Troubleshooting Your Baseboard Heater Thermostat

Written by Doityourself Staff
on May 18, 2010

To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.

Reviewed by
H.R. Helm
on Feb 24, 2022

During the winter months, the most important part of your home is the baseboard heater thermostat. Problems with this small device are going to lead to many cold nights. If you believe that there is a problem with your baseboard heater thermostat, here are some troubleshooting tips.

Check Circuit Breaker

If your baseboard heater is not working at all, you should check the circuit breaker to make sure nothing has been tripped due to overloading.

Check Wiring Connections

A problem associated with many of the aftermarket thermostats is that the wiring has a loose connection caused by not hooking it up correctly. If the thermostat has been in the home for some time the connections may be corroded or broken.

Check Settings

If you notice that the baseboard heater is not working after a power outage you should check to see if the settings are correct. There are some models that will default to the original manufacturer's settings after a power outage.

Check Thermostat Coil

The coil on the inside of the thermostat is what makes the connection between the switch and the relay that turns the heat on. If this coil fails to make the connection it will need to be replaced.

Check for Level

One of the most common problems with baseboard heater thermostats is that they are not level when installed. This will cause the mercury on the inside to fail to register the correct temperature.