September 8 2022

Heat baseboard: a new efficient heating system for your home

In the cold season, it is simply impossible to imagine our houses without heating. And the main requirements that are imposed on it are high efficiency and a low level of energy consumption. One of the newest systems that meet these requirements is the heat baseboard. Despite the high efficiency, as well as significant savings, this option is not yet very well known in our country. Let’s take a detailed look at all its features and advantages.

A water warm baseboard can be both the main and an additional source of heating

Heat baseboard: design features

It became possible to buy a warm baseboard not so long ago. In fact, this system was designed to improve heating efficiency with less energy consumption. Moreover, such panels look very original, and the technology of a warm baseboard often allows you to completely abandon the use of traditional methods of heating with radiators.

Externally, the heating panel looks like an ordinary floor skirting board

Externally, the baseboard is a plank made of aluminum, which covers the inner contents of the box. If it were not for its very modest size, it could be called a full-fledged heating device, however, the fact that the box has a small height, does not bulge much from the wall and is mounted along the perimeter of the room on the wall near the floor, gives it the right to be called a baseboard.

Inside the box there is a heating system, which may differ depending on the type of baseboard selected. To understand what the difference is, you can consider the existing types of warm baseboards.

The principle of operation of the heat of the baseboard as a heating device

Obviously, this heating device got its name due to its location. A warm baseboard is attached in the same place as the usual one – around the perimeter of the room. The main advantage of such a heating system is that the device heats not only the air surrounding it, but also the walls with which it comes into contact. Such a system allows you to better retain heat and reduce heat loss.

A positive effect is also the fact that air convection decreases, and heat is evenly distributed throughout the room, not concentrating in one place, as is often the case with traditional radiators. A considerable advantage is that due to the slow movement of air from the baseboard to the ceiling, dust from the floor practically does not rise. And this not only greatly facilitates cleaning, but also has a positive effect on the health of residents.

An electric warm baseboard is used to heat the room

The temperature limits in which the device operates are 40-70 degrees and with the help of a thermostat, you can set the indicator within these limits. According to the reviews of the owners, a warm baseboard never allows the air temperature to fall below 20 degrees, and this can be considered quite a comfortable temperature for living. Of course, this applies to cases when the calculations of the required number of elements and their power were carried out correctly.

If we are talking about installing an electric baseboard, it is also worth noting the fact that, like one section of any traditional radiator, one segment of a warm baseboard emits 190 watts of heat. At the same time, the energy consumption for its production is 3 times less, and this is a considerable saving for the entire heating season.

As a heating device, a warm baseboard can be installed in almost any room. Neither the size nor any location of the room can serve as a contraindication to its installation. It is considered that this design option is ideal for rooms with panoramic glazing, where conventional radiators under the windows simply will not fit.

A warm baseboard is an ideal solution for installation in a room with panoramic windows

Useful advice! A warm baseboard is an ideal solution for rooms with high ceilings, where an additional or main source of heating is required. The main thing is to take care of the proper power of the device.

Varieties of warm baseboard: water and electric models

There are two types of warm baseboards: electric and water. Both of these options have their advantages and can boast significantly more efficiency than other heating methods. However, it is worth recognizing that electric models are much more popular. This is due to the availability of electricity in almost all localities, which cannot be said about the presence of individual boilers.

Of course, there is a variant of organizing a warm water plinth with your own hands, using liquid or solid fuel for this purpose, but this is quite troublesome and often unjustified. In addition, in this case, you are unlikely to be able to save money, because in addition to fuel consumption, you will have to face the need for its storage, as well as system maintenance. The electric heat baseboard does not require an additional line and significantly saves electricity. For these reasons, many people prefer to use it.

A water-heated skirting board is similar to a “warm floor” heating system

How is the electric heat baseboard arranged

According to reviews, warm baseboards powered by electricity are not only an effective, but also a fairly easy–to-install heating method that does not require excessive effort during installation.

Externally, it looks like a panel with a width of 30 mm. At the same time, the height can be different and on average varies from 100 to 240 mm. The shape and color can be any.

The principle of operation of an electric heating baseboard is similar to a warm floor: there is a heating element installed inside, a thermostat that controls the heating temperature and thermal sensors responsible for ensuring that the temperature in the room corresponds to a given indicator.

Useful advice! The ideal height for placing thermal sensors is at the level of the average height of a person. This way the received data will be as truthful as possible, and the system will work correctly.

The device can receive power both from a regular outlet and from a separate branch laid to the shield. The second option is much preferable, as it provides greater security and allows you to install a separate machine.

Electric warm baseboard is an economical type of heating

Another important point is the choice of thermostat. Since the market constantly offers customers more and more modern models of these devices, today you can find those whose programming is possible for several days in advance, and the “smart system” perfectly controls the temperature of the air in the room, adjusting the operation of the heating device to it.

Many simple models do not provide owners with the ability to program temperature conditions, but they are much cheaper, which also makes them popular. Your choice should be based on how much money you can spend on the purchase, as well as how ready you are to tinker with the device in the future, setting the required temperature manually each time.

A water skirting board looks no different from an electric one. After installation, it is almost impossible to visually distinguish one from the other. Their main difference lies inside, where special tubes and stiffeners are installed instead of heating elements. Heated water moves through the pipes, which is the basis of the water heating system.

The body of the electric warm baseboard can be made in different colors

Advantages of heating with a warm baseboard

Regardless of what type of devices we are talking about (electric or water), there are many positive aspects of their use. Some of them have already been considered together with the design features of such baseboards. Consider the rest:

The “heat cushion”, which is usually formed under the ceiling, is simply not created, due to the uniform distribution of heat between the walls and the air in the room. By ventilating the room, you do not risk “letting in the cold”, since most of the heat is stored in the walls;
in rooms with high humidity and risks of fungus and mold development, a warm baseboard can confidently be called a solution to this problem. Optimal convection allows you to maintain such a microclimate so that you don’t have to worry about all these things;
about the water plinth, we can say that due to the small cross-section of the pipes, the amount of hot water supplied is significantly reduced compared to traditional radiators. This leads to energy savings spent on heating the working fluid.;
both electric and water skirting boards allow you to adjust the temperature and respond to changes more accurately than any other heater.;
during operation of this device, heat loss does not exceed 5%, given that for a conventional radiator this indicator is 20%;
thanks to the moderate temperature of the device itself, you don’t have to worry that the wooden furniture located nearby will crack. A warm baseboard does not pose any danger to nearby objects.

The internal structure of the water warm baseboard

A warm baseboard is often compared with a underfloor heating system. In fact, this is practically the same thing, and the difference is only in the installation method. Of course, it is much more difficult to make floor heating, since it requires a lot of work. But to place such a skirting board, you only need the surface of the wall.

Useful advice! Another excellent quality of the warm baseboard is the possibility of re–installation. That is, if necessary, you can remove the baseboard and then install it in another place. With careful handling, this will not affect its functionality in any way.

How to install a water heat baseboard with your own hands

It is worth admitting that the only thing that warm water skirting boards cannot boast of is prices. Reviews at the same time claim that such a waste is justified and in the future you will not regret your investment. However, what if such a cost is not included in your capabilities? In this case, you can save money by doing the work yourself, without resorting to the help of specialists.

Here is a list of materials that you will need for independent work:

metal-plastic pipes;
thermal insulation material;
collector with taps;
adapters (both metal and plastic);
a set of common tools available to any home craftsman;
baseboard convectors with a set of plugs, as well as decorative covers.

Pipes with a diameter of 16 mm will be needed for the installation of a heat plinth

Traditionally, the installation begins with the installation of a collector, to which a pipe is supplied designed to provide power to the heating device. A gas, electric, liquid or solid fuel boiler can be used as the primary source of heat. In a word, the one that is available. Please note that for the heating to work correctly, the pressure must be normal and be 3 atm.

To ensure the correct heating of the room, it is necessary to make some calculations, namely, how much heat energy is required to heat a room of this size. For example, for a standard room with an area of 12 m2, where there is one window, about 13 m of baseboards with a capacity of at least 100 watts per 1 m will be required.

Useful advice! When calculating the required number of baseboards, do not forget to subtract the width of the doorway from the total perimeter. Otherwise, you will overpay for almost a whole extra meter.

It is quite possible to install a skirting board not around the entire perimeter of the room, but only in some parts of it. This is convenient if you have built-in furniture, or you use a warm baseboard as an additional, and not as the main source of heat.

The output of polyethylene pipes for a warm baseboard

Pipe wiring for a warm water skirting board: reviews and installation tips

Having dealt with the calculations and having prepared everything necessary for work, you can proceed directly to connecting the system. The pipes are laid by laying them on the rough floor in such a way that there is a separate approach to the beginning of each contour. It goes without saying that each circuit requires two pipes: one for the supply of coolant, and the second for the fence. At this stage, you will need adapters that are used to connect radiators.

Electric warm baseboard: features of installation and operation

Advantages of this type of heating. The principle of operation and design features. How to install the system yourself. Reviews and prices.

The basis of a high–quality independent installation of a water warm baseboard is thermal insulation. It is necessary to lay a special material between the wall and the radiator. After that, proceed directly to the installation of the system:

the first step is to fasten the base. In the future, a heat exchanger made of non-ferrous metals will be attached to it;
having fixed the heat exchangers, they must be connected. For this, angular or straight adapters are used;

Useful advice! Pay attention to the fact that all connections are tightly tightened. Otherwise, there is a risk of leakage.

before completing the installation, the system must be checked for tightness. To do this, water is put into it under pressure until the system is completely filled, then it is silenced. You need to carefully inspect each connection to make sure that there are no leaks anywhere. If no malfunctions are detected, you can turn the system back on;

The warm water skirting system must be tested for tightness

at the end of the work, the boxes are closed with the help of special panels and plugs that come in the kit, and differ depending on the selected model.

As you can see, the main task that you face is to ensure complete tightness of all connections. It is better to check several times that all the connections are tightly twisted, and in case of doubt, tighten them again in addition to eliminate the risk of leakage.

Another tip that it is advisable to take into account if you are planning to install a warm baseboard yourself for the first time – the coolant supply should be carried out through the upper pipe. The water will leave through the lower one. It cannot be said that this is a prerequisite, however, according to technology, this is how it is considered correct.

Installing an electric warm baseboard with your own hands

The installation of warm baseboards powered by electricity has its own characteristics and requires taking into account completely different factors. Since they operate from the mains, and not due to the supply of coolant, it is necessary to install a switchboard, not a collector. If you install such a system not in one, but in several rooms, then an individual circuit equipped with a separate automatic machine should be carried out to each room.

Aluminum housing for installation of electric heat baseboard

Instead of laying pipes, you have to lay electrical wires. In order to avoid malfunctions, be sure to make sure that they have a suitable cross-section. Otherwise, they simply will not withstand the applied load. In order to increase their service life and provide reliable protection for them, flexible plastic pipes can be used when it comes to work on the rough floor. Another option is to lay cables along the wall, using special brackets for fixing.

Temperature control is carried out using a thermostat. A separate device must be installed for each room. At first glance, it may seem that this will entail only additional costs. But in reality, separate adjustment will help you save money by choosing the optimal temperature regime for each room separately, saving electricity.

In order to carry out the installation yourself, without resorting to the help of specialists, you need:

provide thermal insulation by laying a special material on the wall where the baseboard will be placed;
screw the base of the baseboard with heat exchangers;
connect all the electrical wires;
install the baseboard faceplates in place;
connect the circuit to the switchboard and thermostat.

Fastening of the external decorative panel of the electric skirting board

Before checking, be sure to make sure again that all connections are made properly, that there are no uninsulated conductors anywhere, etc. If everything is visually in order, you can run the system to check.

As you can see, it is much easier to install an electric heat baseboard yourself than a water one. Most importantly, do not forget to de–energize the system before starting any work. It is also strictly forbidden to turn on the current supply until all work is completed and the contacts are insulated. And of course, do not forget about the other safety rules, compliance with which is mandatory when working with electricity.

Electric and water warm baseboard: prices for various types of models

One of the first aspects that everyone thinks about before buying a warm water skirting board is the price of such a device. Since there is no way to say that such systems are cheap, you need to really imagine their cost and make a choice taking into account your financial capabilities. Consider the prices of heat baseboards on the example of popular models.

Electric warm baseboard built into kitchen furniture

Mr. Tektum warm baseboard is one of the most popular options. Depending on the model, it can be purchased at a price of 4-5 thousand rubles for 1 linear meter. According to users on the forums, this is a low price: the warm baseboard of this manufacturer fully meets all existing requirements and has served perfectly for many years.
If we consider electric baseboards, the price for them is much more expensive. Even when choosing the simplest device (with the ability to cover no more than 8 m2 and a power of 500 watts), the baseboard will not cost less than 12 thousand rubles. What can we say about more powerful options that can cover up to 15 m2. Their cost ranges from 20-25 thousand rubles.

Professional installation of water heating skirting board: the price of works

If everything is more or less simple and clear with electric baseboards, then it is quite often necessary to involve specialists to install water models. And in this case, in addition to buying a warm water skirting board, you will have to find a master who will be ready to carry out a high-quality installation at an affordable price.

It is best to start looking for a specialist with a survey of acquaintances. Perhaps someone has already used the services of a particular master or agency. If not, it is recommended to visit the relevant sections of the forums of your city, where they will surely tell you who you can contact. There they can also tell you where to buy a warm baseboard, the price per meter of which will be optimal.

Water warm baseboard can be installed with your own hands

The average price for installing warm baseboards in Moscow is 1200-1400 rubles per running meter. Of course, some private masters do it much cheaper, but here you should be careful and contact them only if you have been recommended. Remember that a poorly performed installation will cost you much more, since leaks can cause damage to your property, not to mention that all the work will have to be redone.

Perhaps the best option is to order the installation of baseboards directly from the manufacturer. So you will be sure that the masters know exactly how this particular model of skirting boards should be installed correctly. Moreover, they will be able to help you with the calculation of the required amount and power so that the room is not too cold or too hot.

The water warm baseboard is mounted inside the wall molding

As can be seen from everything presented, heat baseboards are a worthy alternative to the usual heating system. They take up little space and can be installed where conventional radiators simply won’t fit. Depending on which type is more suitable for you, you can choose electric or water models, and the installation may well be carried out independently. To do this, just read the instructions or watch the tutorial video.

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