how do you childproof baseboard heaters

^{How to Baby-Proof Baseboard Heaters}

1. Remove the endcaps from the baseboards. Most baseboard endcaps will pop right off. Check for any screws holding them in place if yours does not.
2. Measure the heating element without the endcaps for the fit of the replacement cover. ...
3. Use the results to order a replacement baseboard heater cover with galvanized steel holes that allow the heat through rather than the traditional finned design.
4. Remove the existing baseboard heater cover by grasping the front panel with both hands and lifting it up and away.
Place the replacement panel over the baseboard heater with the rear ledge of the panel against the wall and push downward so that the replacement panel slides over ...
Place a fireplace screen against the wall surrounding the baseboard to prevent the baby from reaching the heater at all.

How to childproof an electric baseboard heater?

Childproofing the electric baseboard heater should be done in order to avoid these incidents. First, you have to choose the style of cover you will use that will blend well with the interior design of your house. There are several perforated or decorative steel covers you can choose.

Why choose a baseboard heater cover?

Although our baseboard covers were developed to primarily address the need of making baseboard heaters look a whole lot nicer, the one-piece design has proven to also be an effective way of keeping flammable toys and small fingers away from the heating element.

How can I protect my child from burns caused by baseboards?

You can purchase baseboard heater covers that will replace or go over the existing covering and has holes too small for children to put their fingers in, preventing most burns.

Are heater covers safe for kids?

However, the covers are typically made out of metal, which still conducts heat. The cover might be a little cooler than the heater itself, but it still gets hot and could still burn your child.

How to prevent a baby from reaching the heater?

Why replace finned baseboard covers?

Why do heating covers have fins?

Who is Larry Simmons?

How do I keep my baby away from my baseboard heaters?

Tip #1: Cover Them with Baseboard Heater Covers They block the openings of the baseboard heater so that your baby can't get their hands stuck in it. It's also a barrier to the baseboard heater itself, so that you baby won't be able to directly touch the heater or stuff toys in it.

Are baseboard heaters safe for toddlers?

Baseboard heaters by design often become extremely hot to the touch, making them a burn hazard for young toddlers learning to crawl and walk. It's for this reason that purchasing a cover for your baseboard heater is an essential first step in making it a little safer for the toddlers in your home.

How do I baby proof my heater?

6 Ways to Childproof your Heating SystemsSecure your floor vents/registers.Put a barrier around radiators.Use plug covers for outlets.Purchase covers for baseboard heaters.Use a fireplace screen.Prevent access to furnace.

How do you block a baseboard heater?

Blocking Air Flow Installing the heaters too close to thick carpeting and allowing small items to get lodged underneath them are two ways to limit their usefulness. Drapes, blinds and furniture that block the heaters from above create a number of problems.

Do you need to baby proof baseboard heaters?

Baseboard heaters need plenty of clearance around them to allow for proper airflow. That means you can't just park your couch in front of the baseboard heater to keep your little one away because it will block the airflow. This requires you to get creative with babyproofing your home to keep your little one safe.

Can you put a bed against a baseboard heater?

Tip. How far should furniture be from baseboard heaters? Twelve inches or more is a generally recommended distance between furniture and electric heaters. To the sides, the furniture can be as close as 6 inches away.

Are wood baseboard heater covers safe?

Wood Covers However, it's important to note that while wooden covers are safe, they aren't considered the most efficient. They may be thermal insulative enough to absorb heat, but they more often retain that energy rather than freely distribute it throughout a room.

Can electric baseboard heaters block?

Don't Block the Airflow. A baseboard heats as cold air is drawn into the heater and electrically heated coils warm the air. Once heated, the air rises to the top of the unit where it attracts cooler air from the room inside the heater, and the cycle continues to repeat itself.

Can you turn off baseboard heat?

Set the heater's thermostat to the lowest setting, and your heater will be off. Alternatively, you can switch the thermostat off, and your unit will be off. If you've got an electric baseboard heater, the thermostat is on the wall, and with it, you can easily turn the heater off.

Is electric baseboard heat expensive to run?

The bottom line. Baseboard heaters are affordable to maintain and run. They can be used independently, meaning you can save on electricity by only running the ones you need in the rooms you plan on using.

Can you put furniture in front of hot water baseboard heaters?

Warning with Electric Base Board Heaters Most electric baseboard heaters operate on 240-volt power and can get hot. Blocking them with furniture can cause them to overheat and create a possible fire hazard. This jig can help with that!

Can hot water baseboard heaters cause fires?

Risk of Fire and Burns Have you ever seen baseboard heaters make the 6 o'clock news? That's right, electrical types can cause fires.

Why do you need a cover for a baseboard heater?

Baseboard heaters by design often become extremely hot to the touch, making them a burn hazard for young toddlers learning to crawl and walk. It’s for this reason that purchasing a cover for your baseboard heater is an essential first step in making it a little safer for the toddlers in your home. These covers will provide an additional layer of protection between the sharp razor like fin tubes and heated surfaces and your child’s fingertips, substantially cutting down the risk of injury and burns.

Can you roughhouse a child?

If you’re a parent of older children, you may have noticed they’ve developed the desire to roughhouse. Unfortunately, this often results in someone getting hurt. It’s for this reason that you may also want to consider getting a safety gate to keep them from accidentally bumping into the heater. This will allow them to continue playing while restricting them from the areas that could harm them.

What is convection heating?

Convection air current heating (such as baseboard heating) requires something to get hot and hold heat energy that the air currents can access. Although the heating element is obviously going to be hot, covers (typically made of steel or aluminum) will also hold heat energy and play a significant role in the baseboard heating process. ...

Can you cover a baseboard heater?

Covering the lower portion of a baseboard heater is strictly prohibited, unless you would like your heaters to stop working. Air flow is the critical process that allows this type of heating to work. Blocking the lower (air in) or upper portion (air out) of the baseboard heater will effectively turn it off.

Do baseboard heaters have a wide open cover?

When it comes to safety, not all baseboard heaters are created equally: Hot water hydronic baseboard heaters operate at relatively lower temperatures and don't exhibit the wide-open cover design that electrical heaters do.

How to keep a furnace safe in a closet?

If your furnace is in a closet, keep the door closed and secure. If your furnace is in the basement or any area of the home that a child can access, be sure never to leave a child unattended in that area or use some sort of barrier as the furnace itself can be hot to the touch.

Can a child access a plug to pull it out?

When a heater needs to be plugged in, there are plug covers that allow two cords to be plugged into an outlet with a cover over them. The cords can get out but the child cannot access the plug to pull it out.

Can you drill holes in a wall heater?

Never drill holes through the panel of an external power or heat control panel, or you risk severe electrical shock and possibly damage to your heater. Always drill through other areas of the metal chassis if your wall heater has a control panel.

Can a hearth gate be used for a wall heater?

There are many manufacturers of hearth gates suitable for childproofing a wall heater. An excellent, though slightly expensive model, is called by the name of what it does: HearthGate. Another choice might be any of the differently-sized hearth gates manufactured by Kidco. Any gate will work as long as it is made of hardened fire-proof materials.

How to prevent a baby from reaching the heater?

Place a fireplace screen against the wall surrounding the baseboard to prevent the baby from reaching the heater at all. Larry Simmons is a freelance writer and expert in the fusion of computer technology and business.

Why replace finned baseboard covers?

Replace finned baseboard covers to keep babies from reaching inside. Baby proofing your home involves removing as many dangers from the baby's environment as possible, reducing the number of household opportunities for injury. With a baseboard heater, the design of the heating system itself poses a danger. Most heating covers use ...

Why do heating covers have fins?

Most heating covers use a fin-shaped design to allow for efficient dispersal of heat from the heating element inside. Curious children see this fin as an opportunity to explore with hands or flammables, causing severe burning or fires. Baby proofing requires replacement of this cover with a new perforated steel design.

Who is Larry Simmons?

Larry Simmons is a freelance writer and expert in the fusion of computer technology and business. He has a B.S. in economics, an M.S. in information systems, an M.S. in communications technology, as well as significant work towards an M.B.A. in finance. He's published several hundred articles with Demand Studios.