• Cabinets can conceal electric toekick heaters for a more comfortable kitchen.kitchen image by yong hong from Fotolia.com
  
  Electric baseboard heaters are a type of zone heater controlled by individual thermostats. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, these heaters contain electric heating elements, similar to those in a toaster or electric oven, encased in metal pipes. The pipes are surrounded by aluminum fins, which transfer heat into the air. Electric baseboard heaters are relatively inexpensive to purchase and install, but tend to cost more over their lifetimes than other heating methods. They come in two main types.
  
  

Standard Baseboard Heaters

• These long metal heaters are normally installed along the baseboard in each room that needs heat. They may be controlled by a wall thermostat or by a thermostat on the heater itself. Inspectapedia recommends placing these heaters on an exterior wall to counter cool spots from windows and uneven insulation. Electric baseboard heaters also work well in problem areas, such as a cold entryway. Small baseboard heaters can be placed in enclosed crawlspaces, or anywhere that there's a danger of freezing pipes.
  
  

Electric Toekick Heater

• Toekick heaters are small baseboard heaters intended for installation under cabinets, built-in bookshelves and similar spaces. Unlike standard baseboard heaters, these devices are relatively deep and usually include a fan or blower to distribute hot air. The cabinet or shelf hides the main body of the heater, exposing only the grill. These electric heaters are usually controlled via a wall thermostat, since a thermostat on the heater itself may be difficult to reach. According to the Cadet Safety and Quality website, these heaters should not be installed in locations where a person may stand for a long time, such as the sink, since the hot air they discharge may become uncomfortable.
  
  

Thermal Storage Heater

• According to the U.S. Department of Energy, thermal storage heaters can help homeowners save money by storing up electric heat over the course of the night. They're most helpful in areas where the cost of electricity is different during peak hours, such as midday, than it is during times of lower demand, such as the evening. These heaters include a thermal storage unit, such as a block of ceramic, which holds heat and radiates it over the course of several hours. The heater can be set to use most of its electricity when power costs are low, heating up the block and radiating heat when costs are high.