There is a generation of housing that utilized the then popular base board heating system. The benefits were alluring, you could turn on or off each unit as you desire, there was no ductwork blowing dust around, and it was ‘clean’ energy, electricly run saving money on gas or oil heating systems. The thing that all homeowners with base board heat know is that it produces a black smoke stain on your wall and that you are not encouraged to put items directly in front of or too close to the unit for fear of starting a fire.

What to do? Options are:

a) Install a heat pump in every room/area (quite expensive but it does include air conditioning)

b) Install a furnace in the basement along with ductwork to bring heat to various rooms. Expensive to create ductwork, sometimes getting gas to the house is expensive and if your basement is finished you are ripping out the ceiling and having to refinish the ceiling after the ductwork is installed.

c) Install small electric radiators where your baseboard heat units are. Although safer than the baseboard heat, you still have an uninvited guest on your favorite wall where you wanted to put that buffet.

d) Install INFRARED HEAT PANELS! 1/2” thin rectangular (generally 2x4) panels that are installed on the ceiling. Installed with a thermostat for that room/area, they radiate heat on to you, furniture, and surfaces (think of heat from sunshine). TThey are warm, but not so hot to the touch as other radiant heaters. They are completely silent, DO NOT blow air and dust around. They are energy efficient and easily installed by an electrician (need to be hardwired). They come white but are PAINTABLE - painting them the same color as your ceiling will cause them to blend in and become unnoticeable. And one of my favorite features - you can place your furniture anywhere you want.

See below - infrared ceiling panels in dining and library.