Winter temperatures can have devastating impacts on your home, and they tend to be more detrimental to homes with basements. The high level of cold in basements results from water seeping through the concrete foundation into the area. A finished basement can be a significant area in your home as it adds more space to the house. However, it is imperative to ensure the temperatures in the basement are as favorable as the rest of your home, even in the coldest winter seasons.
Numerous heating options can keep your basement warm all year long. While a furnace with basement ducting is usually the best option to keep your basement warm and toasty, you must first determine your specific needs. With all the various basement heating options available, what is the best way to heat a basement? Below are some of the best basement heating options.
1. Include Registers in Your Current Heating System
A register is a grill with flexible parts that can be opened and closed to direct airflow throughout the home. It can be placed on the wall, roof, or floor. It is an important part of a heating system and offers a distinctive way of heating your basement where ductwork has already been installed.
Since registers must be installed where ductwork is in place, you can hire a professional to install ducts if needed. Ducts have openings that enable the homeowner to control the amount of air coming into the room. To leverage their use, make sure that they are not blocked by furniture or covered by curtains. This will allow for convenient circulation of air throughout the basement.
2. Radiant Heating
Your basement can receive a direct heat supply to the floor or panels in the wall or ceiling through infrared radiation. Implementation of radiant heating is pocket-friendly and efficient for your basement. There are numerous radiant panel options that you can use for your basement. Some of these include:
Hydronic Radiant Floor Heating
Unlike baseboard heating and forced-air heating, radiant heating is more effective since it gets rid of duct losses. It is also doesn’t spread allergens like forced-air systems do. Radiant heating systems are water-based and depend on hot water to distribute heat to your basement’s floor from below.
Electric Radiant Floor Heating
Electric radiant floor heating is an energy-based system comprising electric heating cables that are installed into the floor. It can be situated below your carpet, tile, stone, or wood flooring. However, electric radiant floors are expensive due to the high cost of electricity and can only be economical if they incorporate a significant thermal mass such as a thick concrete floor.
Generally, both radiant heating options function with the same concept. The only difference is that you’ll stretch an electric heating coil instead of the PEX tube, for the electric radiant heating. Finally, the radiant heating option is only effective if the right equipment is available.
3. Install Hardwired Baseboard Heaters
Installation of baseboard heaters can be an exceptional heating remedy for many homeowners as they provide permanent spot heating. They are cost-effective and are straightforward to install. However, their range is limited, and they can only be used in one room at a time. However, they are enough for your basement and can provide constant heating down there. Unlike registers, baseboard heaters do not require ductwork and do not extend to the whole wall length. They are fixed in certain areas, such as the floor of your underground room.
4. Buy a Vented Standalone System
Invest in a standalone system such as a pellet stove to heat your basement. A pellet stove works by heating pellets made of wood or other organic materials. Heating a basement with a pellet stove is a double win as you can heat the entire place with just a single stove. It can heat more than 1700 square feet, which is more than enough for the average basement. You won’t have to monitor the stove as it is equipped with an auto-pellet feeder system.
5. Floor Insulation
Floor insulation is the easiest and most cost-effective way to keep your basement warm. With an insulated floor, you can save more than 50% of your energy bills regardless of the flooring. It is the best option to conserve heat within your finished basement. When insulating your floor, you can either use DRIcore or rigid foam insulation.
DRIcore is a type of floor insulation made specifically for basements. It is one of the exceptional ways to eliminate cold and dampness from your basement as it insulates your finished floors while keeping them dry. DRIcore can be fixed underneath the finished floor. Since it allows your concrete to breathe, DRIcore can encase your basement without becoming humid or wet. Since DRIcore comes in various finishing options, you can select one that matches your basement’s function and style. Alternatively, you can use rigid foam insulation to insulate your basement. Rigid foam insulation is suitable in basements that do not experience any water problems and works best in raised floors.
6. Add a Ductless Mini-Split
The thought of facing winter without a heating option is practically unbearable. Homeowners with large basements or those that they use regularly may consider installing ductless mini-splits. Ductless mini-splits, also called zoned HVAC systems, are heating and cooling systems that work without ducts to distribute the air. It is probably the most expensive option you can choose to heat your basement. However, it guarantees outstanding results when adding heat to your home. Also, minimal energy is utilized to retain heat in your basement.
Ductless mini-splits are equipped with an air handler that attaches to an external heat pump. The air handler uses a thermostat to determine the room’s temperature. The outdoor system collects thermal energy externally, intensifies it, and supplies it to the home in the form of heat. This system does not need to be closely monitored as the thermostat is constantly gauging the heating needs of each room based on your pre-set desired temperatures.
7. Use Electric Space Heaters
If you have lived in cold regions, you are probably familiar with space heaters. This is the most affordable heating option as space heaters are cheap to purchase and require no installation. They can be plugged in and start heating the room instantly. When using space heaters, however, it is important to always keep safety in mind. Never leave a space heater unattended and only use them as supplementary heat. It’s also wise to look for heaters with safety features such as automatic tip-over shut-off and child-sense functions.
Work with Reliable Heating Services
At Bardi Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, we know the specific climate of Norcross, GA, and the surrounding areas. We can help you select the best heating options to keep your basement nice and warm in the winter. We are the number one service provider offering cooling, heating, and plumbing services. If you are looking for such services, contact us to set up an appointment.
