Staying Safe While Using Baseboard Heaters In The Home
Posted on: 4 April 2018
Baseboard heating systems are a great solution for heating homes of various sizes. This method of home heating allows you to maintain different temperatures in different areas of the home. If you have rooms that aren't used often, or rooms that tend to get colder than others, baseboard heaters could be the solution. Like all heat sources, baseboard heaters can pose a fire hazard. Here, you'll learn a few tips to help keep your home and family safe while using baseboard heaters. Use these tips in addition to your residential heating services to keep your system running at its best.
Furniture and Curtain Placement
Furniture and curtains should never be in direct contact with baseboard heaters. Do your best to position furniture with enough space for the heat to circulate away from the fabric. Do not hang curtains directly over the heater. Allow for several inches between the upholstery and curtains and the heaters.
Electrical Outlets
Baseboard heater should never be positioned below any electrical outlets. As the heater warms up, any outlets that are directly above the heater can overheat. When that happens, fires start. If you have no choice but to install the heater below the outlet, turn off the breaker switch to that outlet, remove it from the wall and put caps on the ends of the electrical components inside. You don't want this outlet to be used for anything.
Dirt and Debris
Use a Swiffer sweeper to capture all of the dirt and debris that makes its way under and around the baseboard heater. Failure to clean dirt and debris from around the heater could result in a fire. Try to clean the areas at least once per week – more often if you have pets.
Kids' Rooms
You need to keep your kids' rooms warm, but you also must consider their safety and their lack of attention to things like the heaters in their rooms. They won't give a second thought about piling up toys or dirty laundry on or by the heater.
To prevent an accidental fire, build a cage to put over the heater. You can use simple wire mesh and scraps of wood to build the cage. As you design it, make sure to allow for no less than 6 inches on each side to keep things a safe distance from the heating system.
If you are unsure if your baseboard heaters are safe, contact your local HVAC technician for assistance. He or she will be happy to inspect the heaters and make any necessary changes.
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