Our world has evolved since the creation of the electric baseboard heater. Today, there are many choices when it comes to efficient heating solutions that increase your comfort. But it seems everyone wants to sell you a miracle solution, be it gas, heating oil, propane or a geothermal system. And what about wood, pellets or the old-fashioned fireplace?

Are these solutions truly best for you? Before deciding, consider your needs, installation costs and, above all, the changing costs of energy types.

With all these dream products being pitched your way, it’s wise to remain sceptical and to look at them critically. Some systems tout subsidies that cover part of their installation. Could it be selfless generosity? What will happen to the costs of propane, heating oil and other non-renewable energies? To understand what the future holds, sometimes we need to look at the past.

According to Statistics Canada, the price of heating oil and propane increased by 74 per cent between 2000 and 2007. During that same period, natural gas climbed 50 per cent. As for electricity, the average cost in Canada increased just 23 per cent. Judging from the past, it would be astounding if prices were to drop. 

Electricity is ideal for efficient home heating that provides optimal comfort. But we’re not talking about the baseboard heater that once ruled your home and wasted your money. The electric heater has improved and diversified, leaving consumers with real choice. It’s the natural convection heaters introduced by Convectair in 1983 that sealed baseboard heater’s fate.

Convectair units draw on a European technology developed for consumers who grapple with much higher electricity costs than our own. Its natural convection systems circulates the air and ensures the warmth they produce heats you efficiently and in complete silence.

Sceptical? Then take the test: Imagine that you replace your six-foot-long baseboard heater (1500 watts) with an iron (also 1500 watts). Would you feel comfortable? Would heating be more expensive? Is the unit only heating the wall and ceiling or is it working its way through the whole room? Does it use an approximate wall thermostat or a precise built-in thermostat? It’s the way a heater distributes heat comfortably that makes all the difference.

And there’s more than just convection heaters; many styles exist nowadays. It’s likely you know someone who always feels chilly. This cold-sensitive soul would appreciate a radiant heater that warms objects and people rather than air. Worried about how these heaters look? You’ll find this model is quite elegant.

It’s perfect at the foot of a stairwell, since the heat produced won’t rise to the floor above. In the bathroom, a radiant heater warms your towels as it heats your body and the whole room. Now that’s a comfort that will remind you of the warm summer sun.

Electric heating is not a thing of the past. Today’s electric heating is clean, renewable and the heaters will make you warm and cosy at the lowest cost.

Article Via Muchmor Canada Magazine - “Discover Your Canada”
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