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Covering sections of Baseboard Heaters

kmdewar_51
kmdewar_51 Member Posts: 3
in Gas Heating
This is our first winter in this house and it has baseboard heaters that i believe run on gas. They go through the house, around all the exterior walls.
We are concerned about our antiques and artwork. We are looking for a solution for this winter to cover up sections of the baseboard heaters to protect the furniture/artwork. We are aware that the flaps close, but that doesn't provide enough protection, and the only covers or deflectors are only half covers, that direct heat down and then out. We are also aware that you should move furniture away baseboards, but space is limited.
Is there any sort of insulating material that i could safely put around my (closed flap) baseboard to really stop heat?
Thank you!

Comments

  • leonz
    leonz Member Posts: 1,339
    Are you sure you do not have hot water baseboard heat???

    If you have baseboard fin tube radiation you which sounds like what you have you can close the flap down to reduce the heat being emitted from them..


    We need more information and pictures if possible.
  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,837
    As far as antique wood goes you should be way more worried about humidity control than the actual heat.

    @Jamie Hall might have some input on that subject.
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,467
    wrap tin foil around the fin tube element. it will cut down but not eliminate the heat
  • kmdewar_51
    kmdewar_51 Member Posts: 3



  • kmdewar_51
    kmdewar_51 Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2017
    Thanks Leonz, it does appear to be a fin tube baseboard radiator. They are in quite bad shape, many of the ends have fallen off and won't go back on and the flaps to reduce heat keep sliding off.
    We will get a humidifier to help prevent wood from drying out.
    We tried buying a plastic 'cover' for baseboard radiators off amazon. they were in fact half covers, magnetic ones that didn't fit our style of radiator.
    EBEBRAT-ed, I can't figure out how to take apart the radiators to wrap it with aluminium, without breaking them. Also would that not be dangerous, to wrap the inside fin tube structure in aluminium? Can I wrap on the outside of the baseboards or build some sort of cover with wood and wrap the inside of that in aluminium?
    Thank you all for your help. It's getting quite cold here now and it will be exciting when we feel safe enough to turn on heat. :-)

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