A finished basement can be a great area in your home that gives you more space for your family. Whether you plan on using it as a recreational room or just to convert it to an additional bedroom for a family member, you’ll want to ensure the temperatures in your basement are as warm and cozy as the rest of your home.
If you’re having a hard time staying warm in your basement, countless heating options can help you keep that additional space warm all year long. From a fireplace addition to insulating your ductwork, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’ll be comfortable while watching a movie or working.
Explore some of the options below to find out the best heating method for your basement.
What Are Your Needs?
Before choosing an option that best suits your basement, figuring out precisely what you need is an essential step to take. How frequently will you be in your basement? Does your basement have bedrooms or bathrooms? These are a few things to take into account when considering your heating options.
Once you’ve figured out your needs, you’ll have a better idea of what will work best for you and your family.
1. Add a Basement Fireplace
Is there an existing chimney in your basement that you kept in working condition after finishing your basement? If so, a fireplace can be one of the most cost-effective ways to heat your new space.
Basement fireplaces are relatively easy to install and can make your space extremely warm. If you settle for a wood-burning or a natural gas fireplace, you’ll have to keep up with regular maintenance to prevent carbon monoxide buildup in the chimney and keep it clean.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for an option that can save you some time, installation convenience, and money, infrared fireplaces can be ideal. They’re easy to use and add an aesthetic appeal to your underground room.
2. Radiant Heating
Did you know that installing panels in your flooring or walls can keep your basement warm during the cold season? Affordable and relatively easy to implement, this heating option is worthy of consideration. There are several radiant panel options available for you to choose from.
Hydronic radiant floor heating is one of the most popular radiant heating systems. A radiant heating system is water-based and relies on hot water to heat your basement’s floor from underneath. Another system to consider is electric radiant floor heating, which is an energy-based system you can put underneath your carpet, tile, stone, or wood flooring.
Generally, the radiant heating option works with ease if you have the appropriate equipment available. On one side, you can use a PEX tube and connect it with the water heater tube going to the floor. Because you’ll seal the floor from all sides, hot water flows through the tubes and effectively heats the surface.The tubes have uncut lengths you can easily pass through the basement. They can hold heat for a long time, keeping the surface warm.
On the flip side, electric radiant floor heating functions with a similar concept. The only difference comes in where instead of the PEX tube, you’ll stretch an electric heating coil onto the entire floor. You’ll then connect the other side of the tube to the electric radiant heater. Here, the tube uses a radiation process to heat the surface. That’s why your floor will stay warmer than using hydronic heating.
3. Install a Ductless Mini-Split
A ductless mini-split heating option is likely one of the most expensive upfront. However, it offers you the best service when adding heat to your finished basement.
If you have a large basement or use it frequently and want to maintain desirable temperatures like those in all the other rooms in your house, a ductless mini-split is a worthy consideration.
The ductless mini-split comes with an air handler that you’ll connect to an outside heat pump. The outdoor system gathers thermal energy from the outside, amplifies it, and then sends it into the home.
The air handler uses a smart thermostat to measure the room’s temperature. Therefore, this system works according to what your underground room needs. In addition to being virtually silent and offering air conditioning for the summer, ductless mini-splits use little energy to maintain the desired temperature inside your basement.
4. Install a Baseboard Heater
Baseboard heaters are affordable and easy to install. Although they offer permanent spot heating, their range is limited. You’ll need at least one for each room to have constant heating.
Powered by electricity, baseboard heaters don’t require special ductwork. You can install them along the floor of your underground room. They’re also virtually silent. Although you won’t pay a lot of money to install them, you’ll notice a spike in your electricity bill over time.
You should also keep in mind that electric baseboard heaters can be dangerous to use, especially if you have young children or pets in the area. They may accidentally get in contact with their hot surfaces.
5. Add Registers to Your Existing Heating System
Adding registers is an excellent way of heating your basement if you already have ductwork in place. Registers allow you to easily disperse heat throughout your finished underground rooms. If you don’t have ductwork in place, you can easily add ducts or hire a professional to install them for you. Additionally, if you encounter any issues with your heating system, such as uneven heating or inadequate warmth in certain areas of your basement, consider performing heating system troubleshooting to identify and resolve the problem effectively.
6. Floor Insulation
Floor insulation is easy-to-install. It’s an affordable option to help you maintain heat inside your finished basement. The two most common types of floor insulation to use are Dri-core and rigid foam insulation.
Dri-core is a subfloor specifically designed for basements. Also known as the DRIcore, it’s one of the best ways to insulate your finished floors and keep them dry. You can purchase Dri-core in square panels and install them under your finished floor. There are different finishing options, so you can find one that matches your basement’s function and style. Because it gives your concrete space to breathe, DRIcore can insulate your underground room without becoming humid or wet.
If your basement doesn’t have any water issues, you can opt for rigid foam insulation. To use rigid foam insulation, you’ll need a raised floor. To achieve a raised floor, you can use sleepers, which act as foundations. The rigid foam insulation is then installed between the sleepers and covered with plywood before laying your final floor.
Reliable Heating Services
At Complete Comfort, we know the unique climate in Greenwood and can guide you in choosing the best way to keep your finished basement warm and comfortable. We take great pride in being a full-service, 24/7 heating, cooling, and plumbing team, ready to satisfy your needs. There is no need to search plumbers near me, you’ve found the best.
In addition to providing heating and cooling repairs, installations, and maintenance, our licensed and certified technicians also offer top-notch indoor air quality services. We’ve been in business since 2003 and strive to provide excellent service to you every time.
Contact us at Complete Comfort Heating Air & Plumbing in Greenwood, IN, today for more information on heating, air conditioning & plumbing service. Call us at (317) 648-5133.
Author Bio:
Brittany Katterjohn
Brittany is a marketer, entrepreneur, and writer with previous business development experience in the home maintenance industry. She currently manages the marketing for Complete Comfort Heating, Air & Plumbing and has a passion for helping people by simplifying seemingly complicated topics related to home maintenance and repair.
