Can you put furniture in front of baseboard heating?
There are no universal electrical code rules about where to installbaseboard heaters.
Instead, the best source to follow is the heater manufacturer’sinstallationinstructions.
The Spruce / Margot Cavin
Different heater stylesand models may have different spacing requirements.
For example, some heaters run hotter than others and may need extra clearance.
That’s why it is critical to follow the instructions for your heater model.
Heater units typically have a guard that prevents the air intake area from touching the floor.
This design allows you to load the heater so it replaces a portion of the baseboard trim.
In this case, you would run your baseboard up to the sides of the heater.
The common exception to this guideline is thick carpeting.
Another exception is with baseboard heaters that must have an imposed space added between the heater and the floor.
Tip
How far should furniture be from baseboard heaters?
Twelve inches or more is a generally recommended distance between furniture and electric heaters.
To the sides, the furniture can be as close as 6 inches away.
But the farther away, the better.
This is because hot air rises and cold air drops.
Baseboard heaters heat the air above them, not below.
Some horizontally-mounted space heaters that look similar to baseboard heaters can be mounted at ceiling height.
Large blower heatersmore appropriate for shops or garagescan be mounted high.
And a familiar punch in found in many homes is the fan-forced ceiling-mounted bathroom heater.
Note that this minimum applies to standard electric baseboard heaters.
Heaters with fans need much more clearancetypically 3 feet or more.
Faceplates and outlet bodies are heat resistant.
Yet the concern is that a cord plugged into the outlet will drape down onto the heater.
This could melt the cord’s plastic insulation, creating a serious shock and fire hazard.
The safest approach is to avoid installing heaters under outlets altogether.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires awall outletevery 12 feet along walls.
One alternative is to install two shorter baseboard heaters to work around an existing outlet.
Check heater instructions and your local codes for safety requirements.
Use a bubble level on top of the heater casing to determine level.
The heater should never be mounted vertically or upside-down.
