I have the stupidest heading system I've even heard of. My stepfather is a contractor, so I've heard of quite a bit. I've got radiant heat in the ceiling. And an attic. And the attic is directly vented to the outside. So, as far as I can tell, I'm heating the Bay Area. Better than Connecticut, where I grew up, but still...

OK, sorry for the rant. I'm thinking about putting in Electric wall heaters. There is already electricity going through the thermostats for the radiant heat, so I just have to run a wire from the thermostat to the heater. By the way, I'm not going to do the wiring, I'm going to hire someone. I could probably do it, but the probably part makes me nervous. I'll pay. It is a condo, and the living room / dining room / kitchen is a little under 400 square feet. I was thinking two Cadet Register Plus, or similar. Putting in a forced air system (heat pump - no gas) would be 7 grand. He'd have to run all the duct work, etc. There is no wall space to give up to baseboard. Besides, my wife hates the way they look.

So I'm looking for thoughts. Bad idea? If so, why? Are they noisy? They have fans, so they'll make noise, but are they louder than, say, space heater with a fan? Anyone have experience with them? Anything will help.

Thanks.

MY thought on ceiling radiant heating is "what were they thinking" I came across it about 30 years ago
In long beach ca. many trouble calls involving "no heat" turned out to be a cup hook or some devise
Placed in the ceiling to hang whatever, penetrating the hidden electrical heating wires hidden in the
Plaster. " Duh What" any way I don't think this system was thought out. If you decide to go with electrical
Heaters, that range between 1500 at the low end and let say 2500-3000 watts per unit, your wiring is going
To be able to handle between 7.5 and abit over 15 amps @240vac depending on unit size. Make sure you plan this out
Or you will end up over loaded under rated and almost as good as the radiant heating you have now.
Explore all options and cost effect of each before moving ahead. You could try a portable radiant unit.
And see how effective it is in various locations.

Have you checked with any condo association laws?
I hate electric heat with fans; just glorified toasters. Smells like hot dust and dry, dry air. Might as well just plug in a little ceramic Pelonis.

Electric oil filled radiant ones, maybe?

We have the stupidest heat too - half the house is baseboard FHW and half is air ducts with a mammoth fan near the boiler blowing air over a mammoth fin tubed radiator all encased in a mammoth steel box. I'm replacing it with Runtal radiators and running Pex through the air ducts. I'm leaving the baseboard even though I don't like them either, but it would be too expensive to do the whole house.

No problem with the HOA (was on the board, I know the rules)

What are electric oil filled radiant heaters? The only ones like that I know of are space heaters.

How are Runtal Radiators different from baseboard heat?

Thanks.

First, I'm having a pro wire it, but one question: I actually have 2 radiant heaters. One in the kitchen, and one in the living room (all one room). They are on one circuit. It uses a 30 amp breaker. Each heater uses 2000 watts. I need 2. sound OK?

Correction to above comment: each heater that I'm planning on putting in uses 2000 watts. A total of 4000 watts on one circuit with a 30 amp breaker.

Your plan to have 2 - 2000 watt heaters on a 30 amp circuit is fine. There is the capacity to have two 2500 watt heaters.

The Cadet Register Plus is a fine unit, I have installed them, they are relatively quiet, but you should find one operating to determine if it is to your satisfaction.

The Register Plus: The premier choice for all rooms (http://www.cadetco.com/show_product.php?prodid=1001)

The liquid filled baseboard units are also marketed by Cadet:

The EBHA Softheat® Hydronic Baseboard: The ideal choice for bedrooms and nurseries (http://www.cadetco.com/show_product.php?prodid=1010)

There are no liquid filled fan forced units that I am aware of.

Note that fan forced units need periodic cleaning, dust will collect inside the unit.

As with any electric heat, a humidifier is always recommended.

Bassman. I'm sure your heating bills aren't too bad since you are in amild climate area. Radiant heating requires a good amount of insulation to be effective. If your attic is well insulated and reflective material is used, the radiant heat should be satisfactory. Radiant heat isn't fast, but it's consistent and once the space is warmed, tends to stay that way. Anything you could do in your attic first, before you give up on the heat? If it working OK or not? Just to throw this in, a forced air system will cost much less to operate.