Keep Couch Off Baseboard Heater

By Robert Robillard on Energy Saving, Home Maintenance

Save Heating Costs and Shorten Warm Up Times With A Couch Stand-Off Jig

Here’s a jig you can make to keep couch off baseboard heater and increase baseboard heating efficiency in your house.

Pushing a couch up against a wall with a baseboard heater can restrict airflow, which causes the heater to function inefficiently, take longer to heat the room and waste energy.

Placing Furniture Along Radiator Walls

Baseboard heaters run horizontally along many exterior walls. It’s almost impossible to place furniture in a room without blocking some portion of baseboard heaters.

Hot Water Baseboard Heat

Hot water baseboard heating systems depend on air flowing through the numerous aluminum convector fins that surround a copper pipe.

Cool air enters from underneath the fins and is warmed, as it rises and circulates into the room.

Because of the heater’s location at the floor level, it creates a continuous circulation that provides natural, continuous heat as long as nothing is blocking it.

Couch Stand-Off Jig – Keep Couch Off Baseboard Heater

I made a Stand-Off Jig To Keep Furniture Off The Wall

You can make this jog larger if you’d like more space.

Sizing The Stand-Off Jig

To determine the size of your standoff jig, you need to position your couch so that it sits 1-2” off the wall. Once you have the couch in position, measure the distance from the wall [directly below the heater] to the couch leg.

I used some scrap ¾” plywood and cut it to approximately 6-inches wide by 10-inches long.

This allowed me to cut a 1-inch deep notch to cradle the couch leg. I made the notch 3-inches wide to accommodate future couch legs and shapes. The notch cradles the couch leg and ensures that the standoff will be not be displaced if hit by a vacuum of if someone bumps or jumps on the couch.

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!

I also want to mention that you need to keep the baseboard heaters fins clean.

Keep Radiator Fins Clean and Clear

Baseboard heaters have fins and operate best when air flows freely through the fins. If the air is obstructed, either from dust buildup or from something covering [carpet, drapes, etc] the top or bottom of the heating units, the units will not heat effectively.

Keeping the fins clean increases heating efficiency, additionally, baseboard heat radiators should be cleaned at least once a year, and more often if you have dogs or cats. Learn how to clean your baseboard radiator fins.

 

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About the author

Robert Robillard

Carpenter / Remodeler / Editor

Rob Robillard is “The Concord Carpenter” Rob is a builder, general contractor, carpenter, woodworker, and editor of Concord Carpenter and ToolBoxBuzz As a General Contractor and carpenter, Rob owns and operates Concord Carpenter LLC. A full-service remodeling and construction company. Rob is a recognized leader in home building best practices and a source for how-to information for building professionals. On this website, Rob covers all aspects of home construction, building science, home improvement, woodworking, remodeling, and some of the best product and tool reviews. Rob is in charge of our Tool and Product Review series - Concord Carpenter Videos where we post all of our tool reviews and video tutorials. Rob approaches remodeling and building construction with a pragmatic and problem-solving approach. He enjoys using his knowledge and experience to help and educate building professionals as well as DIYers on best practices in the construction and remodeling industry. He's a strong advocate for "raising the bar" in the construction trades and promoting the trades to youth. #BeAMentor #Green2Great Craftsmanship, quality, and pride guide his journey on this channel The Concord Carpenter's motto: "Well done is better than well said!" : Read more about Rob

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