One of the common questions many homeowners ask is how to fix noisy baseboard heaters. Honestly speaking, these devices can be stressful in the room. They bang, click, pop, hiss, and make other unpleasant noises.
Many people have reported apartment heater making noise that causes dogs to bark the whole night. The worst may happen if you have a baseboard heater around your bedroom during winter. It might not be fun.
How to Fix Noisy Baseboard Heaters
What Are Baseboard Heaters?
Baseboard heaters are home or office heating devices. They are helpful during cold seasons, and for that reason, you’ll never lack one in various homes.
The devices are installed inside the house beneath the window. Cool air from the window is heated by the element and rises to circulate the room.
The devices are installed with a thermostat that switches them on or off to regulate the temperatures. As that’s the case, you don’t have to worry about switching it on or off every time.
Is it Normal for the Baseboard Heaters to Make Noise?
Honestly speaking, baseboard heaters should heat the room quietly or have a little noise that shouldn’t disrupt peoples’ attention. If you experience extreme noise, there must be a reason behind that.
However, in some cases, hydronic baseboard heater noise may be extreme. Oh! Their sister model, the convection baseboard heater, can even be worse. But in all cases where you hear unpleasant noise, know that something isn’t right.
Typically, the slight noise from the baseboard heaters is caused by internal metallic components reacting to temperature changes. When switched on after an extended period, the components expand and make a little noise.
On the other hand, when switched off, the hot components start to contract, and in this case, they make a little noise.
However, many homeowners don’t understand that thermostats don’t control the baseboard’s internal temperatures. They switch on or off the baseboard heaters depending on the surrounding temperature.
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How to Fix Noisy Baseboard Heaters
To comfortably enjoy your warm breeze in the house or at the office, you need to learn baseboard heater noise causes and how to fix them. This article will share all the possible noise causes and their solutions. Let’s dive in;
1. Correct Baseboard Heater Positioning
Position your baseboard heater at lean an inch above the floor or the carpet to create room for inlet air vents.
Cool air gets into the baseboard heater and carries most heat from the element. This mechanism cools the heater.
When air vents are blocked, less air gets into the heater hence heat build-up. As a result, the internal components expand and cause some noise.
2. Clean Your Baseboard Heater
During air intake, some unwanted materials may get into the heater. They include dust, grime, and cobwebs. Once they settle around the heater element or fins, they hinder heat transfer to the surrounding air.
As a result, the baseboard heater overheats, and the internal components expand and make noise.
Regularly vacuum your baseboard heater and clean the fins with a soft paintbrush.
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3. Straighten Bent Heater Fins
If your heater fins are bent, they lean on each other. They expand and rub against each other when heated, making a clicking noise.
Straighten the fins using needle-nose pliers. Be careful not to break them because they are simple aluminum materials.
However, don’t use your bare hands because they may be sharp to cut you.
4. Fix the Heater Element
Insecure element installation may cause some noise inside the baseboard heater. If the mounting screws are too loose, you may hear a buzzing noise.
On the other hand, if the screws are too tight, you may hear noise because the element lacks expansion room when it heats.
Use a screwdriver to adjust the screws appropriately.
5. Fix the Water Pipes
If you have less knowledge about hot water baseboard heating system maintenance, you need to learn a few skills. When the hydronic baseboard heater circulates hot water, pipes may expand. As a result, they rub against each other, making some noise.
Open the baseboard heater cover and fix wax papers or insulators between the water pipes.
6. Bleed Your Baseboard Heater
Air bubbles form when heated water moves along the pipes in the hydronic baseboard heater. As the heater continues to run, they increase in size, and later they form an airlock. The result is bubbling noise when water is pumped into the line.
Hot water baseboard heaters have bleeders along the pipes. Open the cover and turn the bleeder counter clockwise using a screwdriver for the excess air to leave the system.
Keep a collecting container beneath the line because some water may leak. You will hear a hissing sound as air leaves.
7. Check the Power Voltage
You may hear a humming noise if the power supply voltage is lower or above the average device voltage. Sometimes, you may smell something burning. Check on the voltage to ensure it’s correct.
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FAQs about Baseboard Heaters
How Long Do Baseboard Heaters Last?
Baseboard heaters can last up to 20 years. However, if well maintained, they can serve you even longer. For longer life and efficiency, carry out the following maintenance tips;
Regularly clean the heaters and vacuum the house.
Bleed hot water baseboard heaters at every start of the heating sessions.
Keep furniture and other objects safe from baseboard heaters for better air circulation.
Ensure window curtains don’t cover the heater to allow better air circulation.
Where Are the Bleeders on Baseboard Heaters?
The hydronic baseboard heaters have air bleeders along the water pipes. Usually, they are located near the top of the radiator. All you need is the radiator key or a screwdriver to turn them counterclockwise, and the air will leave the system.
Why Do I Hear Water Running Through My Baseboard Heat?
You hear bubbling noise when air bubbles are formed within the system. Once they settle in a specific area within the radiator, they prevent water from passing. You hear the noise inside the baseboard heater pipes out of the force. Bleeding is the solution to fix noisy baseboard heaters when you hear this bubbling noise.
Read: How to bleed slant fin baseboard