How to Get a Baseboard Heater to Work

Baseboard heaters run off of water or electricity. The units are installed in each room of a house and connected to a boiler or an electrical system. If you have properly installed your heater and are having problems getting it to work, several items could be hampering your baseboard heater's operation.

Instructions

Check Wire and Remove Blockages

1. Check the voltage and wiring. Make sure that the breaker and thermostat are turned on. Tighten loose wires. If that does not work, turn the power to your baseboard heater off. Use a voltmeter to check the voltage between your baseboard heaters two supply lines. Older, less insulated homes may require a higher voltage of electricity in order for the baseboard heater to work. Contact your electric and gas utility company to upgrade your electrical service from a 120V to 240V power grid.

2. Remove obstructions. Check the carpeting around the baseboard heater. If the carpet is bunched or loose, remove the nails and metal holdings. Tighten the carpet until it lays flat against the floorboards and is no longer obstructing the baseboard heater. Pull back or remove drapes or curtains or furniture that is blocking the heater so that the air can flow unhindered throughout the room.

3. Check the damper at the top of the baseboard. Turn the damper handle parallel to the damper duct. If you have a baseboard heater that comes with a pivot-mounted damper, check to see that the damper is turned on and is up high enough to adequately heat the room.

4. Clean the fins. Remove the metal baseboard covering. Open the metal damper and front panel. Clear away debris that might have fallen inside the baseboard including bobby pins, paper clips or coins. Use a sturdy pair of pliers to gently straighten any bent fins. Replace the cover to your baseboard heater and test the results.

5. Vacuum the coils. While the heater unit cover is off, take a small handheld vacuum cleaner and vacuum the coils to clear away debris. You can also use a standard vacuum cleaner hose extension to clean to coils. Avoid burning candles and using a lot of cleaning supplies including sprays near the baseboard heater as the residue might collect on the coils.