You may rely on an electric heater to keep you warm during the cold winter months and on cool nights. Electric heaters happen to be among the most reliable heating options on the market' but still' keeping them cleaned and properly maintained will help ensure that they work when you need them to. Additionally' knowing how to identify and perform a few simple repairs might save you some money' should your heater break down.
Cleaning Your Baseboard Heater
First' move any nearby items' such as furniture' away from the baseboard. Then' make sure it's turned off and there's no power flowing to it. If you can't unplug it' you can shut off its circuit at the breaker box. Next' mix some kind of liquid soap (any general-purpose' household cleaner will do) into a bucket of water. Dip a soft cloth into the bucket and wipe down the outside of the baseboard. Remove the front panel and wipe it inside and out. Also' clean in between the vents or fins. Finally' use a vacuum to remove any dust or debris you find within the front panel of the baseboard before putting it back into place. Make sure you dry it off completely' by wiping it with a dry cloth or letting it sit for a while' before you restore power.
Baseboard Repairs
If you aren't getting enough heat' check for the following:
- Electrical problems - First' you need to figure out if the problem is the baseboard itself. Check the breaker panel to see if that circuit is tripped. If it's not' then there's most likely an internal electrical problem with the baseboard. Faulty or loose wiring is the most likely cause. Since electricity is very dangerous' it's best to let a professional take care of this problem. It may even be best to just replace the unit.
- Incorrect thermostat setting - The problem could be as simple as having the thermostat set too high. Additionally' if the thermostat is located too close to a heat source' it won't read correctly. You can either relocate the thermostat' or simply set it to a higher temperature to compensate.
- Broken thermostat - If your heat turns on and off frequently' the thermostat is probably broken. Some thermostats are battery powered' and the batteries might just need to be changed. Another problem could be loose wiring. Remove the thermostat from the wall and make sure its wires are all connected properly. If neither of these fixes work and you're sure that the problem doesn't lie elsewhere' you'll need to replace the thermostat.
- Improperly sealed/old windows - There may not be a problem with your heater at all. It could be that all the warm air is escaping through drafty windows. You can either try to seal the windows better or replace them. Good-quality windows can save you a lot of money on heating and cooling costs' so this is a good avenue to explore anyway.
Some other issues may be that:
- The heater won't turn off - This is probably the result of the unit being too small to heat the room that it's in. The obvious solution here is to find a way to supplement the heat. Adding a few more feet of baseboard heat is probably your best option.
- The heater smells like it's burning something - This is almost always the result of the heater being dirty. Follow the above instructions to get it clean.
If at any point during your repairs you aren't sure what to do' don't hesitate to call a repairperson. It may cost you a little bit of money' but it will also be safer and you'll be certain the problem will get fixed and fixed the right way. After all' and especially if it's winter' you don't want to be without heat for very long.