I am in the process of finishing my basement (two rooms, about 150 and
200 sq ft). I was planning on putting in a couple of electric baseboards for heat, but an acquaintance suggested that this would be costly in the longrun. He recommended attaching a hot water circulator pump to my boiler or hot water heater, and running hot water baseboards. Is this a goog idea? Anyone know resources on the web which might help in installing such a system, or at least learning about this system.Thanks Doug
By hot water heater, I assume you meat the existing central heater, not the domestic hot water used for bathing and laundry.
It may be possible to do this, but it will depends on the capacity of the heater. If it was sized to accommodate the entire house including the basement, yes, it will work and probably be more economical to run compared to electric. A few years ago, I would have said "definitely", but with the price of all energy going up, it can be comparable or even cheaper in a few places to use electric.
As for installation, it is mostly running copper tubing and soldering. Long runs may require an expansion joint. Then you have to wire in a thermostat and zone valve or circulator.
Other factors come into play also. Are the rooms just for occasional use or will they be occupied often that you want to keep them at the same temperature as the rest of the house? Or will they be used once every couple of weeks for the kids pizza party with friends? In the latter, running heat for only a day every week or two, electric may be the best bet. Of course you must also have enough power coming in to the house for the additional load. Ed
If you have a a boiler- hot water heat it has a pump. I wouldnt contaminate hot drinking water with a heating system. Call a Pro heating guy , size it, do it right.
Hi,
the hot water is way cheaper yes.
candice
I do a couple of dozen basements a year. Generally, we add electric baseboard heat on individual thermostats to supplement the heating that's in place.
Two reasons -- much easier to balance the heat throughout the house and the baseboard heat is used mainly in summer.
If you have hot water heating now, you already have a circulating pump. Don't attach to the hot water heater.
Ken
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