How to Paint a Baseboard Heater
Baseboard heaters tend to take a little bit of a beating due to their location so it’s not uncommon to find dents, chipping paint, rust and discoloration. While this project won’t help you address any dents in your baseboard heaters, a fresh coat of paint will address many of the signs of aging on your heaters. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to prep and paint your baseboard heaters to give them new life for many more years to come.
What Type of Paint Should I Use on My Baseboard Heater?
Unlike radiators, baseboard heaters don’t get hotter than 200 degrees Fahrenheit, so you don’t need to use any sort of heat-resistant paint. You will, however, need to find a paint that will adhere to metal.
What’s the Best Way to Paint Baseboard Heaters?
You can either paint your baseboard heater with a roller and paint brush or you can spray paint it. No matter which method you choose there will be pros and cons. If you decide to paint your baseboard heater the old-fashioned way, the painting process will be neater, but it will take longer if you need to paint a grate. Spray painting will be a faster process, but you need to take extra precautions to prevent paint splatter around the heater.
Tip: Baseboard heaters are typically a feature many homeowners want to blend into the background. The best way to do that may be to paint them the same or similar color to your baseboards. Don’t be afraid to reuse the same color you used for your baseboard project.
STEP 1
Disconnect Baseboard Heater
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to turn off your baseboard heater. Depending on how your heaters function, you may need to turn off the breaker connection to your baseboard heater or shut off any gas lines for gas powered heaters. Allow the baseboard heater to cool completely. Even though baseboard heaters don’t get very hot, allowing it to cool completely will ensure the paint applies evenly.
Tip: You may also want to consider disassembling your baseboard heater to make it easier to paint. Otherwise, you’ll have to put a little more time into prepping your space.
STEP 2
Clean Baseboard Heaters Before Painting
Use a mixture of warm water and dish soap to clean your baseboard heater of any dust or scuffs. If there are still marks present, you can also use a Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) solution. Be sure to properly ventilate your workspace if using TSP. Allow the heater to air dry or wipe it dry with rags before moving on to sanding.
STEP 3
Sand Baseboard Heater
Before you begin sanding, take stock of what needs to be sanded. If your baseboard heater has a lot of rust and chipping paint, opt for medium, 180-grit sandpaper. For more minor scuffs, choose a fine 220-grit or steel wool. Once you’ve finished sanding the heater smooth, wipe it down with a tack cloth and vacuum up any particles that could get stuck in the paint.
Tip: If you’re worried about the presence of lead paint on your baseboard heater, be sure to test the paint before you begin sanding. If lead paint is present, apply a layer of encapsulant paint and sand it smooth with steel wool to get a smoother application when painting.
STEP 4
Prime & Paint Baseboard Heater
Priming and painting may look different depending on whether you’re going to hand paint or spray paint your baseboard heater. Here are a few things to keep in mind during this step:
- Make sure your area is well ventilated; this is especially important if you’re spray painting your heater while fully assembled.
- While you shouldn’t have issues with your heater not working due to paint, avoid getting too much paint on the internal components.
- Make sure to choose a primer and paint that will inhibit rust.
- For a smooth finish, use a little bit of steel wool to lightly sand between each coat of paint.
Tip: Priming may be an unnecessary step depending on the condition of your baseboard heater. If you have small spots of rust and minimal paint flaking, you may be able to start painting without a primer. Heaters with more signs of wear will benefit from the additional coverage you get from a primer.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
Project Supplies
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