Baseboard heaters are excellent. They don’t require much maintenance, and they can be installed in any room of the house. As long as there is at least one wall where you can install them.
The heat that these devices produce has some interesting side effects.
But it will make your floor warmer, and if there’s not enough air circulation around it, it might also cause objects on or near the floor to start heating up.
Can You Put Furniture in Front of Baseboard Heaters?
Yes, you can put furniture in front of baseboard heaters. However, baseboard heaters need at least 12 inches of space in front of the heater. When you decide to place furniture in front of the heater, it needs to be at least a foot away.
If you put furniture too close to your heater, the fire could start, and the heater will not work as well.
Note: This minimum applies to standard electric heaters. Heaters with fans need more space.
Ensure a baseboard heater can’t be obstructed by a door when it’s completely open while installing it near a doorway. A door that is within 12 inches of a heater poses the same fire hazard as nearby furniture.
You must adhere to the manufacturer’s clearance standards, whether you install a heater at floor level or in an upper story.
The minimum distance between the heater unit and any combustible material, such as drapes or furniture, is 12 inches.
Space in Front of Baseboard Heaters
Baseboard heaters need 12 inches of space in front of them. You should never place a heater in front of a sofa or chair since this would result in an uneven surface.
Furniture placed too close to the baseboard heater poses a risk of catching fire and reducing the heater’s effectiveness.
Keep in mind that this minimum is for standard electric baseboard heaters. Heaters with fans need a lot more space – typically 3 feet or more.
When you’re installing a baseboard heater close to a door, ensure that it cannot be blocked by the door when it’s fully open.
A door that comes too close, within 12 inches in front of a heater, is a fire hazard.
This is also similar to having furniture too close to a baseboard heater. Therefore, exercising caution is quite crucial.
Space Between a Baseboard Heater and the Floor
You can install most baseboard heaters directly on the floor without impeding the airflow through the bottom of the heater. That’s because heater units typically have a guard that prevents the air intake area from touching the floor.
This design is quite efficient since it allows you to install the heater to replace a small part of the baseboard trim. Therefore, this means that you would run your baseboard up to the sides of the heater.
One common exception to this is the thick carpeting. If the carpet pile happens to be tall enough that it can cover the air opening, then you should consider installing the heater right above the carpet. Another exception is with baseboard heaters that must have an imposed space added right between the heater and the floor.
To allow the cooler air on the floor to flow under and through the electrical element, place your heaters at least two centimeters (three-quarters of an inch) above the floor or carpet. The further away, the better to be on the safe side because of any risks that this tends to pose to users.
Baseboard Heater Height
Most heater manufacturers don’t specify the maximum installation height. However, the good news is that most standard heaters offer the best performance when you place them close to the floor.
This is mainly because hot air rises and cold airdrops. You should note that baseboard heaters tend to heat the air above them and not below.
Regardless of the height, you install a heater, it’s essential to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on clearance requirements.
Most of the available baseboard heaters on the market need at least 12 inches between the unit and any combustible material like drapes or furniture.
Baseboard Heater Side Clearance
You need to keep in mind that you should keep drapes, furniture, and other combustible materials at least 6 inches away. The 6 inches away distance should be from each side of a baseboard heater.
As mentioned earlier, most baseboard heaters are designed to have their ends touch the baseboard wall trim. But this only applies to the very ends of the heater unit.
Anything you place to the side of the heater or above, and the side is supposed to be at least 6 inches away.
Since it’s mainly tricky to situate baseboard heaters safely with drapes, it’s generally best to install the heater elsewhere when possible.
Baseboard Heaters and Electrical Outlets
Electrical codes normally don’t prohibit the installation of heaters below wall outlets. However, most heater manufacturers don’t recommend it. They don’t recommend it because plugging a cord into the outlet will drape down onto the heater.
This could melt the cord’s plastic insulation, thereby creating a serious shock and fire hazard. The safest way is to avoid installing heaters under outlets.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires a wall outlet every 12 feet along walls. If you need an outlet where you want to install a heater, then you may be allowed to use a heater that has an integrated electrical outlet. This is to meet the NEC outlet requirement.
Alternatively, you can install two shorter baseboard heaters to work around an existing outlet. For instance, instead of just installing a single 96-inch-long baseboard heater, you can decide to install two 48-inch-long heaters on both sides of the outlet.
Luckily, most electric baseboard heaters can be ganged or even wired in parallel, both on the same circuit breaker and the same thermostat. Ensure that you check the heater instructions, as well as the local codes for safety requirements.
How to Protect Furniture from Baseboard Heater
Depending on where you put things in a room, you’ll need to know how to keep furniture safe from a baseboard heater.
If you care a lot about your household furniture, it’s obvious you may want to keep them safe. But, how well can you do that? We have the right tips in this section. Check them out below.
Cover Your Heater
Make sure to use a cover for your heater. This will direct the hot air away from the furniture near it. Baseboard heaters are low and short.
If you have a bare heater, it can be dangerous. They can make heat and steam, which can damage furniture.
Although you can cover furniture with a coating to prevent it from being wet, the cover will melt if you use hot steam or air. Nevertheless, it looks good and is functional.
Appropriately Maintain Your Heater
It’s essential to conduct regular maintenance on your baseboard heater to ensure it’s properly working. This will prevent it from being damaged by the surrounding area or furniture.
You should also check to ensure all air and steam venting function properly. And are not affecting nearby furniture when you open them or while operating. Also, ensure that coil fins are straight and in place to avoid any excessive heat flowing into nearby furniture.
Position Your Furniture Properly
When you have baseboard heating, sometimes you need to change the furniture layout. If you are moving into an empty room or house, make a diagram of its look with furniture. It can help if there is baseboard heating already in the room.
Modern furniture may last longer than antique furniture. It might be a good idea to put modern-design furniture near the heating and not antique furniture. An obvious point is not to block heated areas with pieces of furniture.
Baseboard Heater Safety Tips
Electrical baseboard heaters are no longer the most popular heating system, but they may be ideal for certain places if properly maintained.
The thermostat and heating element are the two distinct components of a basic baseboard heater. Rather than utilizing a fan-assisted method to generate heat, this type generates heat as electricity passes through it.
These heaters are identical in many ways to baseboards, with one exception: They’re generally installed on the wall’s lower half. Depending on the size of the space, they may be 8-10 inches tall and up to 2-8 feet long.
For more details about how these heaters work, check the difference between hydronic electric baseboard heaters vs standard.
Here are some safety and maintenance tips to help you prevent fire and maximize heating capabilities in a room.
- Avoid blocking the airflow – Warm air is drawn into the heater from below, and the electrically heated coils warm the cold air. The warm air rises to the top of the device, attracting colder room air from within, and the cycle repeats itself.
- Consider object placement – Placing objects too close to the baseboard heater can create a potential fire hazard. Especially, if the objects are flammable under enough heat.
- Thermostat control – You need to have one thermostat controlling your heater. Even if you plan to have several baseboard heater units in the same room at different positions, it’s still a good option and safe to have one thermostat.
- Leave the thermostat at one setting – Since baseboard heaters take along to heat an area, you may be tempted to turn up the thermostat at a high setting. However, this is not recommended because setting the heater at a higher temperature won’t heat a room faster than a cool temperature.
- Be cautious around kids – If you happen to have kids, baseboard heaters can pose a danger. Therefore, it’s important to exercise caution and keep children away from these units.
- Vacuum regularly – Baseboard heaters usually have a “Burnt dust” odor when they are tuned at the beginning of the colder weather. The good news is that vacuuming can help to alleviate this odor issue.
Conclusion
Overall, a baseboard heater is an excellent device to have in your home because it helps keep you warm and offers comfort. So, can you put furniture in front of the baseboard heaters? Yes, you can – as long as they are at least 12 inches away.
I hope we’ve been able to answer your question and offer you more helpful advice. If you have any questions or feedback regarding our post, please reach out to us through email. We’ll be happy to help!
