When installing a baseboard heater near a door, make sure the heater cannot be blocked by the door when it is fully open. View our Privacy Policy here. Learn how to effectively clean heaters. Remove the front cover of the baseboard heater by lifting it up from the bottom and pulling it out... Clean the Fins. They are placed under windows and along exterior walls to reduce the cold that passes through the room. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Like other forms of electric resistance heating, electric baseboard heaters offer 100 percent efficiency. Go over the inside fins vents and panels of the baseboard heater with the vacuum cleaner. Many of these units offer efficiency ratings of 78 to 95 percent, making them much cleaner than baseboard heating. I recently purchased an older house with electric baseboard heaters. To clean your electric baseboard heater, start by turning your thermostat down to zero to shut off the device completely. Wipe any excess dust off the surface of the fins with a soft cloth. Be gentle when making contact with the heater and try not to bend or damage any of the heater fins. Although baseboard heaters will always turn electricity used into heat, dust and dirt on your heating system can block that heat from circulating through the room. Make sure you regularly dust the outside casing of your baseboard heaters to keep them free of dust and debris with a vacuum. Heaters with fans need much more clearance—typically 3 feet or more. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be When the heater is turned on, an electric current flows through the heating element. Clean your heaters regularly with a soft brush vacuum attachment to keep them looking fresh and working properly. Electric Baseboard Heaters Interfere with Interior Design. Mix liquid laundry detergent into a 1-gallon bucket of hot water till it froths up. I purchased... Troubleshooting Problems with a Steam Shower Generator. Electric baseboard heaters are also called radiant heaters. Electric Baseboard Heaters - The real positive of this style of a baseboard heater is their ease of installation. You may freely link Dip a thick soft cloth into the detergent and wipe over the front and top of the baseboard heater. Depending on the model, you should either be able to get the cover off by loosening a few screws or caps at the sides of the unit or by simply lifting it off. If you’ve got time to … If your baseboard heaters are clogged with dust and debris, they won't heat effectively and can run up your electricity bill. You may end up running heaters longer … I want to do a tile baseboard for a bathroom project, but the style of tile... Hello, Lastly, simply use your vacuum’s soft brush attachments to suck up any crumbs, dirt or other materials that may have drifted in over time. Convection baseboard heaters are on the lower end of that range, often under $60, and hydronic baseboard heaters are on the higher end, usually between $200 and $250. Remove the heater's cover. How To Clean Baseboard Heaters. Electric baseboard heaters have offered this option for years because each baseboard unit has its own thermostat. Remove the front cover panel and wash it on both sides. Get your electric baseboard heaters ready for their winter's work with a late-summer cleaning instead of spring cleaning, as outlined below. Removing electric baseboard heaters isn't particularly difficult, but you must … This can often be done simply by turning the thermostat to a very low setting. Jan 30, 2015 - Dust that gathers on the fins of electric baseboard heaters can reduce efficiency and cause health issues. Although baseboard heaters will always turn electricity used into heat, dust and dirt on your heating system can block that heat from being distributed effectively in your space. Remove any visible pieces of debris. Website operating Dirty heaters can also leave black stains on the surface of your walls. Baseboard heaters can become clogged with dirt, dust, debris, pet dander and hair. Clean them at least once a year to keep them working safely and efficiently. High humidity levels in the home or bumps and dents from foot traffic chip, abrade or degrade the thin protective coating of paint on baseboard heaters. Severa... Not sure of the correct fora for this topic, but here we go. You may dust it off with a dry, soft cloth and then wipe it with a small, damp towel before reassembling it onto your electric baseboard heater. I am installing new, wider trim after a hardwood floor installation. Your baseboard heaters should be cleaned once every two years at the very least. When the heater is turned on, an electric current flows through the heating element. https://homeguides.sfgate.com/clean-electric-wall-baseboard-heater-20756.html They just screw onto the wall and can then be directly plugged into your existing electric supply. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. Remove loose dust with a clean microfiber duster and wipe down the … Remove the Cover. Inspect the fin tubing and straighten out any damaged or bent fins. Wash the Heater, Cover Panel, and Vents. [note: if using compressed air, make sure to use it with the vacuum running to catch airborne debris.] I want to install wainscoting from one wall perpendicular to another wall. Give them a good vacuuming at the start of the heating season (usually around late September or October) and again in early spring before you shut them off for the warmer months, checking … 1. Unplug freestanding small heaters from the outlet, and turn the circuit breakers off for those connected directly to the fuse box. Dip a thick soft cloth into the detergent and wipe over the front and top of the baseboard heater. Allow the heating element to cool before touching it so that you don't burn yourself. Make sure that you give it sufficient time to dry up entirely before affixing it on the board. Why you should clean your heater We recommend cleaning your electric heater at least twice per year. Note that this minimum applies to standard electric baseboard heaters. This unpleasant odor usually appears immediately after the heat comes on, particularly after an electric baseboard heater has not been used for a season. Keep your heater sparkly clean. Turn the heater back on and call a technician if the smell persists. Use a vacuum brush nozzle to clean the fins Use pipe cleaners, compressed air or a Popsicle stick to remove stuck debris between the fins. Electric baseboard heaters on average need 225 watts per foot. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Removing the screws should allow you to remove the baseboard heater. 2. Vacuum the inside of the heater with a soft brush vacuum attachment. Use a soft paint brush to reach between the fins to dust off areas in the back of the heater that the vacuum brush is unable to reach. Dust and Debris The easiest thing you can do to keep your baseboard heater working efficiently is to keep the outside cover clean and free of dust and debris. What Is a Hot Water Expansion Tank Used For? How To Remove Wallpaper. A plug-in, of course, doesn’t need a professional install. Get any built-up dirt out of crevices with a nylon bristle brush. Her career has focused on music and film criticism but she has also written about lifestyle topics such as parenting and home design. Dirty electric baseboard heaters aren't only unsightly, they're also inefficient. What to Look for When Buying a Baseboard Heater. How to maintain and clean electric baseboard heaters Dust is the number one culprit you’ll want to watch out for. Get any … Things in Your Home You Should Get Rid of by Age 30. When that happens the fins can scorch the particles. Prevent this by cleaning your baseboard heaters once a month (or more if you are bit OCD like me). This will allow you to clean the interior of the device, where the dirt and dust will accumulate. suggestions. Troubleshooting Common Problems with a B... Troubleshooting Common Problems with a Baseboard Heater. Electric baseboard heaters can also be shut off by switching off the circuit breaker that controls them. How to Remove Surface Rust From Range Burners, How to Prepare an Outside Air Conditioner Unit for Winter, How to Open a Refrigerator Evaporator Cover, North Carolina Real Estate Blog: Tips for Cleaning Baseboard Heaters, Land America: Clean All Baseboard Heaters, How to Clean the Dust Out of an Electric Heater, How to Strip the Paint off of Baseboard Heater Covers. Mix liquid laundry detergent into a 1-gallon bucket of hot water till it froths up. How to check your baseboard heater: If you smell an unpleasant odor while your baseboard heater is running, turn off the heater. If your baseboard heating unit doesn’t dismount from the brackets, locate the screws holding the baseboard heater to the wall and remove them. Cadet Tech Support Specialists, Steve and Thomas, demonstrate how to clean your electric wall heater. That means 100 percent of the electricity consumed by these heaters is used to produce heat. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent If you want your bedroom to stay a cool 67 degrees, but you don’t want to freeze while you’re watching television, then you can set it to 70 in your living space. Subscribe for more great learning videos from Alpine. Copyright© The electric baseboard heater system of your home can become clogged with human and pet hair, dust and spider webs. 5. Because hot air rises, these heaters are located at the baseboards in your house, next to the floor, which makes for better heat circulation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Calgary. If you notice any chunks or objects that are too large to be vacuumed up, pick them off with your fingers and dispose of them. This means your heater will click on, but your room will stay icy cold. 2. Shut off the power to your heater. Common Electrical Mistakes Found By Home Inspections. Depending on where you live, you may want to clean it more often, especially if you have pets or have other condition Things You Should Never Do with Power Strips . Remove the Heater Cover Begin by shutting off the power or hot water to the baseboard heater. Maintenance of Electric Baseboard Heaters The electric baseboard heater is probably the most familiar type of baseboard heater for most of us. Clean your baseboard radiators regularly. In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey reveals a quick, easy way to replace a damaged baseboard heater. Project step-by-step (5) Lower the Heat. Vacuum the baseboard heaters using an upholstery attachment that can get inside the front vents. Caulk Gun Sight Tips. Remove The Heater Cover The first step of the cleaning process is to remove the cover of the heater. An electric baseboard heater has an electrical heating element inside a metal pipe. Ensure that the power to your heater is shut off so that you don't run the risk of electric shock. An electric baseboard heater has an electrical heating element inside a metal pipe. Another advantage is that they generally remain cool to the touch which makes them a safer option for … All rights reserved. home improvement and repair website. Allow the heating element to cool completely. They’re also probably the simplest to clean and maintain. How to Clean the Dust Out of an Electric Heater 1. You can end up running heaters … Turn the heater off and disconnect it from the outlet. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Things All Homeowners Should Do Once a Week. Cleaning Mistakes That Are Actually Making Your Home Dirtier. Vacuum the baseboard heaters using an upholstery attachment that can get inside the front vents. This formula works for both 120 volt and 240 volt heaters. Wait for the heater to cool completely. Wait for the heater to cool, then wipe the vents clean with a damp cloth. _____Thanks for watching! Make sure the power switch is off for all heaters. Smells from electric baseboard heaters are usually the result of accumulated dust that is being heated. The cost of installation depends on whether you need a professional electrician to connect a hardline heater to your home’s electrical wiring. Quick guide to electric baseboard heaters. Electric baseboard heaters, by design, take up wall space in every room. You’d be surprised … They’re quick to heat up as they use a fan to circulate hot air. If you plan to recycle or remount the baseboard heaters, you must keep track of the hardware and screws. Tips and Tricks. Placing the mounting … First, you will need to make sure that the heater has been turned off. Screw the edges up again and ensure that the cover it well attached before switching the heater on back. To ensure that your baseboard radiators are working the way they’re supposed to, you should aim to clean them at least twice a year. Arrange the furniture in your room so that dust is not directed toward the heater. Removing baseboard heater and install outlet. Move furniture and boxes away from each baseboard heater. If your heater is 4 ½ feet long, multiply 4.5 by 225 to arrive at an estimated 1,012 watts. Over time dust particles and other things on the air can build up on the fins inside the heater. Replace the cover and wipe off any dust or grime on the surface. How to Get Rust Off Baseboard Heaters. Clean the surface of the heater. If any fins were bent during the cleaning process, gently straighten them with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Thankfully, cleaning a baseboard shouldn't take you more than a few minutes. All information is provided "AS IS." Or, if your child is away at college most of the winter, you can turn off the unit in their … These devices work by passing electricity to a heating element, which warms the surrounding air. This unpleasant odor usually appears immediately after the heat comes on, particularly after an electric baseboard heater has not been used for a season. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". As a professional journalist since 1998, Lisbeth Booth has worked as a writer and an editor at several magazines. Inevitably, a baseboard heater will be in the way of where you’d like to put a piece of furniture. Crumbs and other small objects often find their way into baseboard heaters and can clog the aluminum heating fins. We welcome your comments and Allow the heater to dry and reassemble it, then test it for proper function. That can give off a slight odor and cause problems for people with allergies. Smells from electric baseboard heaters are usually the result of accumulated dust that is being heated. How To Replace A Bathtub Spout. Multiply the heater length by 225 to estimate wattage. I want to repaint my cast iron baseboard heater. Shut off power to the heater. Next, remove any large, visible debris from it by hand. Dust buildup on your baseboard heater will block the heat and keep it from escaping properly. How Do Electric Hydronic Baseboard Heate... How Do Electric Hydronic Baseboard Heaters Work. Wait until its elements completely cool down. Vacuum the Outside of Each Heater.
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