Heating: Forced air vs baseboard

[Buff]

I am considering purchasing a new home and a couple of the places I'm looking at has baseboard heating. I haven't seen these homes yet so I don't know if they are electric or gas. I really don't have any experience with baseboard heating so I'm wondering what the CP collective can tell me about baseboard heating.

Would you prefer forced air or baseboard? What are things to consider with baseboard heating? Is our climate decent for baseboard heating? Do baseboard heaters have a higher fire hazard?

Please tell me what you know about them and what you prefer, if you've experienced them and/or forced air.

[You Need a Thneed]

Current building code requires air exchange every so often. If there is baseboard heaters, it won't meet current building standards unless there also is a system to exchange outside and inside air.

[trublmaker]

baseboard costs more to heat, radiant is probably the best.

[GP_Matt]

One of the problems that I found with baseboard heating is that they are slow to react. With forced air you turn on the heat and feel the room warm up pretty quick. Baseboards take the slow and steady approach so it could take a while to actually heat up the room.

I have heard that they are really expensive as well and that would make sense given how much more expensive electricity is compared to natural gas.

[Rathji]

The downside my dad always said about his baseboard heating at his house was that the dust was worse than without it. I have never lived in a place with anything but forced air, so I can't comment any further,

[Dynamic]

I know out in the maritimes there is a lot more people with baseboard heaters, I think it is because they are warmer?

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by Dynamic

I know out in the maritimes there is a lot more people with baseboard heaters, I think it is because they are warmer?

More due to the lack of infrastructure to supply nat gas.

Most forced air furnaces out east are run on stove / furnace oil...



In this climate I would go forced air as it would be easier to add a humidifier for the winter months.

[Buff]

From everything I've read, and from the opinions thus far, I'd be inclined to choose forced air if I had the choice. However, if the house I want to buy is a house I really like, I don't think baseboard heaters would sway my decision.

I see that there is electric or water heated baseboard heaters. Based on energy costs, I think I would prefer it if it was water heated... but I suppose that can create some extra maintenance costs down the line.

Thanks to the mod who made a poll. Good idea!

[Bill Bumface]

Heating via electricity will be disgustingly expensive.

[To Be Quite Honest]

My dad has the electric basebord heating and he likes it because you can turn if off/down in rooms that are not being used. While forced air just blows. You can close a vent but that energy is still being wasted.