So are the baseboard heaters because of mold issues? (Seattle: apartment, house)

[VeronikaW]

As a CA native, baseboard heaters are pretty foreign to me. I did look at one apartment in the Bay Area back in the 90s that had them, and having just moved from a year stint in NJ where my house had them, I was not a fan and passed.

I notice that tons of places here in the Seattle area have them, even newer developments. My town home is less than 10 years old and they have them. I hate the ones in my town home, they seem to have 3 settings: Off, cold, and inferno. My ones in New Jersey were run off a more precise thermostat, and weren't bad. They were also not electric, like the ones I have here in Issaquah.

So, I'm wondering if the prevalence of these heaters up here in the PNW is due to mold issues. I've been reading some of the threads mentioning quadrant, and that's why I wonder. I've been determined to find a home up here with central heat, so I can install central air without having to do ducting, but now my husband is worried that mold is a bigger issue in a house with duct work.

Any thoughts? We're trying to make an educated decision when we buy a place.

Thanks!

V. =)

[nwcountrygal]

They are cheaper to install. Cost more in electric bills. I don't think they really come into play for mold. There is possibility of mold issues in WA but I have never had problem with any type of heat source.

[Ira500]

Nothing to do with mold. Seattle still has among the lowest electricity rates in the US, and twenty years ago electricity here was insanely cheap, so heating with electricity made sense from a cost perspective. And, as nwcountrygal said, baseboard heaters are cheaper to install, and are also cheaper to buy.

[VeronikaW]

Originally Posted by Ira500

Nothing to do with mold. Seattle still has among the lowest electricity rates in the US, and twenty years ago electricity here was insanely cheap, so heating with electricity made sense from a cost perspective. And, as nwcountrygal said, baseboard heaters are cheaper to install, and are also cheaper to buy.

And they suck! LOL

Thanks for the responses! All the Quadrant threads are freaking us out.

[JustCallMeTC]

Originally Posted by Ira500

Nothing to do with mold. Seattle still has among the lowest electricity rates in the US, and twenty years ago electricity here was insanely cheap, so heating with electricity made sense from a cost perspective. And, as nwcountrygal said, baseboard heaters are cheaper to install, and are also cheaper to buy.

Ira nails it.

[JustCallMeTC]

Originally Posted by VeronikaW

As a CA native, baseboard heaters are pretty foreign to me. I did look at one apartment in the Bay Area back in the 90s that had them, and having just moved from a year stint in NJ where my house had them, I was not a fan and passed.

I notice that tons of places here in the Seattle area have them, even newer developments. My town home is less than 10 years old and they have them. I hate the ones in my town home, they seem to have 3 settings: Off, cold, and inferno. My ones in New Jersey were run off a more precise thermostat, and weren't bad. They were also not electric, like the ones I have here in Issaquah.

So, I'm wondering if the prevalence of these heaters up here in the PNW is due to mold issues. I've been reading some of the threads mentioning quadrant, and that's why I wonder. I've been determined to find a home up here with central heat, so I can install central air without having to do ducting, but now my husband is worried that mold is a bigger issue in a house with duct work.

Any thoughts? We're trying to make an educated decision when we buy a place.

Thanks!

V. =)

I'd go with Forced Air Gas, or if you're lucky, find a place with Radiant heat. Gas is wonderful for hot water and cook tops (Electric ovens are still better IMO), as well as for outdoor BBQ.

[Ira500]

Y'know, there are plenty of people who are happy living in Quadrant homes, and not all of them are moldy, wet, and cold.
But, back to heating systems, there are a bunch of good ones. Even some electric baseboards are okay, the kind that have oil or water tubes that retain heat. Seattle City Light is currently promoting and providing rebates for ductless electric heat pump systems, which look like baseboard heaters on the inside, but are a lot more efficient and comfortable.

[VeronikaW]

Originally Posted by Ira500

Y'know, there are plenty of people who are happy living in Quadrant homes, and not all of them are moldy, wet, and cold.
But, back to heating systems, there are a bunch of good ones. Even some electric baseboards are okay, the kind that have oil or water tubes that retain heat. Seattle City Light is currently promoting and providing rebates for ductless electric heat pump systems, which look like baseboard heaters on the inside, but are a lot more efficient and comfortable.

My house in New Jersey had the base board heaters with the water in them in part of the house, and the heaters under the floorboards in the addition. That was awesome.

I'm glad we're not in a big rush to buy, so we have time to research!

V. =)

[70Ford]

I just stopped in to say that baseboard heaters suck.

We have those "fan type of blowthrough heater things" in the walls in our apartment (2 in the living room) and they work TOO well. Most of the time, we just turn one on. Most of the time, I just get a blanket, 'cuz I am cheap. Actually, we both are cheap. And I like blankets. And my wife under a blanket. And me under a blanket. Hrmm, kids went to bed.....

MEOW.

[emopoops]

i dont think that was appropriate ford im beginning to rethink that friend requesr i sent u