How much hot water baseboard to install
![](https://www.finehomebuilding.com/app/themes/finehomebuilding/_assets/img/avatar/avatar_50x50.jpg)
I’m going to add a new zone to my Energy Kinetics 2000 heating system in order to heat my finished basement. The unit has plenty of capacity left, and I can easily figure out how to add the zone. My question is how much baseboard do I need to install in order to effectively heat the room? Unfortunately I don’t have hot water baseboard anywhere else in the house, so I can’t use that as a guide. The system is setup as a water to forced hot air system, and has only 1 heat zone currently.
The room is 625 Sq feet with a 7 1/2 foot ceiling, is mostly below grade, with a block foundation, and insulated with R5 rigid foam. The ceiling is also insulated with R20+, and the cement floor will be padded and carpeted.
The water temperature will be 160+ degrees (Could be increased with a thermostat change if needed), and I’m not sure of the flow rate.
Is their any rule of thumb for doing this (Like cover 25% of the outer walls)? I was guessing that around 15000-20000 BTU’s would work. Any help would be appreciated.
Replies
Do a Google search for BTu requirements...There are several calculators available on the web that probably aren't as good as the pros use, but will at least get you in the ballpark.
Or, If you pulled a permit (you did, right? :-) sometimes the BI is kind enough to give you a hint>....
Steve
Some estimating numbers to help:
A "standard" 3/4" baseboard will provide 500 btuh/ft at 160 degF and 1 gpm.
For your basement w/8" CMU and R-5, 25x25, say about 750 sf of wall, your heat loss with 70 inside and 0 outside is approximately 9,000 btuh.
Conservative estimate for your baseboard would be 16' - 20'. You could locate 4' sections on each wall, you could put 20 alond a single exterior wall, etc..
If you go to Slant Fin's web site it will have all the outputs at different temps of there products. And have an offer for a free CD to do a heatloss cal. of the basement, very ez to use.