8 BETTER Alternatives To Baseboard Heaters [From Experience]

Although you may have had a good experience with the baseboard heating system, it might be time to consider a change.

After using a baseboard heater for over 6 years, I’ve used other alternatives that seem to work better.

A lot of folks are afraid of switching their heating system because of up-front installation costs, but you’ll learn in this article which alternatives don’t require a huge investment.

Before talking about better options, let’s quickly reveal some of the drawbacks of baseboard heaters:

Drawbacks of Baseboard Heaters

• Noise – Baseboard heating systems are known to be noisy, disrupting the peace of mind when you’re casually resting in your home.
• Inconsistent temperature control – In most cases, your baseboard heater won’t have a consistent temperature control unless you have a proper insulation and voltage thermostat connection.
• Not so safe – This type of heating is too hot to touch and if kids and pets can reach it, then it becomes a safety concern.
• Skin irritation – As baseboard heaters produce very dry heat, people with sensitive skin can experience skin, eyes, or nose irritation. A humidifier is a must-have.
• Takes up space – They take up a lot of space and limit where you can position other furniture.

Alternatives To Baseboard Heaters 

Ductless Heat Pumps

Ductless heat pumps are the most popular alternative to baseboard heaters and it’s because of their efficiency.

They can both cool and heat your home and they will save you up to 45% on your electric heating bill.

One thing I love about ductless heat pumps is that they don’t take up a lot of space and they’re much quieter.

You have better control over the temperature in a smaller room, and because they are ductless, they are a stand-alone unit.

Solar Heat

Solar heating works by absorbing solar energy to heat a fluid in the system, which is then transferred to a storage system for later use.

Without any doubt, this alternative will save you the most money in the long term. However, installation costs are high and they require a bigger up-front investment.

The good thing about solar heating is that it became very popular in the past 2 years, so installation costs are slightly lower than before.

If you’re looking to save money in the future – this is a great option to consider.

High-Efficiency Furnace

You might have heard bad things about furnaces, but new models are a lot more efficient and save you much more than models from the past.

With a high-efficient furnace model, you’ll be using up to 30% less fuel and energy. Basically, it will help you reduce energy consumption and costs while reducing your carbon footprint as well.

One thing we have to add is that high-efficiency furnaces are a lot less noisy than baseboard heating systems.

Wall Heaters

Wall heaters also known as wall furnaces, are mounted on the wall and vented directly through the same wall.

They don’t use any ductwork for transferring warm air, and their simple installation made them very popular in the last decade.

Although this is a great alternative, I don’t recommend it for larger living rooms as it won’t be so efficient.

One of the best wall heaters that are affordable and very efficient is the Heat Storm Wi-Fi heater which has everything you need.

Wall heaters work as direct heaters, so they’re less effective when you’re further away from that area.

Wood Heating

One of the most classic and “old school” ways to heat your home is with wood heating.

This can be done with wood stoves or wood-burning fireplace inserts that use wood logs to create the fire and transfer the heat throughout the whole house.

Personally, this is one of my favorite heating options if you don’t have a lot of rooms in your house. Not only does it heat the house quickly, but it gives you that cozy, warm feeling when you’re snuggled on your couch.

Heat Pumps

Generally, a heat pump will minimize the usage of your other unit while being very efficient for extra comfort.

The great thing about heat pumps is they can run off of electricity, so switching from baseboard heating isn’t a tough process.

They can both transfer cool and warm air which makes it a great year-round heating & cooling solution.

I have to mention that heat pumps require a slightly different kind of maintenance than baseboard heating. You should hire professionals every 4-6 months for duct cleaning to ensure your air doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals or mold.

Pellet Stoves

Pellet stoves are highly-efficient when it comes to heating smaller spaces such as bedrooms.

The funny thing about pellet stoves is that people who are “tech geeks” can’t stand them, but I’m still a big fan of them due to their effectiveness.

Pellet stoves have an easy step-by-step installation and you can do it by yourself instead of hiring a professional.

Pellet stoves require less maintenance than any other alternative, and it won’t cost you a lot to have them working 24/7.

If you’re considering buying this alternative, my recommendation is to read an in-depth buying guide about pellet stoves.

Radiant Heaters

The radiant heater is also known as infrared heaters use radiation to transfer warm air throughout the whole house evenly.

These are the quietest alternative to baseboard heating, they basically produce no noise at all.

Although a lot of people are comparing ceramic and radiant heaters, I can tell you that you won’t regret buying a radiant heating system.

The light that radiant heaters produce isn’t visible to our eyes, so we can only feel them.

They usually use electricity to heat, but there are some models using propane to work.

This is the best radiant heater on the market according to a lot of external tests and research.

Hope you learned something new in this article and that you’ll find an alternative that fits your needs.