Baseboard Heat

[Bonham]

We fixed up an old (1940's) family house that probably should have been torn down a long time ago but we got a good price and beautiful land, so we went for it. Got it to a pretty good place, and decided to move forward with getting a conventional loan so we could pay off the generous and patient family member who we are buying from.
Our appraiser gave us several things to do, mostly projects that were half finished, in order to complete the loan. Most are easy fixes that we set aside in order to save up for closing costs, but we are quickly finishing them up as instructed.
The only issue is the heat. We are in OK and we just planned to use space heaters, if needed, until we can save up for Central Heat and Air this fall. The appraiser told us we need permanent, hard wired heat.
From this forum, I've decided that baseboard heaters will suffice, but how many do I need? It's a small, rectangular house, 900 sq feet, 2bed/1ba.
Do I need heaters in all rooms? Or can I get away with just a couple?

I hate to spend time and money on this patch project since we are doing it right in the fall.

Thanks!

 

[JTip]

The manufacturer of the hardwired baseboard should supply specs or recommended square footage that each unit can produce.

 

[Bonham]

Okay, I must have really overthought this.
If I get two that can heat the entire square footage, where should I put them? I am exclusively trying to appease the appraiser, I'm not actually looking for functional heat in all the rooms.
Or should I just go ahead and put one in each room no matter what?

 

[jay trotta]

We fixed up an old (1940's) family house that probably should have been torn down a long time ago but we got a good price and beautiful land, so we went for it. Got it to a pretty good place, and decided to move forward with getting a conventional loan so we could pay off the generous and patient family member who we are buying from.
Our appraiser gave us several things to do, mostly projects that were half finished, in order to complete the loan. Most are easy fixes that we set aside in order to save up for closing costs, but we are quickly finishing them up as instructed.
The only issue is the heat. We are in OK and we just planned to use space heaters, if needed, until we can save up for Central Heat and Air this fall. The appraiser told us we need permanent, hard wired heat.
From this forum, I've decided that baseboard heaters will suffice, but how many do I need? It's a small, rectangular house, 900 sq feet, 2bed/1ba.
Do I need heaters in all rooms? Or can I get away with just a couple?

I hate to spend time and money on this patch project since we are doing it right in the fall.

Thanks!

My bold, don't know your area, but would assume with the Renovation's, you have upgraded the Electric; so why not BB/Elect heat ?? OR gather the Funds for the HW baseboard (may not be that much more) and add the AC later. Don't know the Lender requirements, space heaters may not satisfy the Lender. Just a thought.

 

[Elliott]

An attractive gas stove and a ceiling fan should be able to heat that space well and the market likes them--homey feeling.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Size the Baseboard by electrician. A six foot BB heater can heat a lot of space. You have 900 SF? Rule of thumb. You need about 9000 watts of baseboard heat. I would put a small one in the bedroom, a large one in the living room....

 

[Deleted member 130081]

Maybe you could borrow additional funds to get the heat squared away / roll it into the loan I mean.

 

[Dublin ohio]

Old rule of thumb was 10 watts per sf. So Terrell's estimate is pretty much on point. Most electric baseboard heaters are 250 watts per lineal foot. When I was working for an electrical distributor years ago we would size them per room sf. A 10' x 10' br would need a 4' baseboard heater, etc. Outside walls are best location. Since this appears to be a temporary solution. I would use integral thermostats for each unit. Saves the cost of individual wall stats or central stat with relay system.

 

[Mark K]

You may have to install one in every room. Don't know if its still one of the requirements but a permanent heat source in each room was required for some loan programs. I also suppose that it depends on where you live.

It can get to -20 here on occasion so our requirements may be different. I'd check with the appraiser to see what the lender requires.

I doubt that the manufacturer will make any suggestions. They don't know if its being installed in Alaska or Florida.

Its probably so many watts per degree day based on the house insulation and the number of windows, etc. Or the electrician can make an educated guess that will work.

 

[Michigan CG]

getting a conventional loan so we could pay off the generous and patient family member who we are buying from.
Our appraiser gave us several things to do,

Talk to your lender. Did you not get an as-is loan? Why is the appraiser requiring you do things? What else did he require?