Baseboard Heater - Up to 200 sq. ft.

The baseboards heaters listed above cover up to 200 square feet, but there are many different varieties of baseboard heating systems that can cover a multitude of room sizes. The square footage estimate can be affected by things such as room insulation, number of windows, and ceiling height, but for most standard spaces, the amount of coverage is accurate to the one displayed.

To ensure unblocked air flow and no heat trapping, it is best to leave 12 inches of space in front and an extra 6 inches on either side of the baseboard heater.

First, you must calculate the required wattage for the heater. To do that, multiply the room’s total square footage by 10. So, if your space has a measurement of 200 square feet, the wattage required for the baseboard heater would be 2,000 watts or more. The wattage may vary slightly if the ceilings in the space are higher than 8 feet or if the walls have poor insulation, but the times 10 rule is a good method for getting a general idea of what baseboard heater will be the right choice for your space.

120V and 240V baseboard heaters have different voltage requirements for the circuits they each derive power from. The standard circuit in most homes is 120-volt, while circuits that power large appliances like dryers, water heaters, and HVAC systems are more often than not 240-volt. When installed by an electrician, baseboard heaters are usually wired on a 240-volt circuit if available. 240V circuits have the same size and type of wire as 120V circuits, making them versatile while drawing twice the amount of power. Wiring to a 120-volt circuit is the easier method if you’re performing the installation yourself, but we still recommend consulting with an electrician to verify what kind of circuit(s) you have in your home before you begin an at-home installation.

Baseboard heaters either come with a built-in thermostat or a wall thermostat. Built-in thermostats can be either digital or dial, and while they save on installation costs, they are less convenient and have a restricted range for temperature reading since they are located directly on the floor-level baseboard heater. Line voltage thermostats are mounted higher up on the wall, separate from the baseboard heater and connected to it via power cable. Wall thermostats are the preferable option because they are easily reachable and more likely to get accurate temperature readings of a room. Make sure to verify with the manufacturer or the product manual to ensure a thermostat’s compatibility with the baseboard heating system you’re installing.

Baseboard heating has many benefits, including the following:

• They operate very quietly, unlike forced-air systems that noisily blast air periodically. Baseboard heaters are nice options for bedrooms and home offices.
• The installation process is very simple, requiring no ductwork and little to no renovation.
• They provide a direct, concentrated heat source that can be individually controlled to fit a space’s needs.
• The maintenance requires little effort; the fins only need to be dusted twice a year. If cleaned routinely, baseboard heaters can last for over 20 years.

If you’re working with 120V baseboard heaters, a 20-amp circuit can support up to 2,400 watts. So, any combination of heaters that have a combined wattage of 2,400 watts or less can be put on a 20-amp circuit. For 240-volt heaters, a 20-amp circuit can support any combination whose wattages total 4,800 watts or less.

For 120-volt baseboard heaters, a 15-amp circuit can support any number of heaters that have a combined wattage of 1,440 watts or less. For 240-volt heaters, a 15-amp circuit a total of 2,880 watts, or double the amount of 120-volt heaters.