Installing Hot Water Baseboards

I am installing new hot water baseboards in my living room. First I fasten the hydronic baseboard back cover. I mark the studs locations and screw back housing to the wall. Next I put the hydronic hot water baseboard elements onto the mounting brackets. Finally I solder the elements together.

[@Ted_E_Bear]

The great Hacker always has great content in his video! I enjoy them all. !

[@royamberg9177]

When I solder I get paranoid so I end up going around several times. I waste solder but never have leaks

[@thehvachacker]

I rather be cautious then ruin my customers or my floor. Nothing like filling a boiler inspecting fittings not seeing anything leaking. Fire up the boiler, start testing the zones to have water leaking down into the basement. Some leaks won’t happen until the water heats up and pressure goes up.

[@royamberg9177]

@@thehvachacker flux don't hold water when it gets hot. Loose fitting joints are the trouble makers

[@adamlogan384]

You can ruin joints that way. You shouldn't use more solder than the diameter of your pipe. It builds up on the inside of your joint and ruins flow.

[@OnTheToolsWithSal]

Funny i just did a 120’ of slant fin yesterday what I do is use a sharp awl and hammer to punch the baseboard and then the screws go in easy, I use Spax 1-3/4 washerhead screws.

[@thehvachacker]

The awe trick helps on the next set. I like slant fin yet decided to go with sterling. The casing seems somewhat thicker.

[@brianmoore5498]

put a bleed valve in one of those corners and leave it open when soldering so the solder will draw in rather than blow out when the pipe gets pressurized from the heat of the torch

[@thehvachacker]

It was pulling in the solder. Problem was since it was damaged I couldn’t see the solder sealed around that fitting. When I cut out the fitting I had a glob of solder inside the fitting. Good idea on the bleed fitting. Whenever I don’t listen to my gut feeling I create unnecessary added work.if this was all new copper and baseboard this wouldn’t have been an issue.

[@paulwiederhold7629]

way too long. screw up 1 panel then move to copper work

[@LeonelPaucar-o7n]

How are you friend, what is the cost for installation? thank you

[@johnnicosia7551]

I think your problem when you soldered was to much heat. Try a propane torch without so much of a concentrated flame. I just think you heated the pipe to hot to fast.

[@johnnicosia7551]

Yeah looking at those pipes with the heat marks (rainbowing) tells me it was way to hot.

[@thehvachacker]

If it was new baseboard element and pipe it would of sealed first time heating the fitting. Problem was it was an old baseboard element which I damaged the fitting cleanings in the old solder out. To much of a gap. Which after cutting off was sealed inside. Along with pulling excess solder into fitting.o I just couldn’t see the solder was sealed until I cut out the fitting. This fitting was over heated somewhere during one of my attempts to seal. If I fought with solder joints I would consider propane. Yet usually I have no leaks. If this was a paying customer I am trimming back the aluminum fins and fitting. Then sweating a coupling where elements fitting was.

[@monsieurbojangles2336]

Man you’ve always got some of the best content. The stuff guys typically edit out of their videos is often very helpful to actually do the job. Like seeing the whole process 👍

[@thehvachacker]

Happy you enjoy. I get blasted many times for not editing out parts. Yet these jobs take time and not everything goes smoothly. Many vids I have watched on here the jobs never have hiccups. I would be bored if roadblocks and problems never happened. I enjoy when a job delivers a good asskicking. Makes me better for all the future jobs.

[@monsieurbojangles2336]

@@thehvachacker “Autobiography is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful. A man who gives a good account of himself is probably lying, since any life when viewed from the inside is simply a series of defeats.” ― George Orwell

[@robstidham8754]

You are a hacker! I never laughed so much in my life while watching this video!😂

[@bchaves3198]

Solar is bs ing me

[@theresak4343]

What are the hooks called that hold the covers and the pipe? I can't find anywhere!!!!

[@kellyspeppers]

I lived in a new house in the late 50s that had hot water baseboard heat. Problem with it was then the heat came on the base board heater would expand and make noise. From what I could see the hanger brackets were holding and then jumping.

[@thehvachacker]

Those plastic cradles holds the baseboard in place. Getting rid of a lot of the clicking, banging, knocking sounds. Most were missing in this house when I first moved in

[@veil67]

very nice battery cutting tool you have specially for big jobs it must be practical !

[@thehvachacker]

It’s a very handy tool.

[@HxC_Fragman]

Stop putting the damn piping so close to the damn wall. Lol. Makes it so annoyingnwhen replacing covers down the line. Youll have to cut the piping and replace radiator when you dont even have to.

[@23Skadoosh]

Give the back of the screwgun a smack with the palm of your hand to pop the tip of the screw through the metal. Should help with the dropsies.

[@thehvachacker]

That or tap an aw first then screw it in. I’m spoiled usually only using hex screws.

[@OnTheToolsWithSal]

@@thehvachacker I used to use Zip-Ins but the thread on them doesn’t hold too good on wood it isn’t coarse enough.

[@chaptermastertiberius]

I have moved to Vermont from the UK and I hate the metal casing. It's so office block. Do you have a video showing how to make decorative wood casing that kinda match a Victorian Ogee skirting board?

[@leodavis7524]

Great video…I just found a connection leaking on my baseboard 😩

[@thehvachacker]

Good luck with that one.

[@omarcano5473]

Hello. I will like to see if you can help me. I need to connect a sistem. My. Plumber take the money never came back. I give him 5,000 now I need to doit my self. I’m a general contractor I know pluming but I never install this sistem. I will pay you if you help me telling me. How to do it. Step by step connecting the water heater etc

[@ZPOLLAK]

Just had some pipes bursts due to extreme cold. Replacing the copper will be a royal pain. I am reading about certain PEX options. Only concern I have is how well the pex will radiate the heat out to the room. Any suggestions?

[@thehvachacker]

I would stick with copper. When extreme cold weather hits all zones need to run. Programs shut off. Don’t want any pipes with water sitting cold for too long. Most of time pipes Freeze when a boiler breaks down or a zone is shut off cause not in use.

[@ZPOLLAK]

@@thehvachacker That's exactly what happened. Zone valve box failed at night.

[@billclinton9645]

If using PEX be sure to use the Orange PEX, that is rated for heat. Red and blue pecks is not rated. Even copper pipes that are rated for heat will have a red line on it, and the copper is slightly thicker.

[@ninjahirodude658]

What did you use to cut the housing to fit from wall to wall?

[@thehvachacker]

I use tin snips, when I have to, yet often I use my Milwaukee 3” cut off tool. Saw all works also. Whatever you use be careful not to scratch the finished side that is exposed in the room. Easily they scratch

[@antoniodefilippis323]

Almost 2021 and we still don't have a pro press :)

[@thehvachacker]

You should buy a pro press if you would use often. For many the return on investment may not be their with pro press. I have the Milwaukee m12 pro press yet I rather solder. Been using pro press since 2006. Yes I can pipe a boiler fast, yet solder joints look better.

[@adamlogan384]

Why use pro press when you can make a joint permanent without $2000+ worth of tools?

[@pioneer7777777]

Debating doing this job diy. Did you consider doing the Pro Press method?

[@MrThe1234guy]

Where are you located anywhere near upstate new york? Want to come do some heaters LOL

[@thehvachacker]

North Jersey near Suffern NY

[@rmtellezamador]

What is the reason for hot water baseboards?

[@thehvachacker]

One of the best heat sources. 140-180 degree water circulates through the baseboards keeping rooms comfortable. One of the best ways to heat a house. Can even install radiant heat in the floor off a boiler.

[@yourvidia5815]

This video is all about how to do a bad soldering on baseboard heating

[@thehvachacker]

????? Explain bad soldering?

[@TimBates-e5m]

Hack all the way

[@olschool1963]

Is it possible to cut the fins off the heating element so as to shorten it up , then sand and solder where the fin was at?

[@thehvachacker]

Yes it is possible. That is what happens often if a 4-1/2’ piece is needed. You can only buy baseboard by the foot. If a room gets too hot from too much baseboard installed removing the fins reduced heat output also

[@harrychang9376]

very educational !

[@TimBates-e5m]

Hack

[@rathanickheng]

Hi, how many feet of baseboard heaters do you need to install per room?

[@emt_4life]

It's all about the math. Find the formula and do the math each register has specs on it idk what it is but i am sure google has it

[@Darkassassin09]

This is a bizarrely foreign concept to me... Then again I've never actually been in any house heated by water in anyway, let alone baseboards. nothing but gas/electric central air, or electric baseboards/space heaters.

[@tonyc3147]

Fantastic!!

[@fetarebel18]

Can I connect them with water heater?

[@roberthaselwood8737]

No

[@kidvicious2227]

Does this increase your water bill?

[@thehvachacker]

No, water recirculates through the baseboards in a sealed system.

[@bchaves3198]

Solar keeps on bs ing me

[@mikev.1034]

👍👍

[@floatingclouds1]

Hi there! Just wondering what type of screws I should use to mount the back plate to the wall. I have a hot water baseboard heater in my room and the nails came out of the wall. I need to remount it securely. Thanks in advance :)

[@adamswaz4878]

Drywall screws

[@floatingclouds1]

@@adamswaz4878 I was thinking the same thing. But I heard drywall screws aren't very strong. What is your opinion on using multi use screws for this application? Or would drywall screws be better?

[@adamswaz4878]

@@floatingclouds1 use like 1" c Wood construction screw. I used drywall. It's not a big deal