Baseboard Heater - Up to 25 sq. ft.

The baseboards heaters listed above cover up to 25 square feet, but baseboard heating systems in general can cover a variety of larger room sizes. The coverage estimate can be affected by things such as room insulation, number of windows, and ceiling height, but for most spaces, the square-foot coverage is sufficiently accurate to the one displayed.

To ensure that no heat gets trapped and potentially damages the heater or its surroundings, try to leave at least 12 inches of space in front of the heater and an extra 6 inches on either side of the wall it is mounted on.

First, to select a proper baseboard heater for your space, you must calculate wattage the heater needs to have by multiplying the room’s total square footage by 10. So, if your space is 25 square feet, the wattage required for the baseboard heater would be 250 watts or more. If the ceilings in the space are higher than 8 feet or if the walls have poor insulation, you might want to go with a slightly higher wattage, but the times 10 rule is a good way to get a general baseline.

Determining the voltage your circuit can handle is also an important consideration. Most standard homes have a 120-volt as their main circuit, with 240-volt circuits usually power large appliances like dryers, water heaters, and HVAC systems. Baseboard heating systems, when installed by an electrician, are typically wired on a 240-volt circuit if there is one available. Hooking up to a 120-volt circuit is simpler if you’re installing a baseboard heater yourself, but it is still suggested to consult with an electrician to identify what type of circuit(s) you have in your space.

Baseboard heaters can have either a built-in thermostat or a line voltage, or wall, thermostat. Built-in thermostats are either digital or dial, and while they save on installation costs, they can be less convenient and potentially get inaccurate temperature readings of a space from their low place on the floor. Line voltage thermostats are mounted separately on the wall and control power to the baseboard heater through a cable. Wall thermostats are the more efficient option due to their reachability and higher likeliness to get accurate temperature readings of a room. However, before installing one of these thermostats, check with the manufacturer or the product manual to verify its compatibility with the baseboard heating system you choose.

Baseboard heating has many benefits, including the following:

• They are quiet, unlike forced-air systems that blast air intermittently. Baseboard heaters are good options for localized bedroom and home office heating.
• They have a simple installation process, requiring no ductwork and little to no renovation.
• They provide a direct, concentrated heat source that allows for a space to have individually controlled temperature.
• They need little maintenance, only needing to be cleaned twice a year. If maintained well, baseboard heaters can last for over 20 years.

If you’re installing 120V baseboard heaters, a 20-amp circuit can support any number of heaters that have a total combined wattage of 2,400 watts or less. For 240-volt heaters, a 20-amp circuit can support up to 4,800 watts or double the amount of baseboard heaters as 120-volt.

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