pump, should I set my heat back at night or when I'm
away during the day?
A. With a typical heat pump, which uses electric resistance elements for back-up heat,
you should either set the thermostat at a comfortable temperature and leave it alone, or get
a programmable thermostat specifically designed for a heat pump.
Q. What is a "geothermal" heating system?
A. Geothermal means "heat from the earth". A geothermal system is a heat pump
which absorbs heat from either the ground or from water pumped from a well or pond.
Both the ground and ground water tend to be warmer in the winter than outdoor air, enabling
the system to operate more efficiently and less expensively.
Q. What is a "thermal storage" heating system?
A. Thermal storage systems typically use electricity to produce heat at off-peak times
when rates are lower, and some type of storage medium (stone, masonry or ceramic materials)
to store the heat until it is needed. When the thermostat calls for heat, the fan blows air
across or through the storage medium and then through ductwork to the home.
Q. Can thermal storage heating be used in combination with a heat pump?
A. An electric thermal storage system can be a good supplement to a heat pump.
When the heat pump is unable to meet the heating demands of the home, electric
resistance heating is typically used for supplemental heat, which can increase
operating costs significantly. By using electric thermal storage for the
supplemental heat, the cost of supplemental heating can be reduced, thereby
reducing overall operating costs.
Q. What is a "radiant" electric heating system?
A. An electric radiant heating system typically uses specially designed ceiling panels,
with built-in low-powered electric heating elements. The heat is "radiated"
downward into the room, in much the same way that the sun's heat warms the earth.
Like sunlight, radiant heat works by "line of sight", meaning that it can be
blocked by furniture or other obstructions. With careful furniture placement and
proper system design, this can be a very even, comfortable type of heating.
Q. My home is currently heated with an electric baseboard hot water system - what
would be the most cost-effective replacement system?
A. Replacing the electric boiler with a new natural gas boiler should cut your
operating costs substantially, depending on the size of your home and how you use
your heat. Have your heating contractor evaluate the system and determine if a
natural gas replacement is feasible (gas systems require venting, so location of the
unit can be a factor).
