What Is an Electric Baseboard Heater?
An electric baseboard heater contains internal heating elements that heat room air by convection. Convection is the natural process of air circulation created by heated air rising to replace cooler air, and requires no fan or blower device. There are many types of electric heaters, but electric baseboard heaters are low-profile in construction, and designed to fit unobtrusively against wall baseboards. Electric baseboard heaters generally are available as either portable models for room-to-room use or permanent installation models. Rooms that are seldom used or are new additions to a home or building will sometimes use an electric baseboard heater for ease of installation. The ability to turn the unit on and off independent of the main heating system can make economic sense for occasional use. Some homes, buildings, and apartments, however, exclusively use electric heat since it does not require the installation of a central boiler or air heating unit.
