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How to heat a basement: From budget friendly to total reno

Heating options for your space and budget

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Finished basement with wood paneling
Elena Elisseeva / Shutterstock

Have you just bought a home with a finished basement? Maybe you put in the work yourself and created some extra living space below ground. Either way, you know that basements can get incredibly cold. Any heat in your home rises, so that could leave your new basement at unbearably chilly temperatures.

To get the most out of this extra space for a home office, kids’ rec room, or movie night space, you need to make the conditions livable. So, how do you heat a cold basement? We’re going to discuss all the best ways to heat a basement so you can pick the one that’s just right for your basement space.

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What are the best ways to heat a basement?

Finished basement with gray furniture and white walls
alexrusso_snaps / Shutterstock

The best heating system for your basement is one that heats it efficiently without taking up a ton of space or racking up huge energy bills. Before you decide on a heating option for your basement, you need to decide what works best for your space as well as your pocketbook. Some options will cost more upfront but will heat the space more efficiently. Other options will be a smaller hit to your bank account but won’t do as great of a job heating up the area. As you consider all the available heating methods, think about the following:

  • How big of a space do you need to heat?
  • How much space do you have for heating equipment?
  • What’s your budget for installation?
  • What’s your monthly energy budget?

Your basement heating options

Space heater in living room where woman and cat are sitting
New Africa / Adobe Stock

Once you’ve got some ballpark figures in mind regarding your basement space and budget, you can decide which of the following basement heating methods is right for you.

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Space heaters

Many space heaters you’ve seen probably seem like a joke when you think about using one to heat your basement. In reality, though, there are actually some heavy-duty options out there that can efficiently heat an entire room. Space heaters are the most affordable option for heating your basement, but they’re ideal for smaller spaces. Some people are also wary of space heaters, particularly if small children are in the house. Many areas on the heater get incredibly hot and can easily burn the skin if touched.

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Portable
  • Easy set up with no professional installation

Cons:

  • Only heat smaller spaces
  • Pose burn risks

Wood pellet stove

If you’d love to have that log cabin feel in your finished basement, a wood pellet stove is both efficient and inexpensive. It burns manufactured wood pellets and circulates warmed air throughout the room, but it’s ideal for small-to-medium-size spaces. While the unit can be plugged right into a standard outlet, it does require venting since it produces carbon monoxide as the pellets burn.

Pros:

  • Inexpensive to install
  • Doesn’t use a lot of electricity

Cons:

  • Requires vents to be installed
  • Pellets need to be replenished
  • Doesn’t match all styles of decor

Baseboard heaters

For medium-size basements, baseboard heaters may be the most efficient and cost-saving way to heat your basement. While they aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing option, they do a better job at heating average-size basement rooms than space heaters or wood pellet stoves. These units are installed along the baseboard of the wall and, while they run on electricity, they do require a 20-amp, 240-volt circuit. This means that you will likely need to hire an electrician to update the wiring in your basement.

Pros:

  • Heat medium-sized spaces efficiently
  • Don’t require venting or ductwork
  • Midrange installation cost

Cons:

  • Require updated electrical wiring
  • Use more electricity than space heaters and pellet stoves
  • Not an attractive addition to the room

Ductless mini-split unit

The good thing about ductless mini-split units is that most have dual functions and can be used as A/C units in the summer. These units do require extensive installation, but they do a great job heating or cooling a larger living space like a basement. While they don’t require any ductwork, the units do need to connect to an outdoor compressing unit, so the cost of installing this heating option is on the pricier side.

Pros:

  • Doubles as an A/C unit
  • Heats larger spaces efficiently
  • No ductwork required

Cons:

  • Professional installation is likely required
  • Higher costs overall

Install heated radiant flooring

Another option that some homeowners choose when heating their basements is to install heated radiant flooring. Heated flooring is a luxe way to enhance your design and boost the functionality of your space. While it is more common in kitchens and bathrooms to help prevent cold feet in the winter, it can also be an excellent choice for homeowners who want to heat their basements without installing a bunch of ductwork or heat registers.
The cost of redoing your flooring will depend on the square footage in your space. However, according to Angi, the average cost of heated radiant flooring is $6 to $20 per square foot. Depending on the scale of your project, the number of rooms, and any challenges that could make installing flooring trickier, you might expect to spend anywhere from a couple thousand dollars to upwards of ten thousand dollars. It’s also important to note that while heated flooring could enhance your basement experience, making it more comfortable to use in the colder months, it will need to be paired with another heating solution, like adding space heaters to warm the area fully.
Pros:
  • Can be cost-effective for a small space
  • Offers a bit of luxury and comfort that many homeowners crave
Cons: 
  • Needs to be paired with another heating solution and cannot warm a space on its own

Extend ductwork

While it’s the most expensive option for heating your basement, extending your ductwork to include your basement space ensures that the area is always as warm as you’d like it to be. An HVAC professional can likely extend your home’s existing ducts to heat your finished basement as well as cool it if you already have central air. This simplifies controlling the temperature in the renovated space since it will be connected to the thermostat for the rest of the home.

Pros:

  • The most effective option for heating large basements
  • Easy day-to-day operation

Cons:

  • Requires professional installation and renovation
  • Most expensive option overall

Does carpet help keep a basement warm?

Finished basement seating area with white walls and carpet
Hendrickson Photography / Shutterstock

The short answer is yes; installing carpet in your basement can trap heat and help keep the space warm. However, carpet alone will not keep your basement warm without another heating solution. Though, carpet can act as a fantastic insulator, making it a great investment for the basement. Rugs can also help, though carpet will provide a cozier, cushioned padding for your feet.

Depending on your situation, carpet may or may not be ideal. For example, if your basement is prone to flooding or if you have installed radiant flooring, adding carpet may not be the best heating solution. If you do decide to add carpet to your finished basement, you can expect to spend anywhere from $3 to $10 per square foot. Depending on the scale and scope of your project, this can be an affordable or costly endeavor.

Pros:

  • Great for additional insulation
  • Soft on your feet
  • Can enhance your home design

Cons:

  • Not compatible with every home or situation
  • Can become a costly renovation
  • Requires an additional heating solution

If you recently finished your basement, you’ve already put a lot of time and energy into making the space livable. It only makes sense that you would also make it comfortable. Unfortunately, there’s no getting around the need for heating this below-ground living area. The best basement heating option for your home, though, depends on the size of your basement space, how much you’re willing to put into the aesthetics of the space, and your budget for both installation and monthly energy costs.

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Veronica Sparks
Veronica Sparks
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Veronica Sparks is a writer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who loves writing about gardening, home décor, and DIY life. She’s…

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