Baseboard Heat Not Working In One Room [5 Easy Solutions]

Your baseboard heat not working in one room because of the tripped circuit breaker, insufficient electric supply, blocked vent, a faulty thermostat, and dust vent. All these reasons will stop your heater from working.

But our easy solutions along with your heater problems will help you to fix your faulty baseboard within a minute. So, let’s delve right in. 

Baseboard Heat Not Working In One Room [5 Reasons & Solutions]

It’s important to know why the baseboard heater not working upstairs or downstairs. Knowing the problems can help you solve different baseboard issues.

Here are the 5 reasons why the baseboard not working in one room and their easy solutions.

1. Baseboard Heater Circuit Breaker Trips

If the breaker of your baseboard heater circuit trips immediately, it can be a possible reason why your baseboard not working in one zone. You probably have a short somewhere in the system of the baseboard heater.

The problem can be in the circuit breaker as well. Faulty wiring of the circuit breaker can result in short circuits in the system. 

Solution:

In this case, you basically have to update the wiring of the circuit breaker. You can try replacing the whole wiring as well. Replacing the fuse is another good option to fix this issue.

As dealing with such electrical components is very risky, it’s always better to call an electrician for this type of task. However, if you want to examine the heater’s electrical components by yourself, here’s what you need to do:

• Make sure to turn the electricity off first. Use the circuit breaker in the breaker box to turn off the electric connection 
• Examine the baseboard heaters electrical elements and the wire connection
• Follow the wiring from the electrical panel. Examine its path to the thermostat and to the circuit breaker
• Look for staples crushing the wiring or any other kind of issues that can overheat the wire or burn it
• Ensure that the wires are in good condition. You must make sure that the wires are intact and are properly connected to the thermostat

Do this checkup at least once a year to make sure your Baseboard heater stays stable.

2. There Is A Shortage Of Electricity Supply

An insufficient supply of electricity can be the reason why Baseboard heaters do not generate enough heat. A Baseboard heater heats air through a series of metal fins. These fins are warmed using electricity. This heat basically generates the warmth we want.

So, as you can see, electricity plays a great role in making a Baseboard heater work. An inadequate supply of electricity results in the generation of low heat and this is why your heater doesn’t work properly.      

Solution:

To solve this problem, you have to:

• Inspect the label and check the circuit breaker’s total amperage load
• Make sure that the breakers are 20-amp to 30-amp
• If the circuit breaker is lower than this, check the room’s wall outlet
• Call an electrician to check the outlets
• You can try turning the circuit off and then on again after letting it cool down
• If nothing works, replace the circuit breaker 

Following these simple steps will make your Baseboard heater good to go again.

3. Something Is Blocking The Vent

If your Baseboard heater doesn’t seem to work, check the vents. Blockage in vents prevents the airflow to carry out the heat properly. 

The vents can be blocked for many reasons. Such as any solid objects in front of the vent, any object stuck in the vent, or the joined valves inside the vents.

The valves inside the heater can be blocked if there is not enough lubrication to keep the valves apart. Dirt and debris can clog the vent as well, resulting in a low generation of heat.

If you position your heater in such a place that something blocks its vents, then you have to rethink its position. When there are drapes or furniture blocking the vent, the thermostat can show a higher temperature than usual.

Solution:

To fix this issue, you have to let the heater breathe. In this case, what you can do is:

• Make sure nothing is near the vent
• Inspect to see if anything is blocking the vent
• Keep any kind of small or big objects away from the device
• Properly lubricate the valves
• Check if there is a stable supply of electricity 

Doing these things will make sure that nothing is blocking the vent pathways.

4. Problem With The Thermostat

A Baseboard heater may not work if the thermostat is not in perfect condition. By faulty thermostat, we are basically talking about blocked contact in the thermostat. 

Such malfunction keeps the heater constantly working even if you try to turn it off. It means your baseboard heater’s thermostat is blocked. This can raise your electric bill as well.

Solution:

Here’s what to do to deal with such problems:

• Turn the device off first and let it cool
• Check and make sure the thermostat is at the correct temperature
• If the temperature stays high even after keeping it off for quite a while, be sure that there is a blockage in the thermostat and clean the blockage
• Change the thermostat in case this doesn’t solve the problem

This is the perfect way to deal with a faulty thermostat.

5. Too Much Dust Buildup Inside Of The Vent

Too must dust or dirt buildup in the vent can decrease your Baseboard Heaters Overall functionality. For the positioning of such heating devices, it’s very easy for them to attract dust and dirt. Most of the heat that the heater produces is absorbed by this dirt.

In addition, when this dirt and debris burns, they produce a bad odor. This is basically the smell of Carbon Monoxide. 

Solution:

Keep the vent totally clean to make sure the heat can move freely. In this case, you have to:

• Turn off the heater first and wait for it to cool down
• Use a clean damp cloth to wipe off the dirt on the vent
• Turn on the heat and see if there is still any stench
• Check your carbon monoxide detector if you have one in your home
• Call an electrician if the stench persists

Cleaning the vents of the Baseboard heater can be quite easy if you know the proper method. You can watch the video if you don’t know how to clean.

Cleaning your baseboard regularly will help you to keep your baseboard heater in good condition. And basically, these are the 5 things you can do in case your Baseboard heater is not working in one room.

FAQ:

Why is one of my heating zones not working?

A heating zone may not work if the valve is stuck in a closed position.

How do I bleed air out of baseboard heat?

Many people have problems figuring out how to bleed baseboard heat. Well, here’s the answer,

• Take the cover off of your Baseboard
• Locate the bleeder valve (only modern bleeder has a bleeder valve)
• Turn the temperature up of your house
• Turn the bleeder valve with your thumb
• Water will shoot out from the valve. Grab a bowl to collect this water
• Once the water stops shooting out, turn off the bleeder valve with your thumb
• Then, put the cover of your Baseboard back on

Will the baseboard heater work if the water is turned off?

If you turn your Baseboard heater off, it won’t necessarily cause any trouble. However, it is recommended that you leave the heater turned on. This way the system won’t lose any water.

How do I know if my baseboard heater is working?

Here’s how you can perform a test to determine if your baseboard heater is working,

• Look for a tripped breaker in the thermostat
• Look for faulty wiring in the circuit breaker panel
• In the end, start the heater and see if it’s functioning at all

If you do all these things and find no faulty issues and your heater runs perfectly, then you will know that your Baseboard heater doesn’t have any issues.   

How do I know if my baseboard heater is 120V or 240V?

To know whether your Baseboard heater is 120V or 240V, you can maintain the following steps,

• Switch on the circuit breaker
• Touch every multimeter lead to one of the two-wire connections
• Wait for the multimeter to give you the reading of the voltage used by your heater
• If your Baseboard heater is 120V, you will get a reading of 110-120 volts
• If your Baseboard heater is 240V, you will get a reading of 220-250 volts 

Final Words

Baseboard heaters are good devices. Their proper performance can keep your ambient warm and cozy. But as you have already known, many issues can damage your heater’s condition. 

However, these issues shouldn’t be a problem for you if you follow the solutions we have mentioned in this article.

Well, if you have further queries, do not hesitate to comment below.