... Baseboard electric heaters is a popular choice amongst the several households across the world, … Sometimes an electrical short develops inside a component and does not have visual evidence. One common problem in an electric baseboard heater is that it will not turn on and produce heat. home improvement and repair website. A fault anywhere in the circuit opens the pathway, turning off the element. To fix this problem, replace the fuse in the fuse box. District or collective heating systems that are controlled by an accessible individual electric valve are compatible with Nest thermostats. Repeat this across the second pole, if applicable. As air within the heater is warmed, it rises into the room, and cooler air is drawn into the bottom of the … A light tap on the thermostat may temporarily release the stuck internal part; however, this will not permanently fix the issue. When a circuit breaker trips instantly, part of the electric circuit contains a short. If it fails, repeat this across every individual part until you find the fault. Wood vs Electric Fireplace: Which is More Efficient? Wyze Thermostat does not work with electric baseboard heating. Turn off the system's circuit breaker. Voltage should not pass through a thermostat set to the OFF position. If yours stops working, then it is often because of defects in the fuse. What could be the problem? Sometimes the baseboard heater will not adequately heat the room because there are pieces of furniture and drapes too close to the unit. Wyze Thermostat was made to control low voltage (24V) heating systems; electric baseboard heating is high (or line) voltage (120V or 240V). If you do not have a test meter or do not know how to do this repair then you will need a service technician. I turned down thermostat on recently installed baseboard heater. This can be rectified by making sure that the breaker is not tripping. It can be temporarily solved by setting your thermostat to a higher temperature, but if the problem persists, you have to replace it. Anything from carbon buildup between its thermostat's contacts to a loose electrical connection in the circuit-breaker panel can cause system failure. An electric baseboard heater is said to be one of the best alternatives to a furnace. when the thermostat is turned all the way down, there is still heat coming off the heater. All information is provided "AS IS." The Heater Has Stopped Working. I swapped out the thermostat with one from another room that is known to work and same issue. The learning and heating algorithms were not designed with electric heating in mind. Electric baseboard heaters are individual units and heat on a per-room basis. If the problem persists, replace the circuit breaker. Answer: Turn off the circuit breaker, then double-check for voltage with a voltmeter. 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. Tip. Open the baseboard heater's thermostat compartment. This test should include the wires. 24-3/4" Hydronic Baseboard Heater, White. The first thing to do when trying to identify problems with an electric baseboard heater is to check the circuit breaker and reset it if it’s tripped. Answer: It does sound like a faulty thermostat. What can be wrong? The element should show continuity cross its terminals. Answer: Make sure all electrical connections are good. If the element has failed, consider replacing the entire unit. This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Measured 120v at the heater never fully turns off. Most baseboard heaters operate on a dedicated 240-volt circuit and utilize a double-pole thermostat. An electric current flows through the electric baseboard’s heating element. Electric baseboard heaters provide instant heat. If I hook it up without the thermostat, the heater gets hot. If not, reconnect the thermostat's line leads. If the system uses a single-throw breaker, place one probe on the wire terminal and the other probe on the service panel's ground buss. Flip the appropriate circuit breaker to the "On" position. A single pole thermostat has one set of contact points and a solid buss bar between the second leg's wire terminals. Otherwise you end up changing parts needlessly. If the load exceeds the rating, either increase the circuit breaker and wire size or lower the load demand. I would start at the thermostat---disconnect the wires on the thermostat's load side and test for continuity across the entire heater. I have a 240 volt baseboard controlled by a thermostat. Hello and thanks in advance for any help you can provide. Thanks. If not, the element has failed. This common scenario happens when the thermostat's contacts remains closed. Keeping a baseboard heater on a bare wall limits fire danger. Any ideas? Electric baseboard heat does not use "valves" so I have no idea what that's about. Disconnect the wires and inspect the thermostat lugs for carbon buildup. Fuse problems are also among the common causes of issues for baseboard heaters. However, a baseboard heater may have problems wherein it emits smoke or a burning odor or just doesn't work properly. Check the thermostat for continuity between the load leads and between each load lead and ground. If the breaker trips too often that means the heater is overheating, likely due to permanent lack of airflow through it, meaning that the vents are likely blocked. I bought a house with an unfinished 13'x14' room off the first floor walkou... Fahrenheat electric heater always in low heat when no-self mount thermostat. A unit will automatically turn off when it begins to overheat due to clogging. Even during normal operation, an electric baseboard heater takes a lot of abuse. This would make the second baseboard heater dependent on the master thermostat. Is that normal? View our Privacy Policy here. Fuse problems are also among the common causes of issues for baseboard heaters. There's really only one place where an electric baseboard heater can develop a high-current wiring fault that won't trip the breaker: at the unwired end of the heater, where the wire loops back to connect the two heating elements in the core of the heater. Electric wall heaters are very reliable, but like all appliances, they can sometimes have problems, Trouble with the power supply can cause an electric heater to malfunction, but so can faulty components. At no time does it trip the circuit breaker though. If the circuit breaker passed, check the wire set's continuity. Without proper and regular cleaning, the baseboard heater will cause soot, smoke, and the smell of burning from debris in and around the heating element. Since electric baseboard units circulate heated air by convection, not by radiant heating or a fan blowing air, it is a very slow and gentle airflow. But if this continues for more than one hour, switch off your electric baseboard and contact the provider to avoid any fire hazards. Don’t try to repair your own when dealing with more complicated problems. I am not handy, so I have no idea what to do. With electric baseboard heating, an electric current flows through the unit when it’s engaged, creating heat and warming the room by passive convection as the heat naturally rises without the use of a fan. However, you should contact a local Nest Pro installer and tell them that your apartment is heated with collective or district heating so they can ask you additional questions to determine Nest compatibility before they schedule an installation appointment.. Question: I have a new baseboard heater, thermostat and 20 amp breaker. Baseboard heaters are effective because they are located near the floor so the hot air they produce can rise and fill the room. Question: I have an electric baseboard heater that sometimes heats up as it should when the thermostat kicks in, but sometimes it doesn't. A high-limit switch protects the system from overheating. Baseboard heaters are a good and reliable heat source for mainly small rooms. By Syncmedia (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons. Be an informed homeowner. Replacing wire in electric baseboard heater? By Josefus2003 (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. I have a Singer electric baseboard heater which stopped functioning. I see there's a post somewhat similar to mine, it's actually what led me to this forum. Or they can act as the primary heat for peripheral spaces like cabins, basements, or additions. 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. 2500. Some 120-volt baseboard heaters share the room's circuit with the lighting and wall outlets. Troubleshooting the baseboard heater's electric circuit pinpoints the exact fault. A 240-volt circuit contains two 120-volt legs, phased 180-degrees from each other. Answer: A technician would start by checking for faulty thermostat and incorrect voltage, such as 120-volts applied to a 240-volt system. Eventually the limit switch will open and turn off the heater until the housing's temperature drops into tolerance. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Website operating Question: I have taken the baseboard heaters out, but I would like to remove the thermostat from the wall but I don't know how to tell if the wire is hot or not. Installers use this information to determine the correct wire and circuit-breaker size. A staple install too tightly can damage a wire strand's insulation, which leads to overheating. The problems we get from these heaters can be eliminated by following proper usage guidelines. I verified the circuit breaker and have 220v. When an electric baseboard heater is having problems, the first thing to look at is the power supply and whether the breaker has tripped. Pay special attention to the wire staples. If your heater’s not working at all, check for a tripped breaker or blown fuse. The electrical resistance of the heating element causes it to heat up as the electricity tries to flow through it. Read the meter. How to Check if an Electric Baseboard Heater Is Broken Things You Will Need. One common problem in an electric baseboard heater is that it will not turn on and produce heat. Technicians find these shorts with a multimeter. Heating the room involves the use of infrared rays that disperse warm air throughout. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. A set of wires run from the circuit breaker to either a wall-mounted or a built-in thermostat. A technician would use a voltmeter and test everything, starting at the circuit breaker. If the unit is cold to the touch turn the thermostat up enough to cause the unit to turn on. If nothing obvious stands out, remove the circuit breaker. This can be rectified by making sure that the breaker is not tripping. How would I go about testing if a wire is hot? Camouflage heating is beautiful and some might even call it a work of art. Not long after I saw a significant spark from power supply end of heater. Continuity all the way thru heater. Remove the wires from the thermostat's line leads. Open the home's electrical-service panel. I have a 240v baseboard heater. The hydronic liquids in these better heaters surround the element, which is suspended inside a copper pipe. I disconnected the thermostat (which only switch's on leg) I have the same result. Question: I recently began using a room with two Marley baseboard heaters that were installed in October of 2016. Generally, this type of heater is less expensive and more productive than its competitor. If i click the thermostat past 70 degrees the heater will go up to 240 volts and wont turn off. The main virtue of electric heaters is their convenience. Is the leading independent home improvement and repair website on and produce heat when there is still coming. Not long after I saw a significant spark from power supply somewhere between the second baseboard heater thermostat! 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