Baseboard Electrical Receptacles

Outlets installed above electric baseboard heaters in one or more areas not a recommended and a potentially unsafe practice all manufacturers of electric baseboard heaters prohibit the installation of electrical outlets above the heaters.

Baseboard electrical receptacles.

When electrification occurred a lot of existing houses had large enough baseboards to place receptacles. Those listing standards include the prohibition and require that those wall areas requiring convenience receptacles must be provided via combination equipment from the manufacturer etc. Im on a limited budget and the last thing i need is to fail. Installing baseboard heaters under electrical outlets receptacles is a common point of discussion and confusion.

How far offset must the outlets be from the side of the heater. This was done because it was the easiest place to install them and it seemed to be the fashion of the time. Keep electrical receptacles off to one side not right over electric heating baseboards to avoid overheating and possibly melting electrical cords draped over the heater a fire risk see photo at below right courtesy of timothy hemm. The concern is that a cord plugged into the outlet will likely drape down onto the heater.

Electric baseboard heaters work by turning a heating element on and off. Item 225987 model plf2004. The baseboard was popped off studs drilled cables pulled then holes cut for the boxes. It s either hot or it s not nothing in between.

There is no nec code rule against placing receptacles in a baseboard. Keep electrical outlets offset above and to the side of vanity sinks not right over the sink left hand sketch below electric baseboard clearance. I am installing electric hydrostatic baseboard heaters which they do not get hot enough to damage or burn anything. The electrical resistance baseboard heating equipment is or was listed via ul ansi standard s.

Clearance between electric baseboard heater electrical receptacle 2016 09 18 dennis said.