| Hot Water Baseboard vs. Steel Panel Radiators | | | | water, which in turn increases BTUs. |
| Operation: | | | | Double-Double panel radiators are the most |
| Baseboard- Water is heated in the boiler and then | | | | flexible option, while still being economical choice. |
| is forced through the copper tubing inside the | | | | They are a good balance between price and BTU |
| baseboard housing. Attached to that copper tubing | | | | output. Panel Radiators’ are still new to the |
| are aluminum fins. These fins will absorb the heat | | | | United States, even though they have been |
| from the copper tubing through conduction. The | | | | utilized throughout Europe for years. It stands to |
| air within the housing is then heated by these fins. | | | | reason that most contractors will not be as |
| As it is heated it rises up through the top of the | | | | familiar with panel radiators as they are with |
| baseboard and into the room (the hot air rises up | | | | baseboard. |
| because it is lighter than cold air). Cooler air is then | | | | |
| drawn into the bottom of the baseboard and the | | | | Flexibility: |
| process repeats itself until the room reaches the | | | | Baseboard: Baseboard is a pretty standard heating |
| desired temperature and the thermostat is | | | | medium; hot water passes through a room and |
| satisfied. | | | | heats it. A heating system can be designed with |
| Panel Radiators- Water is heated in the boiler and | | | | multiple zones that will allow for more flexibility; |
| then forced through the front and back | | | | for instance the bedrooms can be set as one |
| (depending on the type of radiator) panels of the | | | | zone while the rest of the house is another. The |
| radiators. Attached to the inside of the panels | | | | downside to this option is that putting a |
| are flutes or fins which absorb heat through | | | | thermostat in every room would be difficult, and |
| conduction. Panel radiators have the advantage of | | | | more expensive. |
| providing two forms of heat to a room. First, like | | | | Panel Radiators: Most panel radiators allow for the |
| baseboard heating, air is heated by the flutes | | | | addition of thermostatic heads. These |
| inside the radiators and then convection takes | | | | thermostatic heads will convert each panel |
| place. Secondly, the hot water passing through | | | | radiator its own zone. This means you can keep |
| the panels will emit radiant heat. This emits a very | | | | your bedrooms a little cooler and your bathrooms |
| comfortable heat when approached. The | | | | a little warmer. |
| advantage of panel radiators is that when the | | | | Design: |
| water temperature is reduced, it decreases the | | | | Baseboard- Baseboard units are very limited in |
| overall BTU output but the percentage of radiant | | | | design, as baseboard is a very simple house |
| heat will continue to increase. Essentially, the | | | | placed over copper pipe. It is installed around the |
| water passing through the panel radiator may not | | | | perimeter of a home, which reduces the wall area |
| be hot enough to provide adequate convection, | | | | for furniture placement and overall room design. |
| but it will still be able to radiate heat outward into | | | | Placing large pieces of furniture in front of the |
| the room. | | | | baseboard can disrupt the convective currents in |
| | | | | a home, resulting in poorly heated areas. |
| | | | | Panel Radiators- A 24” by 24” radiator is |
| Baseboard - The most economical option of the | | | | the equivalent to about 9 feet of baseboard. That |
| hot water heating mediums. It is inexpensive | | | | means that you can free up about 7 feet of wall |
| and easy to install, which is part of the reason | | | | space with this single radiator. This greatly |
| why it has become so popular in the United | | | | increases the ability to position furniture around a |
| States. It is a widely used product that all heating | | | | room. Panel radiators are also being |
| contractors are familiar with. | | | | manufactured with design in mind. They are very |
| Panel Radiators - Panel Radiators are more | | | | elegant looking and can fit into any home décor. |
| expensive than baseboard, but are less than | | | | Conclusion: |
| in-floor radiant heating systems. There are several | | | | Steel Panel Radiators are the better product |
| different types of panel radiators available in the | | | | when it comes to design, flexibility and operation. |
| market; Single, Single-Single, Single-Double, | | | | They are more expensive with respect to initial |
| Double-Double, and numerous other variations. | | | | cost, but overall the operating expense of your |
| The percentage of steel within the unit is what | | | | heating system will be less then would be |
| drives the price; the more steel the higher the | | | | expected with a traditional baseboard system. As |
| product cost. The benefit to a higher steel | | | | always, be sure to consult a professional when |
| percentage is that more steel allows for more | | | | doing any sort of plumbing or heating installation. |