Are you kidding? Why would you replace baseboards? Get the air out of the system or find out why they aren't working.

First we need to know a few things.

1. Are these electric baseboard heaters, or are they connected to a boiler?

2. If connected to a boiler, have you had the system serviced?

3. If electric, have you checked to see if all of the breakers are turned on?

They are electric heaters. They are the originals installed when the house was built in 1980.

What state/city do you live in? As of January 1, 2009, there are tax credits available for installing high efficiency appliances and heating/cooling equipment.

Cleveland Ohio.

dogboy

you need to evaluate alternative heating systems. Straight resistance electric heat is one of the most expensive heating methods.

no ductwork for this home?

IMO

No ductwork. It's a log home. Likely it was heated with woodburners and supplemented with baseboard heaters. We will not live in it full-time. Rather, it will be a weekend/summer place. Right now only two of the units work.

dogboy

two out of ten not working...

that's odd-the first question I would want answered is why?

there is no room thermostats- just an on/off switch?

really, this type heating is best used as supplemental heat rather than primary heat source.

you might want to google "electric baseboard heaters" and/or discuss with a qualified electrician as far as installation and checking out existing. you certainly don't want to overload circuits and cause an electric fire.

I still would investigate alternatives........

TD

I would start with making the home weathertight, repairing the chinking and reducing drafts will save hugh amounts of heating dollars. Electric heat is very inexpensive to install, but is very expensive to operate. If you don't have natural gas available, you should be able to use propane. You can check with a local propane supplier, they should be able to give you cost comparisons between electric and propane.

Stay warm!

Here is a link that might be useful: Permachink

You might consider mini-split ductless heat pumps. Mitsubishi and Fujitsu sell some awesome units that are practically as efficient as geothermal systems and can put out usable heat to quite cold temperatures. Use these as primary heat and replace the baseboards with cheap units for backup, but only turn them on when absolutely necessary. Doing this, you'll drop your heating costs at least in half, more likely in third and you'll get air conditioning for those few humid, nasty days you might have.

Electric baseboards are dirt cheap and easy to install. The technology behind them is trivial, so it's not worth spending more for anything fancy.
For example:

http://www.houseneeds.com/shop/HeatingProducts/heatingunits/electrical/qmark/qmarkbaseboard220buy.asp