Not sure of the correct fora for this topic, but here we go.

I purchased a 120 year old house converted into a duplex. On the floor in question, a previous owner had installed forced air heat. However, all the baseboard heaters were left in place and most of the thermostats are in place as well.

I see no reason to have the baseboard heaters. If I were going to be living in the unit, I would take this time to remove the heaters and thermostats, open up the walls to remove the associated wiring (pretty much the ONLY work that was done correctly on the house was stapling the wires. oh, if only they had skipped that step when they were busy screwing up everything else), drywall and paint.

However, I'm not going to be living there. So, of my options, what would the august body here recommend?

1) Leave everything in place and let future renters decide if they want to actually use electric base board heating. Screw them if they really wanted a chair right where the heater is.

2) Remove the heaters, pull the wires down to the basement and cap them off. Remove the thermostats, cap the wires, and put a plate over the gang box.

3) Same as 2, but cut the wires in the basement so that the thermostat cannot get power to it and then put in a drywall patch and paint. NOTE: I'm pretty sure this is illegal.

4) Same as 2, but cut open the drywall, take out the wires, patch, paint. This will possibly involve painting the entire interior. I'm not a fan, but if I'm going to do it, now is the time.

Any thoughts?
Thanks

 

Wires can be abandoned in place, no need to remove, if they are disconnected on both ends and cut to short to use or pushed bAck into the wall on both ends.

 

Well, that's good to know. Thank you.

What about pushed into the wall one end and terminated into an otherwise empty junction box in the basement?

 

If you cut them short and abandon them at one end..... the same thing must be done to the other end.

 

Hence my underlining both ends.

 

Eh, best to make sure.

Thanks again.