Electric Wall
Heater Frequently Asked Questions
How many wires do I
need to install a wall heater?
120 volt electric heater: 1 Hot
(Black) 1 Neutral (white) and 1 ground (copper) wire.
240 volt electric heater: 2 Hot
(Black) and 1 ground (copper) wire.
When wiring a 240v clothes dryer or
stove your need 3 Wires and a ground. The 3rd wire is a 120 volt power
supply for the motor or clock.
What do the wire colors mean?
120
volt has 1 black and 1 white wire connection
Your wire should match
Black to Black (Hot)
White to White (Neutral)
Copper to Green (Ground)
240 volt has either 2 black wires or 1 red and 1 black wire 1 ground
wire
Can I mount a wall
heater at ground level?
As a rule no most wall heaters require
you mount it around 6 to 8” off the floor.
Can all wall
heaters be mounted horizontal
No - not all but some can, check the
users manual for mounting guidelines.
Can I take a wall
heater and mount it in the ceiling?
As a rule most wall heaters are not
designed of ceiling installations.
Can I mount the
wall heater at head level on the wall?
Yes you can but, it's not a good idea.
Heat rises so the bottom half the room will not warm up. Ceiling heaters
are designed to blow the air to the floor wall heaters blow the air
forwards.
Why do I need a
thermostat?
Thermostats don't forget to shut the
heater off in the morning. If you use a on / off switch and forget to
shut the heater off the heater will run all day. A thermostat will keep
the room at a constant temperature; some people turn the knob down day
and turn it back up in the morning.
What's a bad
location for a wall heater?
Avoid putting a wall heater behind a
door, behind a couch or large chair. Wall heaters need to push the heat
across the room, if the hot air is block off the heater will go off on
high limit. Place the heater so it will warm the outside wall without
any obstruction like drapes or large furniture.
How can you tell
what this heater's voltage is?
If you're lucky the heater will still
have its original factory sticker. This will show you the manufacture,
the voltage, the amps and wattage. The voltage should always be
rechecked will a voltmeter this is a device for testing the voltage from
the breaker or fuse box.
What size heater do
I need?
A quick rule of thumb is 10 watts per
square foot.
Example 1:
10'W x 15'L = 150 Ft2
150 Ft2 x 10 Watts = 1,500 watts
Example 2:
25'W x 20'L = 480 Ft2
480 Ft2 x 10 Watts = 4,800 watts
Can I paint my wall
heater?
Most wall heater manufacturer's power
coat the heaters instead of painting them. In most cases the warranty
will be VOID if any alternations are made to the heater.
How do electric wall heaters work?
Electric
wall heaters are wall mounted heaters, that can be recess or surface
mounted on the wall
use 120 or 240 voltage to
power an electrical heating element. Cold room air goes through the
heating element and is shot out the other side warm air. This process is
call Convection heat
What Are the
Dangers of Electric Wall Heaters?
Electric wall heaters must have an ETL, UL or CSA certification with two
or more safety features, high limit, and thermal fuse. Typically these
go off if the heater is over heating because something is blocking the
air from coming out. Per code flammable material like furniture needs to
be three feet away
When
to Consider Electric Wall Heaters?
Electric wall heaters
are ideal for bedrooms, offices, and areas in which you want to heat. If
you do not have central heating each room will need its own wall heater.
Can I leave my
electric wall heater on during the day when I am not at home?
If your wall heater is controlled by a
working wall or built in thermostat the answer yes. If there no
thermostat or its controlled by a switch (not recommended or to code)
the answer is no
What is the best
electric wall heater voltage?
Sorry - it depends on your needs, a
higher the voltage used less current, and less resistance so its easier
for the power to go from point A to point B.
How to Clean an
Electric Wall Heater
Turn the heater off at the circuit
breaker, test the heater to make sure it's off take the grille off and
vacuum the fan blades, and element.
