Heating Dilema, need some help!

[Gracie2006]

Fine time for my baseboard heaters to start crapping out, 22 degrees outside, its snowing and hurricane force winds predicted for tonight. 2 out of 3 of my baseboard heaters decided not to put out much heat overnight. It took me all day to get the main level of my house warmed up to 65 degrees. So now I am faced with buying a new heating system of some sort. I really hope once the weather warms up a bit I can hold off until summer to do this. My baseboard heaters are about 18 years old. I don't mind having baseboards upstairs and in the basement as I seldom heat those levels. So I am considering options for the main level (I'm not made of money, could muster at most $4000 - $5000):

1. Replace baseboard heaters (3) with more baseboard heaters or perhaps a wall mounted radiant heat system with new thermostats
2. Install radiant heat on the floor (I have concrete floors), need new carpet/flooring anyway but not sure if the budget will allow both.
3. Install central heat for the main level only. Would love AC but I am in a complex and would have to get approval from the HOA to have the AC unit outside.

I'm not sure what would be the most energy efficient, reliable and cost effective. I have hated these baseboard heaters from the day I moved in here, very hard to regulate temperature. Does anyone know how much any of these options will cost me and what my best bet would be? Have they improved the efficiency of baseboard heaters much in the last 18 years? We normally have a few weeks out of each year that we have temperature extremes (one week or less at a time in the summer for heat waves, usually about three times and about the same for cold snaps in the winter). I have about 800 square feet of floor space in the rooms I want to heat.

Thanks for your input.

[kelly jo]

Well I'm not an expert, but my son has been doing this for quite some time. If you can install all new raidiant that would be your best move. You already have the main heat sorce, I'm assuming a boiler of some sort. To put it in your floor would cost you a ton in NY. People don't realize the aftermath of all that in floor heating. You mite ask about a sub floor with the in floor heating, but to mess with cement would be costly. Actually, putting in a new gas unit would be your best bet. They are cleaner, and so much more efficent. You could zone it also but it would require duct work, but with the new venting system they can run the up inbetween the walls now. They are amazing. My son has been trying to make me do it for a long time, but we have fuel fired hot water, so the cost would not be any savings on my part. Maybe this helps.......good luck...

[Baby Blessing]

Originally Posted by Gracie2006

Fine time for my baseboard heaters to start crapping out, 22 degrees outside, its snowing and hurricane force winds predicted for tonight. 2 out of 3 of my baseboard heaters decided not to put out much heat overnight. It took me all day to get the main level of my house warmed up to 65 degrees. So now I am faced with buying a new heating system of some sort. I really hope once the weather warms up a bit I can hold off until summer to do this. My baseboard heaters are about 18 years old. I don't mind having baseboards upstairs and in the basement as I seldom heat those levels. So I am considering options for the main level (I'm not made of money, could muster at most $4000 - $5000):

1. Replace baseboard heaters (3) with more baseboard heaters or perhaps a wall mounted radiant heat system with new thermostats
2. Install radiant heat on the floor (I have concrete floors), need new carpet/flooring anyway but not sure if the budget will allow both.
3. Install central heat for the main level only. Would love AC but I am in a complex and would have to get approval from the HOA to have the AC unit outside.

I'm not sure what would be the most energy efficient, reliable and cost effective. I have hated these baseboard heaters from the day I moved in here, very hard to regulate temperature. Does anyone know how much any of these options will cost me and what my best bet would be? Have they improved the efficiency of baseboard heaters much in the last 18 years? We normally have a few weeks out of each year that we have temperature extremes (one week or less at a time in the summer for heat waves, usually about three times and about the same for cold snaps in the winter). I have about 800 square feet of floor space in the rooms I want to heat.

Thanks for your input.

Golly, I am so sorry to hear you are getting a big storm too and that your heaters went out. We have been confined indoors all week due to the storm here, we still are not able to get out. It was the worst in 20 years.

We have been using the Bionaire Console electric heaters this winter. If we weren't moving I would look into having a pellet stove installed, several friends have them and they love them, and their homes are always warm. They have a small fan that blows the heat out and they use very little electricity, I do believe their pellets come from your state in Washington. We have forced air heat but the propane is outragously high in cost that we just refuse to use it unless we have to. Our home is very well insulated so the electric heaters cycle less often.

Are you close to where you could get couple electric heaters. I think we paid close to $50.00 for each one from Costco. I do believe they also have them online through Costco. We are very careful in using ours and only place them on the area that has the tile floor, also we are home all the time and I have to tell you though we wouldn't leave one on if we were gone, but that is us.
We tell the girls HOT, HOT at the same time there out of their reach.

Patti and Jack and Girls

[phfgkl]

I don't have any advise, I'm down south where we have heat pumps. I would call around(find someone that is honest) and ask them which would be the best way to go. good luck and please keep warm..Make sure you have a good electric blanket

[Gracie2006]

Originally Posted by Baby Blessing

Golly, I am so sorry to hear you are getting a big storm too and that your heaters went out. We have been confined indoors all week due to the storm here, we still are not able to get out. It was the worst in 20 years.

We have been using the Bionaire Console electric heaters this winter. If we weren't moving I would look into having a pellet stove installed, several friends have them and they love them, and their homes are always warm. They have a small fan that blows the heat out and they use very little electricity, I do believe their pellets come from your state in Washington. We have forced air heat but the propane is outragously high in cost that we just refuse to use it unless we have to. Our home is very well insulated so the electric heaters cycle less often.

Are you close to where you could get couple electric heaters. I think we paid close to $50.00 for each one from Costco. I do believe they also have them online through Costco. We are very careful in using ours and only place them on the area that has the tile floor, also we are home all the time and I have to tell you though we wouldn't leave one on if we were gone, but that is us.
We tell the girls HOT, HOT at the same time there out of their reach.

Patti and Jack and Girls

I'm sorry to hear you are having such storms as well. I have not been out of my house in 4 days. I have a small space heater that I don't trust to be left unattended. It will do until an portable oil filled radiator arrives on Tuesday. I'm hoping that will get me through the rest of the winter. It is very safe, designed for 24 x 7 use. I want to be able to take my time and think about the best option, and not rush into something just because its so cold.