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Whenfinishing your basement, you may have lots of things on your mind.
Heating is often relegated to an afterthought.
Yet even the warmest basements run up to15 degrees coolerthan grade-level floors.
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This is just the nature of below-grade living.
Couple that with the fact that your basement may nothave originally been built with living in mind.
Basements can effectively be heated to keep you toasty and warm, and usually through a combination of methods.
If there is a basement, the ductwork might be visible and accessible from there.
Consult an HVAC professional to calculate the heating load and the size and configuration of the ductwork.
Tip
You don’t always need to run entirely new ductwork.
For example, ducts that run between the joists of a floor can often be cut into from below.
The cables or tubes form dense loops under the flooring, ensuring that the floor is evenly heated.
But it is guaranteed that all retrofit options will be superior to going cold in your newly refinished basement.
However, the entire floor covering must be removed and then replaced to install radiant floor heating.
Owners of basements starved for ceiling height may notice the one-inch elevation that comes with installing radiant floor heating.
Also, it will not heat up a basement quickly.
Instead, it’s a slow, steady heat that’s meant to remain running constantly during cold periods.
One alternative to hardwired baseboard heaters: plug-in electric baseboard heaters.
Not only are they portable, but they disperse heat better than tiny space heaters.
They do take up space just as much as any hard-wired unit, though.
The larger, 96-inch models draw enough power that they require a20 amp, 240 V circuit.
Consult an electrician ahead of time.
Baseboard heaters allow you to sequester the heat into just the areas where you need the heat.
These heaters can be individually controlled with separate thermostats or even completely turned on or off, as needed.
An alternative and greener option to using a wood-burning stove is to install awood pellet stove.
These heating sources rely on manufactured pellets as an energy source and burn clean.
Unlike baseboard heaters, pellet stoves are not entirely basement-internal.
Becausethese stovesproduce carbon monoxide, you will need to vent directly to the outside.
From a style perspective, wood pellet stoves may not fit in with many contemporary or modern home designs.
Even the most basic models of wood pellet stoves impart a classic or traditional look.
There’s no need to wait for HVAC technicians or electricians to do their work.
Fan-driven convection heaters are the least expensive and also the least efficient.
Large, flat, micathermic heaters install on the wall like a flat-screen TV and slowly heat the room.
You may just have a trickle of heat coming through the downstairs basement registers.
Do not discount the value of this low-volume heat.
