If your home runs on baseboard electric heat, every degree on the thermostat shows up on your electric bill. With Connecticut electric rates among the highest in the country, the old dial thermostat on your wall, or the knob on the end of the heater, may be costing you more than you think.
JS Electrical has installed, repaired, and upgraded electric baseboard heating systems in homes across Central Connecticut since 2009. We're a licensed electrical contractor (CT License #0194158-E1), and baseboard heat is electrical work from the breaker to the thermostat. Our electricians handle 240-volt heating circuits every day, which is why homeowners in West Hartford, Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, Bristol, Southington, Burlington, and Plainville call us when they want their heat done right.
Call (860) 351-5660 or book online for a baseboard heat or thermostat evaluation.
An electric baseboard heater is a simple, reliable appliance. Electricity runs through a heating element inside the unit, aluminum fins warm the surrounding air, and that warm air rises while cooler air is drawn in along the floor. That's why baseboard heaters are usually mounted on outside walls under windows: they stop the cold draft before it reaches the room.
Because each room or zone usually has its own heater and thermostat, baseboard electric heat gives you true room-by-room control. There's no furnace, no ductwork, and no moving parts to wear out. A well-maintained heater can last 20 years or more.
The weak point in most systems isn't the heater. It's the thermostat controlling it.
Most Connecticut homes with baseboard heat still have the original thermostats: a dial on the wall or a knob built into the heater. They work, but not well.
Old mechanical thermostats are inaccurate. A dial thermostat often lets the room swing several degrees above and below the setting before it reacts. You end up turning it up to stay comfortable, and the heater runs longer than it needs to.
Built-in thermostats read the wrong temperature. A knob mounted on the heater is measuring air right next to a hot element, not the air where you're sitting. The result is a room that's too hot near the heater and too cold across the room.
Nobody remembers to turn them down. With a manual thermostat in every room, setting back the heat at night or when you leave for work means walking the house and turning every dial. Most people don't, so the heat runs at full comfort settings around the clock.
Worn thermostats can be a safety concern. Electric baseboard thermostats switch the full heating current. Worn contacts can click, buzz, run hot, or stick in the "on" position. A thermostat that's undersized for the heaters it controls can overheat. If your thermostat is discolored, warm to the touch, or the heat won't shut off, have it checked.
A digital programmable thermostat is the single most cost-effective upgrade for baseboard electric heat. Here's what you get:
Want control from your phone? Smart thermostats made specifically for line-voltage baseboard heat let you adjust each room from anywhere, set geofencing so the heat drops when you leave, and track energy use room by room. They're ideal for second homes, rental units, and anyone who travels. We'll help you choose the right model for your heaters and your Wi-Fi setup.
This is where a lot of DIY thermostat upgrades go wrong. A furnace or boiler thermostat runs on low-voltage (24-volt) control wiring. An electric baseboard thermostat is a line-voltage device: it carries the full 120 or 240 volts that powers the heater.
That means:
Our electricians verify the voltage, wattage, and wiring on every circuit before installing a new thermostat, so your upgrade is safe, up to code, and sized to last.
Many Connecticut homeowners are adding ductless heat pumps and keeping their baseboard heaters as backup. That's a smart setup, but only if the thermostats are set up correctly. If the baseboard thermostats are set at or above the heat pump's setting, the baseboards run first and erase much of the savings. We can install programmable baseboard thermostats and set them a few degrees below the heat pump so the baseboards only come on when they're truly needed. We can also check that your panel has capacity for both.
Can I put a Nest or Ecobee on my baseboard heaters? Not directly. Those are low-voltage thermostats. They can be used with a correctly sized relay, but in most homes a thermostat built for line-voltage baseboard heat is the simpler, more reliable choice.
How much can a programmable thermostat save on baseboard electric heat? Results depend on your home and your habits, but the Department of Energy estimates up to 10% a year from a 7 to 10 degree setback for 8 hours a day. Because Connecticut electric rates are high, that percentage can add up quickly.
Should I replace all my thermostats at once? Many homeowners do, so every room is on the same schedule and the house looks consistent. Doing it in one visit is also more cost-effective than replacing them one at a time.
Do I need a new heater, or just a new thermostat? Often just the thermostat. If the heater is clean, undamaged, and heats evenly, a new digital thermostat may solve the problem. We'll tell you honestly which one you need.
How many watts of baseboard heat does a room need? A common starting point is about 10 watts per square foot. Insulation, windows, and ceiling height change that number, so we size each room on site.
Don't spend another Connecticut winter paying to heat empty rooms. Call JS Electrical at (860) 351-5660 or request service at jselectrical-llc.com. We'll inspect your baseboard heaters, check your circuits, and recommend the right electric baseboard thermostats for your home.
Old Electric Baseboard Heater
