Baseboard heaters require careful consideration to ensure they function efficiently and safely: Maintain Clearance: Keep furniture at least 6 inches away from baseboard heaters. This prevents the blockage of heat and reduces fire risk.
Drapes, furniture, and other combustible materials should be at least 6 inches away from each side of a baseboard heater. As noted, most baseboard heaters are designed so that their ends can touch baseboard wall trim, but this applies only to the very ends of the heater unit.
Pieces of furniture and other objects increase the risk of fire when they're placed too close to a baseboard heater. You should place all objects, including fabrics, cushions, or wooden items, 6 to 12 inches away from the heaters. These can easily catch fire when exposed to sustained heat.
Drapery or furniture placed too close to heaters can also be a problem. Especially when it comes to electric baseboard heaters, you should treat your baseboard heaters with respect. Ensure there is an 18 inch space between hydronic baseboard heaters and drapes or furniture.
Proper Use
Keep the space heater at least three feet from anything that can burn, such as furniture, fabrics and decorations. “More than half (53 percent) of all home heating fire deaths resulted from fires that began when heating equipment was too close to things that can burn,” reports the NFPA.
Simple answer, you should not place anything in front of your heater as it is not safe; this includes any kind of furniture, drapes, paper, bedding, and people.
These include clearing three feet in front of your baseboard heater, six inches to each side, and 12 inches above it. I would, without question, measure out this space to ensure no furniture or other household item is within it. This is basic fire safety; you don't want to take any chances.
According to the Holyoke Fire Department, a recent fire started with combustibles too close to the baseboard heater. If objects are too close it doesn't help with airflow and creates a fire hazard under enough heat. Curtains for example that hang near or above a heater should not be touching the baseboard heater.
If you are planning to use them then make sure there is at least 6 inches (ideally more) from any drapes or furniture or other stuff. If you aren't using them then it doesn't matter.
Take Precautions When Heating Your Home
Keep ALL objects away from heaters and never permit any item to drape across heaters. All heating devices need space! Keep a minimum distance of twelve inches/30cm for baseboard heaters and three feet/90 cm for portable space heaters.
Maintain Clearance: Keep furniture at least 6 inches away from baseboard heaters. This prevents the blockage of heat and reduces fire risk. Avoid Flammable Materials: Do not place furniture with flammable fabrics or materials near baseboard heaters.
*Note, baseboard covers are not a cool to the touch solution, they conduct heat and will still get very hot.
The gist is that cold air from the window mixes with warm air rising out of the baseboard, that warm air moves around the room, cools and sinks back to the floor, where it is eventually re-heated by the baseboards. That's why traditionally it's recommended to install a baseboard under a window.
If you rely mostly on electric baseboard heaters to heat your home, they probably make up a big part of your annual electricity bill – sometimes as much as 44%. However, there are plenty of ways to maximize the efficiency of your baseboard heaters to cut down your winter heating costs.
I experimented with several bookcase designs, each of which worked. Some incorporated simple 4×4 posts that were high enough to clear the baseboard heaters, and some had scalloped aprons that allowed the hot air to move freely beneath the bookcase.
The liquid filled electric baseboard heaters don't rise above 180 deg, which is not high enough to combust wood. A strip-heat unit has elements that will rise to about 350 deg. Most manufacturers I've seen recomend at least 6 - 12" clearance.
Electric baseboard heaters
You should never allow draperies/curtains to touch the heater. Short drapes or curtains need a minimum of 8 inches from bottom of fabric to top of heater.
Can you really hang curtains over baseboard heaters? The answer to that question is YES as long as they are above the heaters. These are the new curtains I just purchased and I made sure that the length of the panel hovered above the heaters. They hover above the baseboard heater a couple of inches.
Too often we hear of fires started by a space heater and we see frequent warnings every year about the potential danger of using them. Baseboard heaters are generally safe and have low fire danger.
Electric baseboard heaters are heated solely by electricity. Because of this, the heating elements inside can reach a higher temperature than their hot-water-heated counterparts. Electric heaters reach about 180 to 200°F, which is hot enough to start a fire if a flammable material is touching it for a period of time.
A distance of at least 8 inches / 20 centimeters must be maintained between the baseboard heater and furniture, curtains, bedding, or any object that would trap the heat. Since furniture cannot be placed up against the heater this can limit the space available.
If a wall heater is correctly placed and all safety precautions are followed, it can keep a room quite comfortable. But to ensure you're using one safely: Mount the heater at least three feet away from furniture, carpeting, curtains, and other objects that can burn.
The warm air circulates along the floor around the entire space. Thick rugs can have an impact on how well the room is being heated. Your electric baseboard heater should be installed 3/4 inches above the floor to avoid this issue.