Do Electric Baseboads Get Cooler vs. No Heat
#1
03-25-05, 01:43 PM
Do Electric Baseboads Get Cooler vs. Total Failure
I have a tenant that swears that her place doesn't warm up like it used to; she's been there for 12 years.
I'm wondering if it is just her opinion or can baseboard electric heat elements actually burn cooler and cooler as it ages. I assumed that the thing either heats up or doesn't ...like an oven element.
I must know whether to replace them or not.
Thanks in advance for your replies ...I truly apprciate it.
Tony
I'm wondering if it is just her opinion or can baseboard electric heat elements actually burn cooler and cooler as it ages. I assumed that the thing either heats up or doesn't ...like an oven element.
I must know whether to replace them or not.
Thanks in advance for your replies ...I truly apprciate it.
Tony
#2
03-25-05, 02:12 PM
Dont see how if they work ok Might check out the amps on them with an amprobe that would tell you. Also could be the old tstat dont work as fast now as before.
ED
ED
#3
03-26-05, 10:01 AM
So, Are you saying that they do not get cooler and that they just totally fail at some point?
Thank you.
Thank you.
#4
03-26-05, 10:10 AM
Electric base board will work or not work....... But you might look and see if there is a lint build up under them that the air cant get over the coils like it should . This happens a lot on hot water baseboard lint under the fins and the air cant get through. Might look and if you amp them out that well tell you the btu output of them.
ED
ED
Last edited by Ed Imeduc; 03-26-05 at 10:51 AM.
#5
03-27-05, 10:21 AM
Super Moderator
tony,
You would need a meter to properly diagnose this problem as Ed suggested.
There is one situation where it is possible for a heater to heat at less that it's rated output.
If the element shorted within the metal tube, it is posible for one side of the element to be touching ground.
You would have a short circuit but it wouldn't trip the breaker because a small amount of current would be going through one half the element.
You would need a meter to properly diagnose this problem as Ed suggested.
There is one situation where it is possible for a heater to heat at less that it's rated output.
If the element shorted within the metal tube, it is posible for one side of the element to be touching ground.
You would have a short circuit but it wouldn't trip the breaker because a small amount of current would be going through one half the element.
#6
03-27-05, 02:02 PM
VEry interesting ...thank you.
I do have a multimeter with Ohms but I think for now I will clean the heaters completely (Im laying new carpet anyway) and see if the next tenant has the same problem and if they do, I"ll just replace them all with new ones. They are 240 volt (not 110); I just checked the breakers.
My current electric baseboards are creating the most black burn marks on the walls than I have ever seen before. I have read that it's mostly dust burning ...do you guys agree with that? The units are very old ...they could be 18 years old but I dont know if elements could last that long.
I'm also wondering if modern elec. baseboards blacken walls less than 20 year old jobs?
I do have a multimeter with Ohms but I think for now I will clean the heaters completely (Im laying new carpet anyway) and see if the next tenant has the same problem and if they do, I"ll just replace them all with new ones. They are 240 volt (not 110); I just checked the breakers.
My current electric baseboards are creating the most black burn marks on the walls than I have ever seen before. I have read that it's mostly dust burning ...do you guys agree with that? The units are very old ...they could be 18 years old but I dont know if elements could last that long.
I'm also wondering if modern elec. baseboards blacken walls less than 20 year old jobs?
#7
03-27-05, 02:10 PM
For sure that black on the wall is dirt going up the wall with the hot air as it goes up the wall. Yes it can be fuzz that burns on the heaters wire.
ED
ED
#8
03-27-05, 06:57 PM
Super Moderator
tony,
There is a lot of electric baseboard heating where I am and it is very uncommon for the elements to fail.
When they do it is usually because they are not kept clean.
Another possibility is that the limit switch is defective and shutting down the heater when it shouldn't.
There is a lot of electric baseboard heating where I am and it is very uncommon for the elements to fail.
When they do it is usually because they are not kept clean.
Another possibility is that the limit switch is defective and shutting down the heater when it shouldn't.
#9
03-28-05, 07:25 AM
Is the "limit switch" part of the thermostat? ..or is it part of the heater unit.
Thanks again folks!
Thanks again folks!
#10
03-30-05, 06:07 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Delaware, The First State
Posts: 12,667
Received 39 Upvotes
on
37 Posts
Limit
The limit is part of the baseboard. When installing new carpet be sure not to restrict the air coming into the bottom of the baseboards. This is a very common problem with hot water baseboard heat.
