Repairing Electrical Baseboards and Wall Heaters

Many people have baseboard or wall heaters that are used as primary heat sources or as add-ons for heat in certain rooms of their homes. They are both economical and very easy to use. Should one become damaged or just go out you can repair it yourself with little or no effort without having to replace the whole unit.

• Baseboard heaters are attached to the base of a wall and draw cool air in and heat it with electrical elements located within the heater. Wall heaters do basically the same thing by circulating the air in the room with fans after heating it with electrical elements.


• There are two types of these heaters. First there are the convective heaters that air is heated and blown into the room with a fan or fans. The second is radiant heaters where the elements heat something that radiates the heat into the room without the use of fans.


• The components of these heaters are standard with most heaters such as heating elements, fans, thermostats and control switching devices. They would normally also have what are called tipping switches which shut them down in case they are knocked over plus perhaps thermal cut-off switches in case of overheating.


• Prior to working on a heater of either type make certain it is unplugged and has completely cooled down.


• Disassemble the heater by removing the housing that covers the inside materials. From this point you can disconnect the thermostat, the heating elements, the power switch and any electrical connections. If you know what is causing the heater to malfunction take off the part that is broken or not working and replace it.


• The only difference between the two types of heaters is the use of fans versus a convective material such a typically water in a convective heater. When you disassemble the heater you will expose all components and you can decide then what will need to be replaced.