How to Remove Hot Water Baseboard Heating
Hot water baseboard is a nice form of heating for a home, but it is a highly inefficient type of heating. When it comes time to replace the heating system, it is essential to remove the baseboard heaters. Removing the heaters is an easy process that can be done by the homeowner with some basic tools to save money. It is important to follow this process from the beginning to help ensure safety. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Drill with screw driver bits
- Flat blade screw driver
- Hack saw with a metal blade
- Pipe caps
- 2 by 4 block of wood
Instructions
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1
Turn the boiler off completely. This can be done by turning the heaters off at the thermostat and then turning the power off to the boiler in the breaker panel for the house, it should be labeled, and turn off the water supply to the boiler. Allow the system to remain off for 24 hours to cool the water and pipes to a temperature where they can be easily handled.
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2
Cut the pipes supplying the heaters at the boiler. There should be one or two supply pipes and the same number of return pipes at the boiler. Allow the system to drain all the water that remains in the pipes. It may be necessary to have several large buckets if in a basement without a floor drain.
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3
Open the baseboard heater cover and remove the screws holding the heater to the wall. These could be simple Phillips head screws or hex head screws, it is hard to tell without removing the cover.
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4
Lift the heater off the floor and place a block under the heater. Cut the supply pipe to the heater with the hacksaw. Traditionally, baseboard heaters are piped in copper. Move to the other end of the heater, lift off the floor and block. Cut this pipe as well. Remove the heater. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for every heater in the house.
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5
Remove all the copper piping from under the house. Cutting into short lengths makes the pipe easier to handle.
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Tips & Warnings
Copper pipe can be recycled.
Recycle the heaters and piping with a local scrap yard.
A reciprocating saw makes this process faster.
Make sure to relieve any pressure on the system before attempting this procedure.
Hot copper pipes can cause serious burns.
Use caution when using power tools near water.
References
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Comments
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I read in the 'Tips and Warnings' Section to recycle the heaters at the local salvage yard. Do these become unusable once cut out of the original installation? I need to know because I'm moving, and am considering taking my old baseboards from my current home and installing them in the new house (which is set up for baseboards, but has none).
