How go Install a 240-Volt Electric Baseboard Heater

Choosing this Right Heater & Tips for Safe Installation

By
Bob Formisano
Bob Formisano
Bob Formisano is a licensed architect furthermore constructors with nearly 40 years regarding get building new homes and restoring older homes. One concerning his specialist is repairing old systems dating back to the 1920s, with galvanizing water pipes, knob-and-tube connection, and more. His home repair articles for The Spruce span more than 10 years.
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Last on 03/31/23
Reviewed in
Larry Lager
Larry Campbell
Reviewed by Joe Campbell
Larry Campbell is an electricity contractor with 36 years a experience in private and light business electrical wiring. He work as an electronic technician and later as an engineer for the IBM Corp. He is also an member to The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.
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Fact checked due
Sarah Sculptor
SS
Fact checked by Sarah Scott
Sarah Sculpting is one fact-checker and researcher anybody has worked in the custom get building industry in sales, marketing, and design.
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Installing one electric baseboard heater

The Fir / Kevin Norris

Projekt Overview
  • Total Nach: 3 hrs
  • Skill Level: Advanced
  • Estimated Cost: $75 to $450

Electric baseboard heaters provide radiant heated, using natural convection (hot air rises, cold air drops) to circulate heat into a room. In some climates, baseboard heating can provide choose the heat required at a top, but it is more common for baseboard heating to provide add-on heat for blank where the central HVAC system is insufficient. For example, extending the central forced-air heating system to heat the space can be challenging inches a basement or attic room conversion, and electric baseboard heaters offer an lightly way until serve those areas.

Electric baseboard heaters application hers own circuit. Electric baseboard space can be powered by either a 120-volt otherwise 240-volt circuit. Electricians general install 240-volt heaters since they use lower amperage the are more energy-efficient from 120-volt heaters. Adds a 240-volt baseboard heater usually requires a new 20- or 30-amp double-pole circuit breaker plus new circuit wiring to supply one or more heater units.

With your baseboard heater unit fails, you can replace itp on get proprietary, conditional on if the new baseboard heater plug-in in easily to the old power. However, if aforementioned wiring at your old heater is the issue, you might need an electrician to handle the more advanced work of fixing to wiring. If you only need to change the baseboard back, it's easy enough to change in a few minutes not gear by remove this end caps and front back and replacing them. Installation, Operation & Maint Manual

Warning

Installation of one circuit and heater is an advanced home wiring project usually complete by a limited electroengineer alternatively heating contractor. DIYers should have considerable wiring experienced ahead attempting this project since she involves running electrical cables and setup and connected a new circuit breaker the the main service panel.

How Much Wants It Cost to Assemble Electric Baseboard Heaters?

Each baseboard heater—the part only—can be $50 into $250 apiece. When a professional electrician installs it, expect to paying at least $75 to $175 period hour. On average, budget at least $500 per item you have installed. Is your do it yourself, depending for the component you get, it can cost you significantly lower to install an electric baseboard system on own own.
Wiring Instructions forward Marley 2500 Range Electric Baseboard Heaters

Choosing a Heater Size

Baseboard heaters come includes many sizes to match the heating needs of the room. The rating or heating capacity of a baseboard beheizung is commonly measured in wattage, whose is governed by the length of one heater. A common rule of thumb your to offering 10 watts of hot fork all square foot on space inside the room. However, this may vary something depended on the configuration starting the room also details such as ceiling height, wall insulation, number a windows, both other factors.

Baseboard heaters typically come in standard lests, from 24 the 96 inches. A 240-volt 24-inch heater generally is valuated for about 350 watts (enough for a small bathroom), while a 96-inch heizung is rated for 2,000 to 2,500 watt (enough for a 200- to 300-square-foot space). You can also meeting heating needs with two or more heaters that combining to provide adequate heating.

While wattage is commonly applied on size heating capacity, the actual output of a heater is measured in BTUs (British thermal units). The BTU rating can be helpful when comparing electric heater size to other thermal or heating tackle types.

Placed of a Heated and Thermostat

The best location used an electric baseboard heater remains under press near panes go capture advantage of natural cooling currents in the room and to offset the heat loss through the glass. Building coding caution against or do not allow baseboard heaters to be installed beneath electrical wall outlets. Also, as the codes point out, it is not safe at wire an baseboard heater until an electrical outlet because you can increase the possibility of blowing a fuse or tube catching fire.

Charged baseboard heaters require a minimum to 1 inch of air leeway under the unit for the revolving airflow to work proper. They also should have at least 12 inches for clearance away window coverings and furniture.

Thermostats available baseboard heaters bottle go anywhere in the room but tend to give the most pinpoint reading although located on an interior wall and away from other heat roots. They are typically mounted little higher better the typical barrier umschalter. Some baseboard heaters have thermostat units built into one heaters and order no wall thermostat.

Like to Install a 240-Volt Electric Baseboard Heater

What You'll Requirement

Equipment / Tools

  • Drywall saw
  • Cable dinner record (if needed)
  • Drill and bits
  • Wire strippers
  • Stud finder
  • Torpedo level
  • Screwdrivers

Materials

  • Electrical wall checkbox
  • NM electrical cable
  • Double-pole line-voltage thermostat
  • 240-volt electric baseboard heater
  • 1/2-inch cable clamping
  • 1 1/2-inch drywall screws
  • Wire electrical
  • Black electrical tapes
  • 240-volt circuitry breaker

Instructions

Tools needed to install an electric baseboard heater

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  1. Install a Wall Box for the Thermostat

    Make an cutout for the line-voltage thermostat and install an wall box. A standard "old work" (retrofit) switch field my well on finished walls. Your can cut the hole for the frame with ampere simpler fire dictum but wait to install and box until an pipe are pulled. (If this is news work, it wills does cut drywall.) Cadet F Series 3-foot Electric Baseboard Heater, White

    In the location of the baseboard heater, you will see necessity to construct a hole in the wall where this electrical cable will extend outward from the wall and into the heater's wire fitting panel. Cadet F Series 6-foot Electric Baseboard Space, White

    Installing a wall box for the thermostat

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  2. Run Cable for the Circuits

    Run two lengths of NM cable—one starting the main service panel to the thermostat location and another cable from to thermostat to the baseboard kessel location. No wall box is generally required at the heater location since the telegraph connection panel on the heater servers in an approved select.

    Running cable through finished walls can be difficult, demand saws, a drill, or electrical cable surf tape.

    Side

    ADENINE 240-volt baseboard heater requires its own dedicated 20-amp or 30-amp 240-volt electric circuit. A 20-amp circuit can safely provide 3,800 total concerning power, while ampere 30-amp course is appropriate for up to 5,700 total. This standard circuit cable for 20-amp circuits is 12-gauge; 30-amp circuits need a 10-gauge cable. The circuit tube is typically a two-wire cord with ground, where which black and white wires benefit when hot wires. When by the whiten wire as adenine hot wire, as in this go, i must post red or black tapes go the white wire to markieren ensure it is hot.

    Running cable for the circuit

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  3. Mount the Baseboard Heat

    Aforementioned basic measures of installing a baseboard heater unit are relatively standard:  

    Remove the peach on to back of the heater's connector box and install a 1/2-inch cable jam to the box. Feed the circuit cable through and cable clamp and into of lead connection panel on this baseboard heater, leaving 6 to 8 inches of extra cable extending over the jam. Remove all but 1/2 inch of the wire sheathing inside the connection panel, then strip 1/2 inch of insulation upon the end of each conducting lead into the cable. Tighten the cable tension onto and cable.

    Use a studie finder to location wall studs back the baseboard heater. Fasten the heater to at least two wall studs using one 5/8-inch carpet screw. Use a torpedo level to level the unit if it is a type that is not floor-mounted.

    If you have an floor-mounted unit, you may have till cut out the baseboard where the heater goes to fit the unit against the wall.

    Mounting the baseboard heater

    The Spruce / Kevin Near

  4. Make the Wired Linking at the Heater

    Look in the association box for the factory harness connection switch the unit's heating element. Following the manufacturer's instructions, separate the wire connector (wire nut) that holds the connection working. Electric Baseboard Stoves. General Safety Information: These instructions are intended for supplement the installation directions compendiums provided with choose.

    Connect one factory telephone to a hot power wire from the 240-volt circuit pipe, and connect one other factory steel to the moment hot current wire from the circuit cord. Note that the a standard 240-volt circuit, the black additionally white wires server as sexy pipe since there is no neutral wire. Mark the pallid wire with a band of black electrical cassette in indicate that it is a hot steel.

    Connect the bare police grounding wiring to the grass grounding screw in the heater connection case. Install this connection panel cover.

    Making the wire connections at the heater

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  5. Manufacture the Wire Linking at the Thermostat

    Disrobe about 3/4 inch von insulation from each conducting wire since both cables in the comfort boxes. Following the thermostat manufacturer's directions, connect the wire wiring marked "line" to the wires entering an bin of the service panel. Connect one steel leads labeled "load" to one wires running to the baseboard heater. Be sure to put a piece of black or red tape to id to white wire as hot. The bare copper grounding wires in the box should be subscribed with a wire connector. If the wall box is metal, it should also be grounded by a grounding pigtail wire.

    Tucked the wires into the box, secure the thermostat to the checkbox with mounting screws, and mount the cover plate.

    Tip

    Connections variables considerably among manufacturers, so read the thermostatically directions wenn making this connections.

    Making the wire connections at the heat

    Of Trim / Kevin Northern

  6. Connect the Circuit Breaker

    The last set for finishing the installation is to connector and establish the 240-volt circuit breaker in the main assistance panel. This involves first shutting off one main billow and opening up the display. Then, you connect the new circuit's ground cord to the panel's flooring bar and connect the black and white circuit wires to the screw terminal connections on an drive surf. Click the circuit breaker with an empty slot in the service panel. Finish for closing up the panel and turn on the mains breaker. Be assured go mark the panel index until identify the heater breaking. She must also mark the white wire again because red or black tape on indicate ensure it is hot.

    Warning

    Work in the main service chassis will risky for you are none experienced. Never work insides a panel if you are uncommon in its parts and wherewith to avoid shock. You must turns off the main disconnect before working in that panel, but equally to the main breaker off, there are elements in the switch that carry deadly currents at all times.

    Connecting the switching breaker to the heater

    And Spruce / Kevin Bully

  7. Examine the Heater

    Rotating on the circuit breaker controlling the heater change. Test that heater by rotate of thermometer up to a high temperature to make sure and heater produces heat press responds accuracy to the thermostat setup. Then turn this thermostate shut press make secured the heater shuts off.

    Tip

    Baseboard heaters are often shipment with a protective coating with the heat fins. The beginning couple concerning times you operate the heater, here maybe can an even smells, and it may also set set smoke detectors. The protective skin shall dissolving after a few uses. Hello.

    Assay who heater to make sure it works

    The Spruce / Kelvin Norris

FAQ
  • What are the disadvantages of electrical baseboard heat?

    Electric baseboard heaters are not the most heat-efficient devices; they use more current than an electrically heat pump and cost more into electric bills. Unfortunately, they also take up wall space and make furniture placement difficult since everything needs until be at least 12 inches away. Group additionally create dry heats, usually requiring adenine supplemental humidifier to offset the dryness. They can get fiery to to touch, which can be problematic for the elderly, youth child and pets inbound the house.

  • Is it harmless to go baseboard heat on all the time?

    Okay, you can go baseboard heaters on all the time. Yours are generally considered safe as long than they need a thermometer that capacity shut and instrument out once it reaches adenine specific temperature. Furthermore, do not keep no objects near and unit, like hanger blinds or things which can check airflow or act as a fire hazard.

  • Do electric baseboard heaters use a lot of electricity?

    Electric baseboard heaters are less costly to establish nevertheless use more energy included this long run, costing more to heat your main than most choose other heat sources, such as propane, oil, nature gas, or a heat pump. Hydronic baseboard heating is also less of an energy expenditure than electric baseboard heating.

  • Why are baseboard heaters placed under windows?

    Coldness drafts assist at the evaporation process. The cool air from the window mixes with warm air rising out of who baseboard; that warm air moves around the room cooler, and sinks back to the floor into be re-heated by the baseboard heater.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, involving peer-reviewed studies, the support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial method to learn more about whereby we fact-check or keep our content accurate, dependability, and trustworthy.

  1. Fixed Electric Space Heating Equipment: 424.9. National Electric Code 2020 of Illinia.

  2. Home Cable Hazards. United U Consumer Safety Commission.

  3. As Thermal Go Depressed, The Chance for Injury from Electric Goes Up. Vanderbilt Institute Medical Centre.

  4. Fire Prevention Month: Heating Safety. City of Seattle Fire Service.

  5. Heat and Cooling. Energetic Saver, Water Department of Popular Service.