Baseboard heaters definitely win for consistency—totally agree there. Ever tried to sleep in an attic with a portable heater blasting one side of your face while your toes freeze off? Not fun. Only thing I’d ask is, have you ever run into issues with the wiring load when adding baseboards? Some of these old houses seem like they’re held together by hope and knob-and-tube...
Wiring’s a real concern, especially in houses with original knob-and-tube or just generally sketchy old circuits. I’ve run into overloaded panels more than once—sometimes you open up a junction box and it’s like a rat’s nest in there. Before adding any baseboard heaters, I always check what the panel can handle and whether the circuits are up to code. Sometimes you end up having to run new lines or even upgrade the panel, which isn’t cheap but beats risking a fire. Honestly, if the wiring looks dicey, I’d budget for electrical work right from the start.
That’s a really good point about budgeting for electrical work upfront, especially in older homes. I get wanting to save money, but cutting corners with wiring just isn’t worth it. I’ve seen some attic conversions where folks just tapped into whatever was nearby and hoped for the best... not smart. Do you think the hassle of rewiring is justified if you’re only adding a small bedroom, or does it only make sense if you’re doing a bigger reno? Sometimes I wonder if people underestimate how much this stuff can snowball.
Honestly, rewiring is almost always worth it, even for a small bedroom. I’ve seen too many “quick fixes” come back to bite people—like outlets that trip every time you run a space heater or, worse, insurance headaches down the line. My rule: if you’re opening up walls or ceilings anyway, get the wiring sorted. It’s not just about code; it’s about peace of mind and resale value. Cutting corners here usually costs more in the long run.
Totally agree about not cutting corners with wiring—seen too many “mystery” outlets in old houses that make you wonder what someone was thinking. But I’m curious, has anyone here actually had to upgrade their panel when converting an attic or garage? I’ve heard stories where the existing service just couldn’t handle the extra load, especially if you’re adding mini-splits or electric baseboards. Wondering how common that is, or if it’s usually fine for just a bedroom setup.
