Must-Know Facts About Electric Baseboard Heaters

Finding an efficient heating solution is crucial when temperatures start dropping and the cold front is settling in our homes. Electric baseboard heaters have already won over 40% of all Quebec households, and there are plenty of reasons for such a heating system’s popularity.

Not only is Quebec blessed with several leading electric baseboard heater manufacturers, but said heating apparatus also happens to be most cost-effective, in terms of retail price and utility expenses. What are the pros and cons of an electric baseboard heater? What are its key installation steps? Everything and more detailed below.

What Is Baseboard Heating and How Does It Work?

Electric baseboard heaters function thanks to electrical resistance, warming up the air in a room using three different methods:  

• Convection: Warm air rises, heating the surrounding space

• Inertia: Baseboards have a mass that retains and releases heat

• Radiation: The baseboard warms the wall on which it is mounted over roughly 60 inches (1.5 m) high

Given the radiation bouncing off the cold wall, the heat felt will be greater than that of a standard heater. Hence,  electric baseboards are the most common heating system province-wide as it is featured in 40% of all households. 

How to Select the Best Electric Baseboard Heater

Power (750 W, 1,500 W or 2,000 W)

It all depends on the square footage you intend to heat. Use the formula down below to know the right wattage needed:

• Square footage x 10 

According to the formula above, for a 150-square-foot room, you need 1,500 watts of power. 

Brands: Stelpro vs. Global Commander

To ensure utmost safety and benefit from long-lasting products, it’s best to favour well-known and reputable brands, such as:

• Global Commander

• Stelpro

Global Commander is a heating device brand operated by Ouellet Canada Inc., and electric baseboards designed by said brand are produced in Islet, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. Said brand is known as the leading North American designer, manufacturer, and distributor of electric heating products.  

Stelpro is another Quebec-based company, established in 1981. Nowadays, it’s also one of the leading North American heating products companies. Thanks to its industry-specific expertise, said brand has four manufacturing plants, producing over 1.1 million products every year.

Choosing electric baseboards from either of these two brands is equivalent to choosing quality above all else and promoting the local economy.  

Thermostat

In terms of product lining, electronic thermostats top the list. Such products are a lot more accurate than manual ones, and they’re also programmable. This means that the temperature inside your home can be adjusted automatically throughout the day based on the time of day. In other words, you can plan on lowering the temperature when you’re not home or when you're sleeping.

According to Hydro-Québec, electronic thermostats allow for $100 savings on yearly heating bills for average-sized homes. 

Baseboard vs. Convector

Installing Electric Baseboards: How To

Prior to installing electric baseboards, turn off your home’s main electricity feed. If you don’t yet have an adequate electric installation, note that hiring a qualified contractor-electrician, one who is a member in good standing with the Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec (CMEQ), is the best course of action.

Step 1: Find the right installation spot

A baseboard heater must be installed along a cold wall. In other words, an exterior-facing wall. Baseboard heaters are typically installed below windows to counteract the cold air, preventing it from filtering through the home.

You will also need to plan for 6 inches of free space in front of the baseboard, as well as above it. 

Last hurdle: never install a baseboard heater beneath an electrical outlet. 

Step 2: Pick a mounting type

There are two ways to install a baseboard heater: 

• Surface mount

• Recessed 

Step 3: Wire the baseboard heater and thermostat to the electrical panel

Much like all electric products, a baseboard heater is powered by an electrical cable, running from the electrical service panel and protected by a circuit breaker. Said cable has three wires:

• Phase 

• Neutral

• Ground

The phase, ground, and neutral wires must be linked to the baseboard’s power supply terminal. 

The baseboard and thermostat must have identical amperages. Once completed, you can proceed with the installation.

Maintenance and Repairs: When and Why to Upgrade Your Old Base Heater?

Why is my electric baseboard constantly heating?

The thermostat’s purpose is to cut the baseboard’s electricity supply once the heating system reaches its preset temperature. If your baseboard heats non-stop, this is a clear indication that your thermostat is malfunctioning. 

Why is my baseboard heater noisy?

When you turn on your heating, metal dilates, which, in turn, emits noise. When turned off, the temperature drops, resulting in the metal contracting, again generating a sound.

However, it may be that your baseboards crackle regularly. If so, there are three possible causes: 

1. The screws are too tight

2. Faulty amperage

3. The thermostat was not calibrated properly  

If you can’t get to the bottom of the bothersome noises, feel free to call in a professional. 

Electric Baseboards: Aesthetic and Efficient Heating

Electric baseboards are an aesthetically pleasing and practical heating solution. These devices distribute heat evenly, are easy to install, and require little maintenance. On account of their subtle design, they blend perfectly with a variety of interior styles and décors. However, to maximize efficiency, it's important to consider their energy consumption and use them in well-insulated environments.