Skirting Board Heating: The Pros, Cons & Costs (2023)

FAQs

Is skirting heating any good? ›

There is no doubt that there are many benefits of skirting board heating, such as lower energy bills, increased efficiency and additional space. It also is non-invasive and doesn't demand massive changes to be made to your home.

Skirting board heating systems work in a similar way to radiators. They should only take a few minutes to heat up. When they do, they'll provide an even distribution of heat throughout the room, with no heat loss through the flooring.

Skirting boards operate cost-effectively using electricity or hot water instead of fossil fuels and use the principle of radiant heat. The even distribution of heat and ability to rapid adjust/control via thermostats contribute to heating a property in an energy-efficient, resource-efficient and sustainable way.

You could even save money on your energy bills as underfloor heating is up to 25% more cost-effective than radiators. Open plan living is often a key feature in new build design, meaning underfloor heating is likely the more desirable solution.

A hydronic heating system is a healthier, cleaner, and more comfortable way to heat your home. There really is a healthier way to heat your home without sacrificing comfort or energy-efficiency.

Electric plinth heaters are usually more expensive to run than hydronic heaters, as they run independently from their own source of electricity. As electricity generally has a higher cost per kilowatt, to run any heater with electricity usually costs more than gas.

"Most heaters – particularly convection, panel and oil column heaters which don't have exposed heating elements – are safe to leave on overnight on a low setting, as long as they are well clear of any furniture, curtains and so on, as per the 'leave a metre for heaters' rule," says CHOICE heating expert Chris Barnes.

Baseboard heating cost

You can expect to spend about anywhere from $500-1,500 more per year to heat a home with baseboards than a more efficient system like a ductless mini-split heat pump.

Advantages. As long as you close the doors so the cold air doesn't seep into the rest of the house, you will save money by turning off the radiators in unused rooms. By doing so, you'll prevent the water in the system from running through that particular radiator.

Which type of radiator is most efficient? ›

Electric Radiators however can be considered a '100% efficient' device. This is because almost all of the electricity used to power them is converted into heat. As a result, in many ways electric radiators can be considered the 'most efficient radiators'.

Baseboard heating is often more efficient than radiators, and they are even more efficient when they are run constantly, instead of being turned on and off.

Generally speaking, Halogen heaters are one of the most inexpensive types of electric heater. They average around 1200W in terms of power output and because they provide instant-heat at close quarters, you shouldn't need to leave them on for long periods of time.

In general, furnaces are the most efficient of the heating systems, especially if you have natural gas. They work by heating air with a component called a heat exchanger and pushing it into the home through a duct system, using a fan (often referred to as a blower).

Common Underfloor Heating Problems

Although generally highly reliable, there are many reasons your underfloor heating could be malfunctioning. These problems can include anything from incorrect setup to incompatible external components, such as flooring, or something as simple as trapped air in the pipes.

Experts say that setting your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day is the best way to save money in the winter. While away from home, it is recommended to turn it down. This has been determined to be the ideal setting for savings in the winter.

You will need to carefully research your chosen furnace to ensure it is an efficient one. Also, electric and oil furnaces are the least efficient among the options. If you are going to use a furnace to heat your home and want to be as efficient as possible, opt for natural gas.

electric heating cost is much cheaper. A single kilowatt-hour (kWh) unit of gas costs around 4.65p, whereas the average price for a kWh of electricity is more than 20p.

Heat pumps are one of the most obvious replacements. These appliances work using a refrigerant to absorb the natural heat that can be found in the ground, air or water. This refrigerant is compressed to further increase the temperature, which can then be used to heat the cold water in the system.

How much electricity does a plinth heater use? ›

By default, its heating element runs at 2000W for an output of 6280 BTU/hr. However, you can also cut the power in half (1,000W @ 3410 BTU/hr) to save energy or better fit smaller spaces.

So are plinth heaters any good? If you have a limited space, and don't mind spending a bit more then a plinth heating system can be a good choice. If you have an existing central heating system then you can easily add the additional hydronic plinth heaters.

Plinth heaters are highly efficient, space and energy-saving and are ideal for spacious kitchens.

Electric panel heaters are cheaper in the beginning, but cost more to run. This is because electric panel heaters don't store heat, and so continually draw upon the power supply whilst they heat the air.

Heaters are best placed under windows. If you do not have the space for panel heaters, you can also choose wall strip panel heaters, which are lower and longer variants. By placing heaters under the windows, you heat up cold air descending from the window glass, and avoid cold draughts along the floor.

Apart from the obvious side-effects such as drying out your skin, these heaters also burn up oxygen from the air. Even people who don't have an asthmatic problem, often experience sleepiness, nausea and headaches in rooms with conventional heaters.

Baseboard heat is not as energy efficient as central heat and AC systems. And those who install central HVAC see a nearly 50% decrease in their electricity bill when they stop using the baseboard heat system. So, it is more expensive to run baseboard heating.

Expected life – According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a cadet-type wall heater or baseboard heater has a 10-15 year expected life. While that is a long time, the NAHB rates radiant ceiling panels with a 40-year life.

In larger homes, a small room may be worth heating individually if it's less than a quarter of the size of the whole house, although there's less benefit if your house is well-insulated.

On average, UK homes are heated for about eight hours a day in winter – ten hours a day for homes that have one sustained heating period and seven hours a day for the more usual two heating periods.

What should you keep away from radiators? ›

While some homeowners have considered turning off their heat at night in an attempt to lower their heating bills, it generally is not recommended as a viable option. The fact is, turning your heat off at night creates more potential risk for your home and your family than it does savings on your energy bill.

In scientific terms, matt black is the most efficient colour choice for a radiator, but the difference in heat output between a matt black radiator and a white radiator with everything else being equal is only around 1%.

You should set the central heating programme to come on around half an hour before you get up, and go off around half an hour before you go to bed. And if the house is empty during the day, or you can manage without heating during the day, make sure you've set the programmer to go off for this period too.

In a practically designed heating system a vertical radiator will be no less efficient at warming a room than a horizontal one. Vertical radiators free up wall space. They also allow you many more room layout options. So, if you like to keep rearranging your room, this is the best option.

In general, electric baseboard heaters use more electricity than an electric heat pump. This means higher electric bills, especially in the coldest winter months when they're working overtime to keep your home warm. The placement of baseboard heaters — near windows and exterior walls — can also work against you.

Sometimes baseboard heaters can give off a slight humming or popping noise. It's usually nothing to be alarmed about, but a buzzing baseboard heater can be annoying to some people.

Baseboard heaters were once the standard heating solution for homes across America, but now they've become outdated. They no longer offer the modern comforts that an HVAC system could provide. However, that doesn't stop many people from maintaining the ones they have at home.

Although prices have risen, natural gas is the least costly form of space heating. This is followed by electricity, propane, and heating oil, from the next cheapest to the most expensive. It also pays to consider eco-friendly home improvements that make home eco-heating more efficient, too.

How much does it cost to run heating for an hour UK? ›

LPG heating cost to run

LPG cost usage is usually around 11.35p per kWh, so the range of cost per hour will likely be between £2.72-£4.54 depending on your boiler's power outage.

Natural gas on average is cheaper

On average natural gas heat costs $9.2 per million BTU (MMBTU) compared to electric heat at $34.9 per MMBTU. That means natural gas heat only about a third of the price of electric heat over a year for a home.

Solar heating is the most efficient home heating system on all three criteria, and electric is the least efficient and least affordable. If you want to know why electric heating is so inefficient and expensive, or how to save on electric heating, see my Energy efficient electric heaters page.

such as walls and ceilings, solid masonry walls, and underfloor heating can have a damping effect on the Wi-Fi signal.

Underfloor heating leaks are one of the most common issues caused at the installation stage. However, even though they are not frequent, they are troubling.

If you have a heat pump – or are planning to have on fitted – then underfloor heating is a must. You could also look to larger radiators but underfloor heating offers many more benefits. Even for homes without a heat pump, underfloor heating is worth thinking about.

Radiant heating has a number of advantages. It is more efficient than baseboard heating and usually more efficient than forced-air heating because it eliminates duct losses. People with allergies often prefer radiant heat because it doesn't distribute allergens like forced air systems can.

Baseboard heating is often more efficient than radiators, and they are even more efficient when they are run constantly, instead of being turned on and off.

What's the most efficient way to heat a room? ›

Central heating is most efficient

You can combine an efficient central heating system with heating controls. So, if you don't need to keep every room at the same temperature, you can use individual room thermostats or radiator valves to target the heat towards rooms you use the most.

Trapped air is the most common problem with a malfunctioning underfloor heating system, especially one that uses hot water flowing through sub-floor pipe work. Air can get caught up in the pipe and stay there, causing issues with the whole system.

It's worth noting too that underfloor heating systems have a lifespan of 50 years plus, while the average radiator will only last between 8-12 years before becoming inefficient.

Underfloor heating is likely to fail and cause major damage. While not all systems are created equally, there are options on the market that offer maintenance-free convenience and lifetime warranties.

Generally speaking, Halogen heaters are one of the most inexpensive types of electric heater. They average around 1200W in terms of power output and because they provide instant-heat at close quarters, you shouldn't need to leave them on for long periods of time.

Most heated tile floors and electric floor heating systems use 12 watts per hour per square foot, meaning a 100-square-foot room would use 1200 watts in total every hour (potentially up to 300 watts less than the average space heater).

Although prices have risen, natural gas is the least costly form of space heating. This is followed by electricity, propane, and heating oil, from the next cheapest to the most expensive. It also pays to consider eco-friendly home improvements that make home eco-heating more efficient, too.

Generally, infrared heating is the cheapest way to heat a small space, since it uses up such little electricity. However, an Oil-Filled Heater with a digital thermostat is also a great choice for a small room. Both heaters don't use much electricity, and can maintain a temperature well.

As long as you close the doors so the cold air doesn't seep into the rest of the house, you will save money by turning off the radiators in unused rooms. By doing so, you'll prevent the water in the system from running through that particular radiator.