Hot Water Baseboard Heater Not Working In One Room

Hot water baseboard heaters are popularly used for heating houses. They are not only efficient but also economical. It is both an electronic and mechanical device. And like other devices like this, it can break down sometimes. A common problem is your hot water baseboard heater not working in one room. 

There can be several reasons for this problem. But the most common reasons are broken thermostats or damaged valves. Other reasons can also cause this. You have to look for the exact symptoms the machine is showing to determine the real reason for this uneven heat distribution.

Here we will look at some common and probable reasons that can cause the problem. We will discuss the signs your machine may be showing and the reasons behind that. And finally, what you can do to solve your problem after identifying it. 

Hot water baseboard heater not working in one room

There can be several reasons behind this problem. It is quite an unusual problem but not very rare. Let’s look at some of the reasons and their solutions.

Broken thermostat

A thermostat controls the temperature of a device. It senses the temperature of a place and then commands a heating or cooling device to heat up or cool down. 

Symptoms 

• If there is a problem with the thermostat of your heater then it’s not going to work properly. 
• It might be raising your electric bill as well.
• The temperature of the thermostat is not coming down even after keeping it off for a while. 

Solution 

• Make sure that the thermostat is actually broken.
• For that, turn the device off and let it cool down.
• Check the thermostat temperature if it is correct.
• If not then it’s broken.
• Change the thermostat.

Heater circuit breaker trips

If the circuit breaker of the baseboard heater trips too fast then it is going to cause some problems. Faulty wiring or a problem in the circuit breaker can cause this problem.

Symptoms 

• No heat in one room or in a particular area.
• Staples are crushing the wire in some places.

Solution 

• Turn off the electric supply. Use the circuit breaker for this.
• Now examine the breaker system closely.
• Check all the wiring from the circuit board.
• Look for any crushed wire or faulty connection.
• If you find any problem, fix it by changing the wiring.
• Do it at least once a year.

Electric supply shortage

Electric heaters depend on the supply of electricity to run properly. If the supply of electricity is not sufficient then enough heat will not be generated.

Symptoms

• Enough heat is not generated.
• Heat is not reaching everywhere.

Solution

• Check the label to find out the total amperage of the circuit breaker.
• Make sure it is between 20-30 amperes.
• If the circuit breaker is showing a lower current than this, then check your wall outlet.
• Call an electrician to do it for you.
• Or you can try to turn off the circuit breaker and let it cool off.
• If it is still not working then change it.

The check valve is damaged

If a check valve is damaged then it can stop the heater from turning on or off. This can be the answer to your question about how to turn off the baseboard heater in one room. You must find out if the valve is broken or not and then change it to solve it.

Symptoms 

• The heater is not going off.
• The problem is in a particular area.

Solution

• First, turn off the water.
• Now drain the water with a drain valve.
• Check if the check valve is showing no water or not.
• If it’s showing wrong data, then remove it.
• Plugin the new check valve.
• Turn on the water.

Blockage in the vents 

It is a common problem in heaters. If the vents are blocked then there is no way for the heat to run along. 

Symptoms

• Machine showed a higher temperature than usual.
• Some areas are not getting any heat.

Solution

• First, run an inspection to find out if anything is blocking the vents.
• Keep any big or small object away from the vents.
• Check all the valves are lubricated enough.
• Ensure enough supply of electricity.

Not enough pressure

If enough pressure is not built in the system the water is not going to reach enough height to carry heat to upper levels. 1 psi pressure pushes water about 2.5 feet above.  

Symptoms

• No heat on the upper levels of the house.
• Enough pressure is not building up.

Solution

• Adjust the feed water valve to increase the pressure in the system.
• Check the gauge from time to time.
• Multiply 2.5 feet to the pressure to find out how much pressure you need to make sure the water reaches enough height.
• When the pressure is built close the valve.

Dusty vent

If too much dust is gathered in the vent, then it will cause several problems in the machine. Will decrease the overall performance and will prevent uniform heat distribution.

Symptoms

• Not enough heat is generated.
• The machine is dissipating a bad odor.

Solution 

• Turn off the heater and let it cool down.
• Now clean off the vent with a damp cloth.
• Turn on the heat and check for any bad odor.
• Check the carbon monoxide detector and make sure it’s in the range.
• Consult a technician if the odor doesn’t disappear.

How does a hot water baseboard system work?

• This is a heating system that only heats water when necessary.
• The hot water comes from a boiler.
• Its boiler is heated with electricity or oil.
• Baseboard heaters are attached under a window to ensure better natural convection.
• They work on a passive convection process where the heat is produced with a current flow.
• Baseboard heaters are in the baseboard or the lowest possible place in the house to ensure even distribution of heat.
• Look up a hot water baseboard heating system diagram for a better understanding.

Hot water baseboard heating system maintenance tips

Hot water baseboard heaters don’t need a lot of maintenance. But a little maintenance from time to time will ensure the heater lasts long. Like,

• Lubricate the pump motor.
• To do that use a lightweight oil and pour it into the motor cup.
• Drain the boiler at least once a year.
• For that turn off the water supply.
• Now open the draining valve and let the water go and let air in.
• You should also vent the radiator.
• For that open the valve on the radiator and let the air go.
• Turn off the valve, the power, and the water supply.
• Now take a garden hose and stick it at the boiler drain valve.
• Now turn on the valves on the radiator.
• Let freshwater run through the system.
• When the flow stops turn off all the valves.

FAQ

Still need some answers? Follow the section below.

Conclusion

Baseboard heaters are a good and cheap-enough solution to your heating problem in the house. They usually need very low maintenance. But it doesn’t mean they won’t show any problem at all. Here we have discussed a particular problem which is the hot water baseboard heater not working in one room. 

All the possible reasons, the symptoms they show and their solutions have been discussed thoroughly. If your baseboard heater is not heating up one room then go through the discussion to find what is the exact reason behind this.

When you find out the reason behind your problem, try to solve it by going through the steps we have mentioned. If you think you cannot do it yourself, then don’t take any risk and consult a technician. Hope your problem is solved either way.