Baseboard Radiators Not Heating Room Up

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Solving A Baseboard Heat Problem
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People often come to me with house problems.

Recently 2 people have approached me complaining that they have baseboard fin radiators that do not heat up to the thermostat reading.

When I hear this - there are many things to check, including zone valves, circulator pumps, relays, and whether the thermostat is working properly, or the battery needs replacing.

Looking a closer at the radiators we noticed that the radiator fins were oriented horizontally versus vertical.

If you’re not following me, these aluminum fins should be oriented on installation, to have “open” vertical slots.

These aluminum fins increase surface contact of the copper pipe for more efficient heating.

The copper pipe heats the fins through conduction, and the fins help heat the air. Lower cool air, at the bottom of the radiator is then heated by these fins as it rises up through them.

The hot air rises because it is lighter than cooler air, as it rises, it draws cooler air up and through the bottom of the baseboard fins, and cycles through until the thermostat is satisfied.

Having them rotated so the vertical airflow is restricted prevents convection through the radiator. 

These convectors and require airflow in order to work and this orientation is similar to closing a damper.

In order to fix the problem, you need to rotate the baseboard pipe
There are several solutions that can correct this situation:
• Replacement - costly
• Re-sweating, or cutting and coupling and then rotating the pipe
• Rotation the fins
• Bent the fins with needle-nose pliers to create an air channel
For this to work you will need to lift the radiator pipe and fins off the cradle metal brackets. There are plastic holders that separate the fins off the metal cradle brackets - remove these temporarily. 
Most fin radiators have some slack in the middle of the pipe, and less neat the elbow that go down under the floor. You may NOT be able to rotate the fins near the elbows, due to lack of pipe movement. For those fins you may have to settle for bending them open with needle-nose pliers.
The fins, which are attached through a “resistance fitment” to the copper pipe.  If you chose this method try following these steps:

1. Rotate the fins when the pipe are cold.Use two 2”x 6”strips of wood
2. Hold the 2 boards on top and bottom of the fins and rotate them 90 degrees.
3. Wear gloves, as these fins are sharp.
4. A needle nose plier can also help with individual fins
Personally, if the rotation method does not work for you, I would have a plumber try to unseat the joint or cut, add a coupling and rotate the radiator fins.
Either way – you need those fins oriented correctly.

Видео Baseboard Radiators Not Heating Room Up канала A Concord Carpenter / ToolBoxBuzz