Doing Goofy Stuff With Baseboard Heaters

  Sometimes I wonder how so many people live their lives with electric baseboard heaters without catching something on fire. I will admit it, personally, that it can be easy to do something dumb with a baseboard. Years ago I was working at a rental property I own and left the premises. In so doing, I just dropped the hose of the shop-vac on the floor. I had not noticed that it flopped over against the heater. When I came back the next day, it had melted a big hole in it. Thank goodness for good luck and the proponents of duct tape.

That story ties into the "accident" or careless category. The instances that really get me are the people who day after day have a fire hazard setup and they get by with it. The photos below are from the same house. The top two are really obvious. I have seen drapes over heaters before, but these are award winners. The material moved right inside the heaters. The last photo is another common classic -- the receptacle or outlet installed over the baseboard heater. At one time that was standard fare and an inspector sees it frequently. The problem is the cord tends to dangle down on, or across, the heater and it will eventually deteriorate or melt the insulation on the appliance cord. What to do? Move the heater or the outlet.

If you have baseboard heaters, please realize that the heating elements get blazing hot and they are not intended to have contact with flammables. The units look so benign, but they are not. Don't get rid of the smoke detectors.

Thanks for looking.

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspector