How to Upgrade Baseboard Heating | This Old House

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey reveals a quick, easy way to replace a damaged baseboard heater. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)
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Up in the loft, Richard showed Kevin a few ways to improve the appearance of old, rusty baseboard heaters by replacing the old covers with new ones.
Shopping List for How to Upgrade Baseboard Heating:
- perforated metal replacement cover, installed in place of original, damaged front cover
Tools for How to Upgrade Baseboard Heating:
- aviation snips, used to trim replacement cover to length, if necessary
Richard showed a new type of baseboard cover that attaches to the heater without any fasteners manufactured by Buss General Partner Company [www.baseboardh...]
These "slipcover-type" baseboard covers and as well as standard "dummy" baseboard covers are also available from Pex Supply [www.supplyhous...]
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Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers-and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Upgrade Baseboard Heating | This Old House
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[@cscooper2000]

I've noticed "This Old House" shows some handy tips while leaving out the most important details: What is this new cover called, who makes it, and where can I get it?

[@proverbs2life]

One is called "NeatHeat" there are lots of brands

[@ironmyno]

Seriously.. have the KZbin this old House staff post links to the products!! They should even start their own store on Amazon they make enough to pay their staff to maintain the KZbin channel probably.

[@jad1795]

@@ironmyno They can't make money off the program as it is funded with your tax dollars

[@chbetoluna]

It's all on the description of the video

[@2tallB]

They’re going to cut the old one off with a reciprocating saw, but “be careful not to scratch the wall” 😂😂😂

[@philipselden7264]

Good luck with that.

[@snookysnax]

I would try a cat's paw first, the one made for pulling out nails. Surprised a carpenter didn't mention that.

[@yourvidia5815]

Easy…just slide a piece of metal sheet close to the wall and cut

[@mandarin408]

I love this channel so much. It helped me a lot with my house. I thought I broke my panel heater before I watched this video😂

[@JacanaProductions]

How about a video on replacing a boiler setup for this unit with a high temp heat pump?

[@DrWenChannel]

Really hope that you can have a video to show us how to replace really old gravity baseboard heat register. Thanks!

[@andrewkuether7925]

It appears you can't adjust the damper with that cover installed. I also suspect you can see the rusted original enclosure through the screen.

[@mg5719]

2' at menards for $16 called hydrotherm, endcaps sold separately

[@ironmyno]

Thanks!!

[@migbam6922]

Thank you for the quick tip

[@victorlopez9530]

I love you guys!

[@GILLEBRATH]

So it's out of sight & out of mind . Clever . thanks.

[@user-np4lk4zo2y]

People are complaining about loosing the damper to control the heat.....u can control it at the thermostat, or unhinge the stupid thing then put it back....

[@boots7859]

Note- The new covers shown here will ruin a lot of the efficiency of your BB heating. BB heating works on a 'stack effect', as they explained in the video where cold air is 'pulled' into the bottom of the fixture by the negative pressure of the hotter air departing from the top/damper area. Putting this fixture which is full of holes in place of the original ruins that stack effect and lowers the efficiency of that unit. Its actually very easy to make your own covers from wood in many patterns like Shaker-style, which end up being far cheaper and classy looking. Plywood, MDF or 1x6 or 1x8 trim pieces, miter or circ saw and a Brad nailer or finish nails and some nice paint. Wood is fine for BB heating as wood needs ~600f to burn, and BB heat rarely reaches above 140f. Just try to keep the metal back plate in there in some way so it reflects the heat instead of heating the wall/studs.

[@somedude2734]

New covers go over entire existing cover

[@boots7859]

@@somedude2734 OK, however thats not what they showed.

[@somedude2734]

@@boots7859 perhaps, but hope my comment was helpful

[@darylg.4270]

Proper, thank you!

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Where's the link for the older, longer video?

[@peterbergeris6510]

I'm redoing a room and took off the back plate. Had to lift up the element a little to get to nails not screws. It's pretty bent up. Any trouble getting element out n sodding new element? Make life easier since I have to install new backing plate first.

[@markh8270]

Does the decorative cover that you put on at the end reduce the efficiency of the heater. The original baseboard heater works on convection but does that cover you put on do the same?

[@pcno2832]

+Mark H Good question; it seems to compromise the "chimney effect" somewhat, reducing the convection output, though if the mesh actually absorbs enough heat, it might also increase the amount radiated to make up for some of the loss, but I'm sure there are some radiators that are over-sized to the point where it doesn't matter.

[@natange1436]

Do we think this looks better or worse?

[@winchelvictor8589]

How dow you call that piece cover you put on at the end? Will it cause more heat to dissipate around the room?

[@cyraxx33]

*I replaced all my old baseboard heaters with these, upstairs and down. **fireplace.homes** .... Watching my electric bill shrink quite a bit over the winter months. GREAT DEAL !!!!!*

[@Harlow_Khmer]

How much did it end up costing you?

[@boots7859]

So you replace all your baseboards with 36 inch Recessed and Wall Mounted Electric Fireplaces? That must look cool..... /sarc Ok, so considering most places electricity is much more expensive than NG, what do you think monthly costs are going to be for someone in the NE? I don't think a 36" even in every room is going to give anywhere near the same BTU's, and the electric bill is going to give someone a coronary.

[@xXRenaxChanXx]

What they described is called hydronic heating. Not just baseboard heating.

[@RaymondStecroix]

Can I put my t.v on the same wall of baseboard heater

[@ThisGuyRides]

Not really an upgrade, just putting a new cover on.

[@jessbragg1]

just like makeup ;)

[@jtlos]

Making it look better. So by definition, that’s an upgrade.

[@wileecoyote5749]

Absolutely upgrade with mesh cover,more air flow over radiator

[@ThisGuyRides]

@@jtlos To me that is refurbish or recondition back to original spec. Upgrade is when you replace the whole thing with newer model.

[@boots7859]

@@wileecoyote5749 That mesh cover totally destroys the stack effect they talked about in the beginning of the video. So it'll not only look tacky over your crapped out BB's, but also make them significantly less efficient if installed as shown.

[@shadricksimms]

What is that piece called you used at the end for the new modern look so I can purchase it ? Plz help

[@r.wesleydukes2825]

yea, he never mentioned what the product is called!!!???

[@drunkbiscuit]

I have a baseboard heater in my finished basement that has it's own control knob on the end of it, Do you have any vids or suggestions on changing this to a smart system? It's the only room in my house that isn't connected to the main thermostat.

[@theravenless]

its electric im assuming?

[@drunkbiscuit]

@@theravenless Not 100% sure, there's a pipe coming from the wall into it. Not plugged into an outlet or anything.

[@kx100dk]

Was hoping to see the dummy installed, not a shortcut solution.

[@CARTSpeed22]

Dennis, it's a PITA. I did my new house 2 months ago with the replacements, not easy. Approximately 1 hr of work per 8 ft section. Definitely easier with a second set of adult hands, 100% not a 1 man job. The 'new' cover he shows is gross, I'll glad I didn't install those.

[@PanamaSticks]

Me too

[@dartgts383]

@@CARTSpeed22 I've done it in the past , not looking forward to doing it again

[@rathanickheng]

How many ft do you need per room?

[@Ashley__Rose]

This was 2014, anything new since then that is just as easy?

[@ninjamaster3453]

Theres a pvc kind snap on covers. They cut with snips and can be painted, wont rust. Pricey for what it is, $40 for 6ft $12 for end caps.

[@outtoin]

good stuff but sooo pricey!!! if I buy covers for my whole house, it will cost around $4,000!!!

[@rawrevelations2002]

I had my register covers sandblasted and painted and it cost $275. They look beautiful! Now to start the puzzle of getting them matched to the right rooms and back on !?!?!

[@kellysbeautyrealm5890]

What about the aluminum pieces some of mine are super damaged

[@mg5719]

home depot perforated cover BASEBOARDER is $72. where can we get the full perforated cover in the video cheaper?

[@martymcgrogan]

But it appears that you would lose the adjustable louver for the sake of style??

[@r0bbed995]

Martin Mcgrogan when's the last time u touched that

[@W.Vanderbilt]

@@r0bbed995 🤣🤘

[@orlandob9958]

This the reply is of the decade! You deserve every single thumbs up you get.

[@dj1275]

Most are so rusted or have been painted over for 50 years……the louver does not move anyway. Your lucky f your does.

[@debbifraley6713]

Where do I get the perforated register covers from?

[@Noneyah21]

If I have hot water base board heating, is it possible to covert to radiant floor heat?

[@ironmyno]

You already have the boiler. you can put the radiant coils under the floor from the floor below assuming you have a basement. So yes. I'd leave the baseboards on the second floor.

[@familybikeride]

That has a lot more holes than my Neat Heat version, purchased at Home Depot. Should I be worried my heat is not radiating well?

[@jesscolliflower5531]

Throw some gas on it and you’ll be fine

[@janicemiller6518]

my rads are 50 years old and look like heck...this would look 100percent better..where do I get them

[@Marthapso1]

So, did anyone get an answer about what the product is called, who manufacturers it and where to get it?

[@peterbergeris6510]

Meant sodering.

[@donmeyers3090]

One more try..."Soldering."

[@kluafoz]

What's the liquid in those big copper pipes?

[@beckymanning9577]

water

[@drakorez]

Steve from Gamers Nexus would hate this solution ;P

[@Ron21Love]

Im appalled at how expensive these are. Total shocker.

[@kellysbeautyrealm5890]

Imran Abdul it’s bananas. My husbands a contractor and I do his filing and office things. The amount of money for products is sickening & then to pay to have things done is whoa!! I’m not complaining people pay and that’s how my hubby supports our family. However the install on these covers can be done by the homeowner so u deduct the install fee and it is way more digestsble

[@meatycraftfan23]

But then u cant control the amount of heat you want.

[@AlterWolfMedia]

+Spencerkey22 change the thermostat?

[@patrickpeanuts1126]

Nice video, not helpful un the least bit though

[@dartgts383]

this is very tacky looking , great for perfuming a pig before you sell it , but not if one decides to stay.

[@pcno2832]

TOH should get out of the habit of calling this "baseboard heating"; "forced hot water baseboard heat" would be a better term. Too many people talk about hot water and electric baseboards as if they were the same thing, or just speak of "baseboard heat" without even mentioning the technology. The two are so different from a safety or even an economy perspective that any ambiguity leads to false assumptions. People should know that forced hot water is the safest heating available and electric baseboards are usually among the most dangerous.

[@buckhorncortez]

Make a living being pedantic?

[@proverbs2life]

Hydronic

[@oldhandyluke]

Plus TOH needs to stop taking all the easy best case scenario on all their how to videos