Basement Heating Options That Won’t Break the Bank 

If you have a basement, keeping the chill at bay during the winter can be tough. Either there’s not enough heat or you’re paying astronomical sums of money just to stay warm when using your space.

Fortunately, you’re not out of luck. There are lots of effective ways to heat your basement without breaking the bank. Whether you need cheap heat now or are looking for the most affordable long-term solution, Jones Services can help. See how below.

Electric Space Heaters

Many homeowners use electric space heaters for their basement because they’re affordable and easy to set up. This gives you the heat you need instantly and since they don’t use gas, they’re safer to run in spaces without good ventilation.

But they’re usually small and may not be a good choice for large basements with open floor plans. If your space is very large, you might need more than one space heater to get the job done. They’re also more expensive to run compared to other forms of heating. It may be cheaper to buy them upfront, but you’ll pay higher electric bills over time.

Mini Split Heat Pumps 

Ductless heating is a better option for basements since they’re easy to install and offer superior home comfort controls. No ductwork is needed and your installation technician will only have to make a small opening in your basement ceiling to run refrigerant lines from the indoor unit to the system’s outdoor condenser.

Ductless systems are super quiet and energy-efficient, so you can stay warm with minimal cost. You can also keep your basement at a different temperature than the rest of your house if you want to save money on your electric bills while the room isn’t in use. And if you want to add ductless upstairs, you can connect up to 8 indoor units to the same condenser.

Compared to other heating methods, ductless units provide the most consistent and affordable basement heating over the long-term.

Central HVAC

Getting heat to your basement is easy enough if you have a central HVAC system. You won’t have to have ductwork installed, especially if your furnace is already in the basement.

While sometimes convenient, central HVAC doesn’t provide the same kind of reliable heating that a ductless mini split or even a pellet stove would. Warm air can seep out of small cracks or crevices in the ducts, allowing it to escape before it can heat your basement area. On very cold days, central systems might have a harder time keeping a basement comfortable, since they tend to be chillier than upstairs rooms.

Radiant Floor Heat 

Radiant floor heat uses either tubes filled with hot water or electric cables to heat the floor in a specific area of your home. As the floor heats up, the air above it does too. Eventually, the entire room will be warm and comfortable. The temperature of the floor isn’t hot enough to be uncomfortable or burn your feet and it can actually be great in the winter when your feet are cold.

The biggest drawbacks are installation cost and the time it takes for floor heating to work. It can take several hours to feel a difference. So if you’re coming in from outside, you’re not going to get comfortable as quickly as you would with a space heater, wood stove, or ductless unit.

Pellet Stoves

Pellet stoves are inexpensive to install compared to other heating methods like central HVAC or floor heat. They put out far fewer emissions than regular wood-burning stoves, which is better for enclosed spaces like basements where there’s less ventilation.

That said, you still need adequate airflow in your basement to safely heat the area with a pellet stove. Make sure the smoke is going through a chimney directly to the outside to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Pellet stoves are also pretty dirty, so you might need to invest in an air purifier to keep downstairs specifically for keeping ash and soot out of your basement.

Need Home Heating Help? Call Jones Services Today 

With cold weather just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about your home heating. Our qualified New York HVAC technicians can help you explore different basement heating options and compare the cost of each, so you can make an informed choice.

Contact us today for more information about heating installation and repair by calling Jones Services at (845) 299-2234.