Completely cover baseboard heater

elrayle

I have a baseboard hot water heater in a small closet used for storage. It gets way too hot in the closet. Can I box in the heater with rigid foam board type insulation?  This would stop the air flow and the radiating off heat out into the closet. Are there any risks?  The other option would be to remove the heater.   I have to keep the pipe as it feeds the heater in the adjoining room. Other suggestions are welcome. 

pecmsg

You could box it in yes. Proper way is to remove the radiator and run straight copper with 1/2" or 3/4" insulation over it then enclose it.

ScottSecor

Could cut the aluminum fins off, that would reduce the output significantly.   Unfortunately the copper pipe will still emit some heat. 

Could start by simply laying cardboard strips on the top of the fins and see how it goes. I would guess this will reduce the output by about half.

elrayle

Thanks for the feedback. I think I’ll try boxing it in first and see how it goes. I can always remove it later. 

elrayle

Thought I’d post before and after pics in case that impacts opinions. 

EBEBRATT-Ed

Safest way is to wrap the fins in aluminum foil. This will block the airflow across the fins and reduce the heat output

STEVEusaPA

Why not just remove it? No ugliness.