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Baseboard Blues

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If you mention hot water heat in Maine everyone thinks of  fin tube baseboard radiation (they provide convection heat). It was definitely a step up from the old coal conversion hot air furnaces or the vaporizing sleeve burners (Parlor Heaters), but when it came to replacing cast Iron radiation it was a step down. 

Early Hot water & Steam systems used Iron Radiators, while they were usually large and cumbersome, they did a great job. They provided Radiant heat (see facts page).  As the cost of  production, handling, and labor, involved  with iron, went up, baseboard radiation became an affordable alternative. This was the American track home hot water heat.


The European countries also made a change from Iron Radiation, but a different type of radiation evolved, Steel Panel Radiators. These products have been slowly making inroads into the U.S. market. Runtal Radiators were one of  the first. These were a rather high end designer type panel. The more traditional panel radiators have followed. We have used radiators from England, Belgium, Germany, and Turkey. In Europe they do not have fin tube baseboard radiation. 

Many Europeans I have met appreciated the small size of our baseboard but I don't think they have yet appreciated the comfort difference

Panel Radiators are more expensive going in, so, in some jobs we have mixed Finned Tube Baseboard, and Panel Radiators in the same structure. The unsolicited feedback I have received was very reassuring. People have said if they could do it over again they would only use the radiators. My customers say the comfort level is very apparent.

Steel Radiators require much more time and care in selection. As with any radiation the size must match the heat requirements of the room. Finned tube is very straight forward in its selection, 1' for every 600btuh heat Loss. So if your heat loss is 6000btuh, put in 10'. Whereas a 6000buth panel radiator is available in many different dimensions, and must be selected based on how it will best fit into the room layout, to be aesthetically pleasing.

Traditional Panel Radiators come in three thickness approx. 2",4",6". Piping selection is another consideration, Internal pipe and external. The internal system is more appealing, but also adds to the cost. the internal system more readily adapts to individual thermostatic control.