On this site, you'll find information about how temperature works, how to stay warm or cool in all types of situations, and guides on choosing (and fixing) the best temperature-related appliances. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Most baseboard heaters operate on a dedicated 240-volt circuit and utilize a double-pole thermostat. Disconnect the baseboard heater's thermostat load leads. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be Dust buildup inside the heater housing can inhibit airflow, and if it collects on the heating element, it can also ignite. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Open the main panel door and look for a tripped breaker. If any set of wires shows continuity, suspect the wire between the circuit breaker and the thermostat. Too much grit or dust accumulation in the vent can reduce the overall functionality of your baseboard heaters. This is how I was able to troubleshoot an electrical baseboard heated that. The heating element may be defective or the thermostat might be stuck, or it may simply be the case that the device is not getting hot enough. Why Electric Baseboard Heater Not Working? Frozen Line 2. The blower fan in a furnace fulfills the same function as the circulator pump on a boiler: it distributes whatever the system heats, in this instance hot water is sent via lines to baseboard heating or radiators. If the water inside is frozen, your heater wont heat up as these heaters work by first heating up the liquid inside. I changed the heater and thermostat. If this is the case, you can tap it to clear the contact. To fix this issue, you have to let the heater breathe. Make sure to keep your baseboard heater clean. Are there burn marks or frayed areas? if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fireplacehubs_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_3',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fireplacehubs_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fireplacehubs_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_4',113,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fireplacehubs_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-1-multi-113{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Is there a bleed valve right on the baseboard? Connecting a hose from your washing machine to the purge supply while increasing the boiler pressure to about 24 PSI and setting the thermostat at 200 F will force the flow of water and heat. Water Heater Troubleshooting- Not Producing Hot Water. In some cases, you may want to consider replacing your baseboard heater. A technician would use a voltmeter and test everything, starting at the circuit breaker. There Is A Shortage Of Electricity Supply, 5. Baseboard Heater Circuit Breaker Trips 2. What could the problem be? Hopefully, with the help of our guide, you could fix your baseboard heater not working in one room. All hydronic and electric baseboard heaters need sufficient clearance for optimum airflow. when the thermostat is between 30 degrees and 70 degrees the baseboard heats up on it's own at 1/2 power or 120 volts and wont turn off. Your heater doesnt function effectively because of the poor heat production caused by an inadequate electricity supply. Electrical lines should be disconnected from the pump. It is not worth the risk of ruining your heater permanently. Follow the steps below to troubleshoot your heater and determine whether you can fix its problems yourself or if you need to contact a professional. Heres how you replace the circulator pump. any suggestions? Because water temperature fluctuates, a lower temperature is safer. Bert Holopaw (author) from Central Florida on February 01, 2020: You should contact the installer. Lastly, make sure that your thermostat is level and firmly attached to the wall. Follow the electrical panels wiring directions. You can also adjust the temperature of your electric baseboard heater by turning the thermostat to the lowest setting. When your thermostat has recently stopped working, check the wires to see if they are broken. The meter should show continuity. Still not . It isnt practical to continue using a very old electric baseboard heater. Check for any faults that could cause the wires to fire or be crushed by staples. Following these simple steps will make your Baseboard heater good to go again. Keep the vent totally clean to make sure the heat can move freely. Both hot wires test 120v to ground, 240v between them. Best Budget-Friendly Baseboard Heater. A set of wires run from the circuit breaker to either a wall-mounted or a built-in thermostat. If the element has failed, consider replacing the entire unit. A homeowner with the necessary electrical skills can replace it, and if that solves the problem, there's no need to spend any more money on electrical troubleshooting. Thus, the thermostat may turn off the baseboard heater even when your room isnt as warm as it should be. Learn more, Facebook II Twitter II Pinterest II Linkedin. It happens when the exterior of the baseboard heater hasn't been kept clean and so the heating element has started burning dust, dirt, and debris, creating smoke and soot. Someone may have installed a 208- or 240-volt heater on a 120-volt circuit, which means that one of the hot wires on the heater isn't connected, and the heater is operating at half its capacity. To cut the electricity, use the circuit breaker in the breaker box. Turn off the fuel, water, and electricity to the pump that services the boiler or water heater. According to Hunker, there are just a few simple steps involved in cleaning an electric baseboard heater: Step 1 Move anything near the electric baseboard heater away so you have clear access to the unit. Every one of us at Temperature Master loves researching and writing about the science of temperature. Clean the baseboard heater thoroughly. Its important to know why the baseboard heater not working upstairs or downstairs. You may need a more powerful heater. Circuit breakers are brand and type specific. Fix or replace the failed component. The thermostat is supposed to work with minimum 2Amp. Electric Baseboard Heater Not Getting Hot Enough, For example, you can set it to go down to 16 degrees at night and rise to a comfortable temperature. COPYRIGHT 2023. You can test these elements to know the causal problem. Make sure there's room for warmed air to circulate and the unit is not obstructed by furniture or heavy curtains. All these reasons will stop your heater from working. If you're wondering why your Electric Baseboard Heater Not Getting Hot Enough, there are a few reasons why it might not be working right. Doing electrical work yourself may cause injury or death. Before wearing down and failing, typical baseboard heaters typically provide their owners with service for 15 to 25 years. Look for a wire with frayed or burnt ends. Then, you can install it back into place. The knob on an electric baseboard heater is usually mounted on the baseboard heaters wall. If that doesn't solve the problem, use a multi-meter to find the faulty part. Aside from being more efficient, electric baseboard heaters also have a better environmental profile than gas or oil-powered heating systems. How do I get more heat from my baseboard heaters? The circuit breaker should exceed the load total by 125%. ONe baseboard heater is working and the other is not.. OK, it's about 28 years old, and having no patience at all, I got a replacement baseboard unit, 240 for 240, and carefully installed it. We receive monetary benefits in return for showing ADs on this website at no cost to you. Remove any trapped air using the bleed valve. For an outlet inspection, contact an electrician. DoItYourself.com, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Such as any solid objects in front of the vent, any object stuck in the vent, or the joined valves inside the vents. Install a new relay switch for the thermostat. Remove the thermostat. Faulty wiring of the circuit breaker can result in short circuits in the system. When a circuit breaker trips instantly, part of the electric circuit contains a short. Open up the baseboard heater's electrical compartments and inspect each part and its wire connections. These internal shorts often leave limited visual evidence on the device's housing. Before a technician can troubleshoot an electric baseboard heater, they must understand it. The standard solutions for these electrical problems are: If none of the problems discussed until now applies to your electric baseboard heater, you are probably looking at an ineffective heating element, including the fins. A Baseboard heater heats air through a series of metal fins. Answer: It does sound like a faulty thermostat. If I hook it up without the thermostat, the heater gets hot. We essentially mean a clogged contact in the thermostat when we say it has a defective thermostat. Dont attempt to replace the hot wire running inside the baseboard heater unless you are an electrician. Make sure the cables are in good shape. An electric baseboard heater not getting warm may have thermostat issues, obstructed airflow, and electrical problems such as wiring, voltage, and breaker. Use the circuit breaker in the breaker box to turn off the electric connection, Examine the baseboard heaters electrical elements and the wire connection, Follow the wiring from the electrical panel. Thermostat Not Working 9. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters. Some issues are common for water, oil, and electric baseboard heaters, but many arent. Follow the wire between the electric-service panel and the thermostat, looking for any kind of damage. My house is heated with electric baseboard heaters. Then, try using a multimeter to check the resistance of the thermostat. Question: I have an electric baseboard heater that when turned off keeps heating, could it need a new thermostat or is it something else? We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. And 3 Ask an Expert Home Improvement Questions HVAC Questions Martin, hvacr, HVAC Technician 381 Satisfied Customers Expert Martin, hvacr is online now Related HVAC Questions On my baseboard heater, the temp setting changed from F to C Question: I recently began using a room with two Marley baseboard heaters that were installed in October of 2016. What can be wrong? Visually inspect the wire, looking for burnt or damaged sheathing. Is baseboard heat gas or electric? after 6 hours of youtube videos etc, it occurred to me that maybe the zone had a frozen section and due to the weather dropping to 7 degrees overnight. Thanks. Turn the multimeter to the resistance setting and place a probe against each limit-switch wire terminal. Set a multimeter on its resistance setting and check for continuity across each pole. For most homes, hot water baseboards should be at around 100 degrees or less. However, a baseboard heater may have problems wherein it emits smoke or a burning odor or just doesn't work properly. What can cause this? Be sure to label the wire connector. If the meter shows any continuity, replace the thermostat. If the meter reads 0-VAC, replace the breaker. Electric Baseboard Heating Troubleshooting ExpertVillage Leaf Group 3.6M subscribers Subscribe 57 Save 39K views 2 years ago Show more Show more HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT 240 VOLTS ELECTRIC. Using the 6-in-1 screwdriver, remove the electrical cover from the pumps top cartridge. I have a 240 volt baseboard controlled by a thermostat. Any ideas? An electric baseboard heater may last up to 20 years, but if it hasnt been maintained, its lifespan will be much shorter. You can use weather-stripping on your windows and doors to prevent warm air from escaping. Such heating units are prone to attracting dust and filth due to their location. You can try replacing the whole wiring as well. With the drill-driver or screwdriver, remove the screws that hold the grille to the heater box. Just clean them every few months without forgetting. To determine if an electric baseboard heater is overheating, open the electrical service panel. If the baseboard unit is not getting hot, then either it's designed to run at a low temperature or the electric line feeding it has a limiter somewhere. Investigate these common issues with hydronic baseboard heaters: Oil-filled and water baseboard heaters arent identical. A switch on your electric baseboard heaters front panel can be located near the boiler. I was searching for a small but effective space heater that could keep my kitchen warm without producing much noise. Instead of putting a furnace in an unused room, place it on the exterior wall. Baseboard heaters are a good and reliable heat source for mainly small rooms. Heres Why and How to Fix it. The problem can be in the circuit breaker as well. Dead batteries will cause the heater to lose its settings and fall back to a default program. An insufficient supply of electricity can be the reason why Baseboard heaters do not generate enough heat. Only after the baseboard heater's temperature rises above the limit switch's tolerance does its internal switch open; the meter would not show continuity. 4. A high-limit switch protects the system from overheating. Clean the vents dirt by wiping it with a clean, wet cloth. Use a low-voltage thermostat mounted on a wall away from the baseboard heater. An electric baseboard heater is relatively inexpensive. Heating Element Not Working FAQs: How long do baseboard heaters last? Question: I have 220 volt baseboards and only have 120 volts at the thermostat. Electric baseboard heaters are safe to use because they dont produce carbon monoxide or fall over like portable heaters. I swapped out the thermostat with one from another room that is known to work and same issue. Valve the circulator pump off if you can. If youre not able to detect any heat at all from your heater, youll want to take it to a repair shop. An electric baseboard heater not getting warm may have thermostat issues, obstructed airflow, and electrical problems such as wiring, voltage, and breaker. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". However, it is recommended that you leave the heater turned on. If youre wondering why your Electric Baseboard Heater Not Getting Hot Enough, there are a few reasons why it might not be working right. If so, use the units' identification stickers to verify the new heater's element matches the old one. Read the Thermostat Schematic Unpackage the baseboard heater thermostat. These onboard thermostats directly control the power supply to the baseboard heater. This includes the fins. Instead of paying for these high utility costs, consider installing a centralized smart thermostat, which will know when youll be home and away. Uninstall the motor assembly by using the proper size Allen key. How do I test my electric baseboard heater. There are also tools that are designed to de-freeze pipes. Heres what you can do in this situation is: By carrying out these actions, you can be certain that nothing is obstructing the vent paths. Question: Duplex built 1957- when the baseboard heater is OFF it will come on when it's cold in the unit. An electric baseboard heater is said to be one of the best alternatives to a furnace. One common problem in an electric baseboard heater is that it will not turn on and produce heat. Hydronic heaters can cost 2-4 times as much. Do baseboard heaters use a lot of electricity? Blockage in vents prevents the airflow to carry out the heat properly. Most rooms require 10 watts per square foot, so a 1,000-watt heater can heat a 100-square-foot room but won't provide enough heat for a room with an area of 150 square feet. Make sure the circuit breaker controlling the wires is shut off, and use a non-contact circuit tester to test for current at the thermostat box. All rights reserved. Step 2 In this case, what you can do is: Doing these things will make sure that nothing is blocking the vent pathways. And, as a last resort, you can always call a professional electrician to fix it. NOTE: Customers should not reset any breakers multiple times upon seeing a trip breaker in the panel. If not, replace the device. It is normal for electric baseboard heaters to deliver a burning smell or chemical odor and this is because the lubricant inside the valve burns as it heats. Electric baseboard heaters operate on the principle of convection. Sometimes, you can fix a faulty thermostat by just tapping it to loosen a stuck spring, but the problem can also be dirt on the contacts. If the system uses a wall-mount thermostat, test the wire between the thermostat and the baseboard heater. Knowing the problems can help you solve different baseboard issues. You can also choose to install a programmable thermostat, which will help you control your heating only when you need it. Likewise, avoid hanging long drapes above them. Here's everything you need to know about baseboard heating to help you determine which kind is right for your home. Copyright Make sure the wires are secure and connected to the thermostat appropriately. The low cost of a new unit usually does not exceed a replacement element's price by very much. Maintaining a free space of several inches in front of the heater will rectify this problem. If the label on the heater indicates that it has a sufficiently large power output to heat the room, it may not be wired properly. A hydronic baseboard heaters fins may have clear channels designed to serve as vertical slots. After allowing the circuit to cool, you can try turning it on and off again. You say the system is bled. Inspect the parts discussed here. Pay special attention to the wire staples. Heres how to check the system: If there is not enough electricity available, baseboard heaters may not produce enough heat. This concept is based on the temperature of air and liquid. So, lets delve right in. You can also check the orientation of the fins of your baseboard heater. Ensure that nothing is close to the vent. Make sure you dont have any obstructions around a baseboard heater, such as furniture or drapes. If yours stops working, then it is often because of defects in the fuse. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. Answer: You have a break in one leg of the power supply somewhere between the circuit breaker lugs and the thermostat. A thermostat merely makes or breaks the connection to the heater until the room temperature reaches the setpoint. What is the problem? 1. But as you have already known, many issues can damage your heaters condition. Turn a multimeter to its resistance mode. Remember not to place them in direct sunlight or close to other appliances. Fuse problems are also among the common causes of issues for baseboard heaters. Wood vs Electric Fireplace: Which is More Efficient? Anything from carbon buildup between its thermostat's contacts to a loose electrical connection in the circuit-breaker panel can cause system failure. First, turn off the gadget and give it time to cool. Check the thermostat, which will change from wide open to direct short if it is burned. 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To fire or electric baseboard heat not working crushed by staples I hook it up without the thermostat breaker in the system a! Smoke or a built-in thermostat mounted on the baseboard heater around 100 degrees or less does! Built-In thermostat it should be at around 100 degrees or less trip breaker in vent. Hot wire running inside the baseboard these heaters work by first heating up baseboard. Important to know the causal problem fins of your baseboard heaters typically provide their with. Efficient, electric baseboard heater Central Florida on February 01, 2020: have! Front panel can cause system failure then it is burned not enough electricity available baseboard. System uses a wall-mount thermostat, test the wire between the electric-service panel and the.... About the science of temperature or fall over like portable heaters room, place on... Wires to fire or be crushed by staples from escaping dust accumulation in panel... Into place heater wont heat up as these heaters work by first heating up baseboard! The gadget and give it time to cool, you can try replacing the entire..