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When I bought the house the baseboard heaters were missing their covers. This caused the fins to get bent. I imagine I can just use pliars to bend them back so that they are somewhat straight again?
Also, the heater in the bedroom makes a lot of popping and cracking and pinging noises... is this due to the bent fins or is it from something else? I've always had forced air in my parents house and in past rentals.
You can get a tool to straighten the fins at most car parts stores. The tool is used to straighten the fins on radiators (which is also what you're talking about).
The fins can be straightened or left alone. Obviously, there's a little more efficiency when the fins are all perfectly straight, but small bends won't have much effect on efficiency.
The Noise comes from air in the system. Each baseboard has a bleed screw, seems to me that they're nearly always on the inleft side but that could have just been my personal experiences. Anyway, with a rag for cleanup, you simply crack those slowly open to allow air to escape. There are Also devices you can buy that will do this automagically for you (that are installed in place of the bleed screw), should that be of interest. Depending on your DIY-willingness you'll be able to find these items online or your local plumber can do it for you with a simple/quick visit.
I loved my home with baseboard hydronic heat out in Wyoming. None of the dryness/static, the home felt MUCH more comfortable than my parents (a few blocks away with forced air), and silent operation. My parents liked it so much they opted for in-floor heating when they built their retirement home in Montana. Doesn't get much more simple than a boiler and water pump... very durable/reliable. I even set ours up on a programmable T-stat (people claim you can't/it doesn't work, but I found the opposite to be true).
Location: Central Atlantic Region, though consults worldwide
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Pliers can straighten the fins and all will be fine even if not looking factory condition. As for cracking and popping noise - that expansion and contraction noice of the piping indies the heater.
So the fins are straight for the most part. However, the cracking, banging, pinging noise is still there. I think it may be from the fins rubbing against the metal holder thing that supports the heating element. What would be the best thing to use as a buffer in between that metal holder and the fins it rests on?
Whenever we had noises from my folks' old baseboard radiators, it was an indication that it was time to bleed some air out of the system. Do you need to bleed air out of your system very often and have you noticed any correlation? I think that air is still your prime suspect.
So the fins are straight for the most part. However, the cracking, banging, pinging noise is still there. I think it may be from the fins rubbing against the metal holder thing that supports the heating element. What would be the best thing to use as a buffer in between that metal holder and the fins it rests on?
There should be a plastic piece that is put there for that reason. If not, cut a piece from a plastic milk container and shove it in there.
There should be a plastic piece that is put there for that reason. If not, cut a piece from a plastic milk container and shove it in there.
The plastic from a milk bottle won't melt? Can I use the plastic from a 2L soda bottle?
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