electric heat

[Anonymous]

GM/ Is there a rule of thumb or formula that will tell me the amount of electric baseboard heating I would need for heating a room? Also,realize more work would be involved(finished rooms),but is it better to have a wall stat VS the thermo which attaches right on heater cover. Would assume wall type to be better, but would like other opinion on this. I realize I need to keep in mind not to overload main service in doing.Possibly another question may have down the road. Will be upgrading soon to 200amp to accomodate Hot tub recently installed. Would be looking at 240v baseboard heaters. TY

[Wgoodrich]

YOU SAID;
Is there a rule of thumb or formula that will tell me the amount of electric baseboard heating I would need for heating a room? Also,realize more work would be involved(finished rooms),but is it better to have a wall stat VS the thermo which attaches right on heater cover. Would assume wall type to be better, but would like other opinion on this.

REPLY;

There is a heating degree day factor unknown to me concerning where you are. In the US extreme South 1/3 I would 1.5 adjustment same as the formula suggests. In the US mid south I would use 1 in place of 1.5 in the formula suggested. In the US middle to mid north I would again use 1.5 as the formula suggests. In the US extreme north or colder mountain reagions I would use 2 in place of 1.5 as the formula suggest. Canadian border north I would use 2.5 in place of the 1.5 as the forumla suggests. Again this heating degree day adjustment is estimated for those regions.

Then you have heat loss you need to consider concerning heat loss due to leakage of doors and windows, type of insulation, etc. That can be a factor you may want to consider in your calculations.

The normal formula we are speaking of is as follows;

Room width x length x height = square foot area of heating, then include heating degree day for that adjustment by multiplying the area square feet times 1.5 or the adjustment suggested in the prior paragraph depending on region you are in. This adjusted answer would be the watts required to heat that room. Then baseboard heat is normally 250 watts per foot of baseboard heat.

Just divide the total watts of heat needed by the 250 watts per foot and that will tell you how many feet of heat you need for that room.

Then you need to consider proper placement of this heat for best confort zone. Divide your baseboard heaters into smaller sections of baseboard heat so that you can place the heat near the locations of heat loss such as windows and outside doors to cut any draft or convection heat loss that may be present and trying to maintain the baseboard heaters along the outside walls.

Problem is you are not supposed to block the heaters. You also need to make an adjustment forgiving some comfort at times to allow for a couch etc. that will be placed that will block these heaters.

Wall thermostats placed on an inside wall opposite in the room from where the baseboard heat is located provides the most accurate thermostatic control for comfort in the room.

YOU SAID;
I realize I need to keep in mind not to overload main service in doing.Possibly another question may have down the road. Will be upgrading soon to 200amp to accomodate Hot tub recently installed.

REPLY;

The following demand load calculation format explained in our 2002 HomeWiringandmore web site should be able to guide you in calculating the minimum service size required for your house as required by the NEC. Then you will be able to make an informed decision instead of a guess as to what size service upgrade you need if you even need one. Chances are you need a service upgrade but why guess. Find the minimum size service required by the NEC at least then you will know what safe is and you can then make an informed decision just how much more than minimum service size you need.

http://www.homewiringandmore.com/homewiringusa/2002/definitions/demandcalc02/DwlingDmdCalc02.html

Hope this helps

Wg