Do I Need a Heat Vent in a Finished Basement?

Radiant Heat

• Radiant heating systems are well suited for remodeling projects, such as basements where it may be impractical to extend an existing forced air heating system into the remodeled space. Radiant heating systems transfer heat from a warm surface, such as a wall or floor, into the room. Radiant-heated floors are warmed by electrically heated wires or by hot air or hot water that runs through special tubes beneath the floor. In a basement bathroom, installing a heat lamp in the ceiling light fixture is an easy way to provide radiant heat.

Electric Baseboard Heat

• Electric baseboard heat is a smart choice if you only use your finished basement at a certain time of day. A baseboard heater has its own thermostat, so you can easily turn the heat off and on. The heaters are short, broad devices that hug the wall along the floor, hence their name. Cold air enters from the bottom of the heater, passes over electrically heated coils or tubes and rises from the top of the heater as it warms.

Electric Wall Heater

• A wall-mounted heater uses a fan to blow heated air into the room. This type of heater is usually mounted on an interior wall and is suitable for heating bedrooms and bathrooms. Each heater has its own thermostat, so a homeowner can turn off the heat when the room is empty and turn it back on when it is occupied. The Department Of Energy reports that electricity is one of the most expensive ways to heat your home, so room-by-room thermostats are desirable.

Adding a Heat Vent

• If a gas- or oil-powered furnace heats your home, you can heat your finished basement by adding a heat vent. An HVAC specialist can add a new duct and vent to your existing system. In many homes, the furnace is located in the basement, and you may be able to tap into a duct close to the furnace, where the air is warmest, making installation easier and the heating system more energy efficient.