How to Calculate the Feet of a Hydronic Baseboard Needed for a Basement

Basements can be warmed by tying the space into your home's hydronic heating system. The hydronic heating system uses a boiler to circulate hot water to baseboard heaters in the rooms of your home. The length of the baseboards in each room will depend on the room's heating needs. Use specific calculations to find the length in feet you need for a baseboard heater in your basement.

Baseboard heater manual
Calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Subtract 10 degrees Fahrenheit from the temperature the boiler for the hydronic system is set. For instance, if the system is set at 170 degrees Fahrenheit, you will use 170 - 10 = 160 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the average water temperature for the hydronic system.
- 2
  Use the manual for your baseboard heater to find the model's specific heat output for the average temperature for the system. Examine the sides and back of the baseboard for this number if you do not have the manual. The number will be in BTU/hr/ft.
- 3
  Divide the design heat load for your basement by the heat output of the baseboard to find the length in feet of the baseboards needed for the basement. Ask your contractor for the design heat load for your basement as it is based on the type of materials used in construction, the square footage and the your climate.

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