They are quiet and effective, and operate individually so you can save energy by warming only the rooms you’re using.
Thinking about installing new baseboard heaters? Or, wondering how to maintain the ones you’ve got? Keep reading for all the information you need.
How do baseboard heaters work?
Within an electric baseboard heater, an electric current flows through the heating element. The electrical resistance of the element causes it to heat up as the electricity tries to flow through it.
Inside a hydronic baseboard heater, meanwhile, hot water flows through pipes within the unit. As the water moves through the heater, it radiates heat outward.
Baseboard heaters don’t have fans; their heat naturally spreads throughout the room.
Like any heating system, you control baseboard heaters with a thermostat, which is either on the unit itself or on the wall elsewhere in the room. Digital thermostats on the wall are the most accurate.
To operate a baseboard heater, set the desired temperature on the thermostat; the heater will turn on until the thermostat registers the target temperature. If the temperature later drops, the heater turns on again.
There should be a minimum clearance of 2 centimetres between the heater and the floor. This allows cool air to enter the heater from underneath and, once heated, flow out through the fins.
Draperies above the heater should have at least 30 centimetres of space between them and the unit. However, some manufacturers suggest 10–15 centimetres is enough. Keep in mind that draperies above heaters have resulted in home fires — it’s best to be on the safe side.
Don’t place furniture (especially fabric furniture) or other items too close to the front of the unit. Some experts say 15 centimetres of space is enough, while others recommend 25–30 centimetres.
In addition to being a fire hazard, furniture can restrict airflow. If your baseboard heater is close to the floor, even a high pile carpet can block airflow into the unit.
How to install baseboard heaters
It’s possible to install many baseboard heaters yourself, provided you have a little know-how. Electric baseboard heaters are relatively straightforward to install, provided you have a qualified electrician to do the wiring. Similarly, much of the work of installing a hydronic system is DIY-able. However, you will likely need to hire a professional to help with the planning and the plumbing, especially if you’re setting up a multi-zone system.
The baseboard heater installation process has two parts: installing the heater itself and connecting it to the source of heat (either electricity or hot water pipes).
Mounting the heater to the wall is possible for most people with some basic construction skills. The electrical or plumbing work, however, usually calls for a licensed professional. Depending on your local bylaws, you might also need to secure a permit before starting the installation.
Here’s the rough outline of how to install a baseboard heater:
You’ll be mounting the heater to the wall, so the first step is to find the studs in the wall on which you’re installing it. Use a stud finder and mark the stud locations with a pencil. If there’s baseboard moulding in the room, you’ll need to carve a chunk of it away to make space for the heater. Measure the length of your baseboard heater and mark that length on the baseboard.
If you’re installing a hydronic heater, you’ll also need to measure, mark, and drill holes for risers and connecting pipes. If the pipes need to run past a door or other obstruction, you’ll need to plan for the pipes to drop underneath the floor and come back up on the other side.
You’ll need to have a complete plan for the plumbing before you start work.
First, you can cut away the baseboard from where your heater will go. If your baseboard is soft or thin, you can hack it away by scoring cut marks with a knife, then finishing the job with a chisel. Otherwise, use an oscillating cutting tool if you’re comfortable with power tools. You can also remove the whole board, cut it as needed, and re-install the sections that the heater won’t cover.
You’ll likely need to bring in some outside help to wire an electric baseboard heater or to install the plumbing for a hydronic heater. If you’re qualified, you probably already know how to do this without reading.
Electric baseboard heaters need dedicated circuits, so you’ll need to add a circuit to your breaker box (but make sure it stays shut off for now). Then, run wire to the heater and the thermostat (if you have a wall-mounted thermostat). Finally, connect the wire to the heater itself. There should be an electrical panel on the heater that you can access by removing a screw and lifting the cover. Under this cover, you’ll find the wires that need to be connected to the power supply and thermostat.
To connect a hydronic system to the hot water, you’ll need to have a hot water line running from the water heater, to a pump, then to the heater system, and then back. It is strongly recommended to hire a professional to do the plumbing for a baseboard heater.
Once the wiring or plumbing is in place, you can mount the heater to the wall. Normally, you do this by putting screws through the back panel of the heater and into the wall studs. You might have to pre-drill holes in the back of the heater to match where your studs are.
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FAQ
How do I control the temperature on my baseboard heater?
What temperature should electric baseboard heaters be set at?
Which way do you turn the knob on a baseboard heater?
How do you turn on a baseboard heater?
If you have a baseboard heater with a built-in thermostat, turning it on just requires rotating the knob counterclockwise to decrease the temperature, and rotating it to clockwise to increase the temperature. Adjust the temperature by rotating the knob further in the desired direction. Article continues below this ad
Can you install a programmable thermostat on a baseboard heater?
You can also install a programmable wall thermostat for your baseboard heater. Adjusting a programmable thermostat depends on the brand you use, but many are relatively straightforward and just involve setting the different temperatures you’d like the room to be at and at what times you’d like the heat to adjust to those temperatures.
How do baseboard heaters work?
Some baseboard heaters are connected to wall thermostats, which read the temperature of the room more accurately than a thermostat on the heater itself. Wall thermostats are easy to turn on and adjust by turning the dial or pressing the button to turn the temperature up or down. Article continues below this ad
How do you install a baseboard radiator heater?
In most cases, you need a wrench to turn the valve. If the valve has a knob on it, you can use your fingers to turn it. Place the cover back onto the heater and secure it with the screw if applicable. Baseboard radiator heaters mount to the baseboards along the bottom edges of a room where the wall meets the floor.