How to Install Baseboard Heat

Baseboard heat is quiet and produces no harmful fumes or byproducts.

Baseboard heat is one of the most common sources of heat for rooms of all sizes in homes and businesses. Baseboard heat is clean and efficient, and new models are more economical than ever before. Because electricity is involved, you may be inclined to hire a professional rather than attempting to install the baseboard heater yourself. As long as the proper electrical wiring is in place in the walls, installing baseboard heat can be simple and straightforward.

Things You'll Need

• Wire stripper/cutter
• Electrical tester
• Screwdriver
• Screws
• Drill and drill bits
• Wire connectors

Instructions

1. Locate a spot to install the baseboard heater if you are installing a new baseboard unit. Baseboard heat should be installed underneath a window, and the heating unit cannot be installed directly underneath an electrical receptacle.

2. Turn off the power at the circuit breaker panel. Verify the power has stopped flowing through the electrical lines in the room by testing the lines with an electric tester.

3. 

   Wire nuts are used to secure and protect the ends of electrical wires.

   Remove the existing baseboard heating unit if you are replacing a baseboard heater. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the face-plates on each end, and pull off the face-plates. The electrical wiring should be visible once these covers are removed. Unscrew the wire nuts and disconnect the wiring so the heating unit can be dislodged from the wall. Double-check that the new heating unit matches the electrical voltage and wiring setup.

4. Prepare the electrical wiring if you are installing a new baseboard heating unit where none previously existed. Pull the electrical wire away from the wall gently so you have about three inches of wire to work with. Use wire strippers to remove 1 to 2 inches of the wire's insulation coating from both the wires in the wall and the wires in the heating unit. Follow the manufacturer's directions for wiring the baseboard heating unit to the wall and cap the wire connections with a wire nut. Typically, the wires are color coded, and you can simply connect the corresponding colors together.

5. 

   Use a narrow drill bit to make a pinhole for the tip of the screw to grab onto.

   Attach the baseboard heating unit to the wall using 2-inch screws. Use a narrow drill bit and power drill to get the hole started, and insert the screws in each screw opening on the heating unit. Remove or trim any pieces of baseboard molding that interfere with the installation. The heating unit should fit flush against the wall, and it should not be loose in any way. Restore the power and check that the heater is functioning properly.

References

• Creative Homeowner: Installing an Electric Baseboard Heater
• Easy DIY Electricity: Installing Electric Baseboard Heat
• Monster Guide: How to Install Baseboard Heating