Will covering my baseboards decrease there efficiency?
No, we design our covers to precisely match the openings of your baseboard heat. When ordering, we ask for the dimensions of the openings of your heaters. Basebaord heaters work by using convection. by matching up the openings, there is no change in the efficiency of the heat.
Will your covers get hot?
Generally, wood is a very good insulator. Our covers will get warm, but usually stay much cooler than the basebaord heater below them, macking them a great choice for homes with small children.
Isn't using wood around my radiator a fire hazard?
No, wood normally combusts at 454 degrees farenheight A typical heating system does not get any hotter that 190 degrees farenheight; less than half the temperature needed to cause any threat of a fire!
Will I be able to see the baseboard through the grille of the cover?
Yes, slightly. An easy trick to solve this issue however, is to simply paint around the top opening of the baseboard heater with a flat black paint. A latex paint can be used on a radiator with no signs of rust, but an oil based is better, since it will not promote rusting. The simplest way is to use spray paint (make sure the surrounding area is well masked!). Make sure the radiator is clean and free of loose paint. An etching primer or scuffing the radiator with a green scotch brite pad before painting will help the finish bond better. A light coat is all that is required. You do not have to be perfect ... the idea is to simply lessen the amount of light which is reflected by the radiator. You will be amazed at how well this works!
Will the wood crack in the presence of heat?
Wood can always have a tendency to split. We design our baseboardr covers to hold up to the constantly changing temperatures within the cover. We use a more dimensionally stable 3/4" furniture grade plywood for all panels 6" wide and over, unless specified otherwise by the customer. All joints are fastened both mechanically, as well as adhered with a very strong polyurethane adhesive. On top of this, all seams are sealed with a silicone based sealant. Our radiator covers are also professionally finished inside and out , providing the best possible barrier against the wood absorbing moisture from steam valves. In the rare case that any splitting does occur (usually only will show up on lightly painted covers), it is usually very minor and can be easily fixed with a small amount of sealant. Generally, our covers will last years and years with no signs of cracking!
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