Learning how to clean baseboard heaters is an essential skill for any homeowner. Whether you need to know how to clean an electric baseboard heater or how to clean a hydronic baseboard heater, this chore can actually make your heaters work more efficiently. Otherwise, dust and other debris can clog your baseboard heaters, making them work harder to heat the room. Harder work means reduced efficiency, which, you guessed it, means higher electric bills.
Cleaning your baseboard heating system once a year is a smart chore to add to your home maintenance list. Increase that to twice a year if pets live in your house. Here’s an eight-step plan for cleaning baseboard heaters.
Turn Down the Heat
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If the heat comes on while you’re touching the baseboard heater, it could burn you. Dial down your baseboard heat and let the surface cool before you begin. If you’re cleaning hot water baseboard heaters, shut off the hot water to let the heaters cool down.
Remove the Baseboard Heater Cover
Your electric baseboard heaters have front covers that you’ll need to take off for cleaning. Grasp the front and pull it up and toward you. It shouldn’t take much pressure for the cover to unsnap from the base. Once you pull it off, you’ll be able to see the metal fins inside your heater.
Vacuum the Fins
Now, it’s time to learn how to clean dust from the baseboard heaters. To do this, attach the brush to your vacuum and use it along the inside of the heater. Vacuum the fins thoroughly but gently to remove all the loose dirt and dust that’s worked into the electric heater.
Clean Between the Fins
Cool air needs to be able to flow efficiently up through the metal fins so it can heat up and warm the room.
Use pipe cleaners to remove stubborn dirt and dust that didn’t come off when you vacuumed. This step is a bit tedious, but it’s worth it to get the fins completely clean.
Wear gloves during this step. The metal fins are sharp and can easily slice your fingers.
Finish cleaning the fins with a gentle once-over with a clean microfiber cloth to pick up any leftover dirt and residue.
Seal Gaps Around the Pipes
Closely check the pipes running into your baseboard heater for gaps. These are another entrance for dirt and dust to get into your baseboard heating.
A couple of options for dealing with gaps are as follows:
Using Spray Foam Insulation
Seal the gaps around your baseboard heating unit with spray foam insulation. Make sure you use one that’s heat resistant.
Applying Aluminum Foil Tape
Stop dirt from getting inside your baseboard unit with good quality foil tape. Tear off some small strips and stuff them in and around the gaps. Add a longer piece on top of them to hold the strips in place.
Straighten the Heater Fins
Electric baseboard heaters function best when the fins are in good shape. Inspect yours to see if any are damaged or bent. Use needle-nose pliers and a putty knife to gently straighten them out.
If your fins look damaged, or there’s significant rust on them, it’s a good idea to find a local heating and air professional to make sure the heating unit is safe to use.
Once your fins are clean and straight, you’re almost finished with your baseboard heater maintenance.
Snap the Baseboard Heating Cover Back in Place
Before you put the heating cover back, wipe down the front and back with your microfiber cloth. This removes dirt, dust, and pet hair that’s accumulated.
Line the cover up with the metal tabs and gently push it forward until you feel it catch. Give it a tug to make sure it’s locked in place.
Turn the Thermostat Back Up
Now that you have clean baseboard heaters, turn your heat back up to keep your room warm and comfortable. Your home maintenance efforts will help your heaters function more efficiently, saving you money every month.
Tips for Keeping Your Baseboard Heaters Clean
Now that you’ve cleaned your baseboard heaters, you may be wondering how to prevent all that dust and dirt buildup in the first place. The best way to do this is to keep up with regular maintenance, from dusting the outside of the baseboard heater every week to cleaning the interior a couple times per year.
Dust the Exterior
The outer cover of your baseboard heaters can collect dust, so make sure to dust off the exteriors about once per week. You can also use a vacuum attachment to clear dust from the outer cover.
Clean the Baseboard Fins Regularly
Following this guide on how to clean baseboard heaters, plan to deep-clean these heaters about twice per year. Clean them before you plan to use them for the cold season, then give them another cleaning when it’s time to turn the heaters off in the spring or summer. If you have pets, especially ones that shed, consider cleaning the baseboard heaters even more often, around once per season or monthly while they are in use.
Keep the Area Clear
Keep furniture, curtains, toys, and other objects away from your baseboard heaters so they can run as efficiently as possible. Leave at least six to 12 inches of clearance between the baseboard heaters and other objects.
Seal Cracks
To keep dirt, dust, and other debris out of your baseboard heaters, stop them from coming in at the source. Make sure to seal any cracks around doors and windows that can let debris into the home. This will also help seal your home, making your heaters work more efficiently.
Knowing how to clean baseboard heaters is worth it, because this skill means your heating system will work more efficiently. By clearing out dirt and debris from the metal fins inside the heater, they can better transfer heat. Not only does this keep you nice and warm, but it may lower your energy bills, too.
You followed the above cleaning protocol, but it didn’t do the trick. If your baseboard heaters are cold, check your breakers, as one may have tripped.
Other common baseboard heater problems may include a faulty thermostat or heating element preventing the heater from coming up to the set temperature. If the thermostat is set to the correct temperature and the baseboard heater isn’t hot, consult a heating and cooling professional.
A new baseboard heater costs about $300 to $500 total. The parts alone for one replacement baseboard heater cost about $25 to $250 and an additional $75 to $250 per hour for labor. You’ll need to hire an electrician for this project rather than attempt to DIY, since baseboard heaters must comply with building codes.
Paige Bennett is a professional editor and writer with experience covering design, DIY projects, food, health, and travel, and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Ohio University.
Paige Bennett is a professional editor and writer with experience covering design, DIY projects, food, health, and travel, and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Ohio University.
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