Baseboard heating systems aren't relatively popular, though it's likely you've seen one in at least one of your friends' houses. It's a small device located around floor level, which uses heat induction to do its job - and in most cases, it can provide a very efficient solution that doesn't cost much in the long run, either. Though, don't be quick to jump to the conclusion that you've found the perfect solution - baseboard heaters have some rather severe disadvantages associated with them, making them suitable for one type of room but completely unusable in other places.
The baseboard heating unit looks like a small-sized air conditioner with two horizontal holes in it - one at the top and one at the bottom. Cold air is sucked in through the bottom hole, heated up via electricity inside the unit, and it escapes from the opening on top, dissipating around your room. This provides a constant supply of heat to the room, with the added advantage of eliminating the layer of cold air around the floor, which gets constantly sucked into the machine. As we mentioned above, electricity is the most commonly used heating source for these devices, but sometimes you'll find one that's heated with water instead.
One of the most common locations for a baseboard heater is right beneath the window - that way, the hot air it releases will prevent any heat escaping from the window area, something which is a common problem for any heating system. They're most often used in combination with a thermostat, in order to control its efficiency - something which can be a major problem with this type of systems, a problem we've outlined in more detail below.
Now, it may sound like a very good solution - it's both efficient in warming up the air and takes a relatively small amount of space - but it also has some problems. You can't have any items in near vicinity of the unit, especially flammable ones - the heat it produces is tremendous and can easily set fire to anything around it. This makes it unsuitable for houses with combustible wallpapers (even though those are out of production pretty much everywhere nowadays) as well as expensive furniture. Some types of floors will also preclude you from using a baseboard heater.
Also, you'll have to consider the cost of electricity in your area - a baseboard heating unit can use up a lot of it, and if you're paying a lot for your electric power, this may dig too deeply in your pockets. However, you should keep in mind the system's primary advantages - it's very portable, takes up little space, and can provide you with plenty of heat for prolonged periods of time. So, in the end, is it worth it? Owners of flammable items who pay a lot for their power will surely turn their heads in disappointment, for the rest of you - you might as well give it a try.
