heating basment

[tk06]

I wnat to heat my basement on a budget, I have no gas here so straight electric, I keep a couple bikes down there so fuel can be a concern

also one day I plan on finishing the basement for living space in half of it

i did put a full bath in down there so that is nice, I do have a 8*10 garage door installed in the one half as well

it is wood framed on 2 walls the other two are poured concrete and under ground, I framed my bathroom all the way around as i need the room to run pipes leaving about 1" gap between the back of the studs and the concrete walls, I did insulate those walls already, and thought I should finish frame off the rest of poured walls in the same way and insulate it, that should help a lot for heating and cooling

out temps normally only go down into the 20's, occasionally teens although we have had single digit here once
it is about 1500 sq feet to heat, that will have for now three rooms two on one half, and then the other half of the basement

should I go with a standard home type heat pump ac unit? or is there something much more affordable at least for now?

thanks

 

[p_mori7]

I use 240V electric baseboards.

 

[Jackfre]

I know you say no gas, but a consideration...gas of course, is a Rinnai EX 22 or 38. It is a direct vent wall furnace with terrific technology and durability. They have vent extensions that allow you to vent up the wall and then outside with the supplied vent kit. When I represented them we did thousands of these across New England.

The other excellent alternative is to put in a mini-split heat pump. Gives you heating and cooling as well as dehumidification, which is big in a basement. As well, the mshp is electric, but much more economical and will fit with your future plans. Check some of the recent posts on ms'.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I wnat to heat my basement on a budget,

Well those two are almost mutually exclusive !

I have no gas here so straight electric ...

Electric resistance heating is inexpensive to install (assuming you have empty space in your breaker panel) but it is quite costly to operate.

i did put a full bath in down there so that is nice,

If you have not yet laid ceramic tile, electric resistance heat under the tile is a great alternative. It is very comfortable and the thermostat can be wired in series with a timer, so that it shuts off after 30-60 minutes.

...also one day I plan on finishing the basement for living space in half of it...

should I go with a standard home type heat pump ac unit?

Sound like a good place for what is called a "mini split" system. It will keep you warm in winter and cool and dry in summer.

... is there something much more affordable at least for now?

Electric baseboard is cheap. You will love in floor electric heat in the bathroom and it is not much more than baseboard if you have not installed a tile floor already.