Electric Wall Heater

[cruiser88]

I know money is always an issue but i am a fan of Mitsubishi heating/cooling split units. The idea is a solution of issues like this, its high up, solves minor HVAV small areas that need treated. I am sure for those that ask(without me even looking) relibility should not be a concern being all this really should be considered is a window AC that only switches roles from the condencer to the evap( and visa versa) via coil or some sorta Solid State device. If not for you then somebody else may stumle across this.

I'm a electrician (not that it matters) don't need to get into all the ways you CAN do it, we are about to have a baby so I know what getting the house ready feels like. Obviously heat pumping the the whole house is the way to go. But what you need for now is to just replace it with a base board of the same size. One of the child safe ones that are filled with fluid and protected from little fingers.
Cadets get to hot, regular base boards too. My wife made me yank the baseboards and put in force air with strip heat yikes don't wanna see that bill. Talked her into running the pellet stove one more year and using the forced are fan to circulate. Save up and we will throw in the pump next year. Baby is due in Dec! Our first.

 

[snowboardonsnow]

I agree split units are great and in many houses the way to go if you don't already have forced air. They can save alot of money over electric and others and are easy to install.

 

[mudlover]

Safety 1st. Consider that most all heat appliances are at least using some Chinese components that are not too good in the safety dept. (My 2 year old gas furnace caught fire recently due to a Chinese made White Rodgers control board. Luckily I was home to shut it down.)
There are some infrared units that install about a foot below the ceiling, they claim it heats the entire room evenly. I have never tried it, but it sounds ideal for your need. I know one brand is based in Wisconsin.
Baseboard heating has come a long way. Electric heat is the most efficient heating unit available (about 98-99%), baseboards are easy to install, safe, and nearly 100% maintenance free. The room heats up very quickly.
I like gas heat but dont like the idea of several small gas appliances scattered around the house. A single central quality unit is ok. Make sure a co2 AND gas detector is installed.
BTW Anyone considering a gas instant on water heater should find a way to mount it on the exterior as there have been fatal failures with co2 released.
I know a builder that experimented with hot water baseboard powered by a standard elec. water heater. It worked ok, but I dont know about the costs.
Good luck.
RG