How to Install a Wall Heater - and Where

As the chill of winter sets in, staying warm and comfortable in your home becomes a top priority. Although your general heating and air circulation unit can provide adequate heating to your home, an electric wall heater can be an excellent addition. These heaters provide targeted warmth and enhance the coziness of every single room. If you're considering installing an electric wall heater, you're in the right place.

Wall heaters are fan operated units that are installed in a subtle location within the interior wall of your space. These heaters do not require connection to a duct system, or internal tubes that are used to transport air throughout your home. HomElectrical features electric and infrared wall heaters that use 100% of the heat that they produce to effectively fill your space with warmth. The general build of electric wall heaters consists of the heating element, a reflector for heat conversion, a fan, and depending on the model, a built in thermostat located on the external cover plate. The fan helps with circulating warm air through the room evenly, eliminating the need to combust fuel for operation. The entire system is placed into your wall with a mounting box.

The heat output of a wall heater is best utilized in compact spaces, such as offices, bedrooms, and living spaces, where they are the most durable. With adequate maintenance they can last 20 to 30 years before requiring a replacement. An electrician will choose the best central location for your electric wall heater.

Types of wall heaters

Electric, gas or propane wall heaters are additives to a central heating system and are typically installed within rooms that are more difficult to keep warm. Wall heater units can quickly heat the room by warming a heating element within the casing.

Wall heating systems are installed in your home by a licensed professional who can determine the best route for your system's intricate wiring and cable connections.

The installation method of your wall heater will depend on its type, model and the internal workings within the walls of your home. Your electrician will prepare for the installation with tools such as screwdrivers, saws, pliers, cable clamp sets, and cords needed to adjust and place the unit and its cables and internal workings in a suitable location within the wall.

In order to install wall heater and thermostat units, electrical professionals must determine whether the inner walls of your home can occupy 2 dedicated circuit breaker spaces so that the heater can run at optimal capacity. Some older homes occupy systems with a fuse box, which accommodates cartridge fuses that blow when exposed to extreme temperatures. Homes with operating fuse boxes should be converted to a new circuit breaker before considering the installation of a wall heater.

Electric wall heaters are sized by wattage, and therefore electricians will choose an appropriately sized ground wire to match voltage levels seen in the manufacturer's instructions pamphlet. Before beginning the installation process, the professional will turn off power from the breaker to prevent any electric shocks.

Preparing the Wiring

In preparation for the connection of cables to the circuit, the HVAC specialist will make a small hole in the drywall for intended cables to pass through. In completing this step, they will search for any pipes or other obstacles such as hot wires within the hole in the wall that may prevent the placement of the heater. The insulation behind the drywall is pushed aside in order to locate markers that were placed to identify connection routes. Wall stud space needs to be marked so that the mounting box can be placed alongside them for better support of mounting screws. Once the mount is confirmed, a larger hole is cut, and wires are run through and connected to nearby circuits.

Putting the Wires into Place

A few tools such as wire connectors and wiring leads help to connect each wire from the main panel to the new circuit.

• Wire connectors are most commonly twist on, crimp on and push on systems that allow you to splice or join electrical conductors together. Twist on connectors are available in different colors that indicate their size.
• A cable clamp, or a wire rope clip helps to organize the route in which a wire takes. Wire rope clips connect to the end of a cable to mount it into place.

Electrical supply wires that connect to your breaker box will be organized to correspond with the voltage levels of the heater and your circuit. Further sizing, connections, and configuration will depend on the maximum amount of energy that the heater consumes within the space.

The typical electric heater install can either have a built-in thermostat, or an additional thermostat option that is separately mounted to the wall and then connected to a circuit. If you decide to turn up the temperature of the heater, then it will need to consume more energy to produce that level of warmth in your space. In general, the higher the wattage capacity of the heater, the more powerful the level of warmth will be. This can possibly increase the electric bill cost during times of use.

Heaters that connect into a wall cavity do not produce any emissions, making them a safe option for maintaining warmth in your home. Wall heaters range in wattage levels as little as 500W, or as high as 4000W depending on the size and model. A combination of wall heater installations can keep a range of 100-1000 square foot rooms comfortable and will therefore operate most efficiently in small to medium sized spaces.

Infrared wall heaters are another great option for ideal energy consumption as they also use 100% of the heat that they produce. These heaters use energy to sustain warmth for longer periods of time while in use because of their ability to preserve transferred heat through the use of infrared radiation, similar to the processes involving natural sunlight. Installing your infrared wall heater higher up on the wall can help you to better utilize its functions.

The average room is roughly 130 to 150 square feet. A standard heater uses about 10W per square foot of a space. A 1000-watt heater can evenly warm a 100 square foot room while a 1500-watt heater can warm a 150 square foot room. For example, Cadet's 1500W com pak heater is built can easily heat 150 square feet rooms.

Larger heaters that contain wattages from 2000 to 4000 can occupy between 200 to 400 square feet of space. Levels of insulation can also increase or decrease the amount of wattage needed to heat your home:

There are a number of factors to consider when determining the cost to install your heater into the wall. During the fall and winter seasons, the demand for a heater installation is much higher, resulting in higher labor costs. The national average for electric heater installation labor can cost between $75 and $250.

The size of your home should also be considered, as larger rooms will need more powerful heaters to make the space comfortable. Rates of the utility bills in your home will change depending on the level of energy consumption of your heater. Energy star rated wall heaters are most efficient for managing operational costs on a monthly basis.

Since a wall heater doesn't require any ductwork, you won't have to worry about spending thousands of dollars for connection and installation. However, if you are replacing an older wall heater, you may want to consider the cost to remove and dispose of the old mounting box and other parts. On average, the cost of installation including removal services is around $600 to $800 per system.

Although wall heaters are built to last for years, it is beneficial if you can identify any possible issues that can occur with longer periods of use. Electrical issues or other common factors that affect the appliances in your home include:

• If you have found that your heater has stopped working, faulty wires to the heater itself could be the issue. Additionally, the connected breaker could require some maintenance due to a trip or a blown fuse. These cases should be inspected by an electrician or HVAC specialist who will be able to immediately identify the problem.
• Sometimes you might notice that your heater is turning on and off too often. In this case, after ensuring the power to the unit is off, you could carefully remove the main panel and inspect the internal hardware to make sure that no dust or other debris has obstructed the air flow from the fan. Power cycle issues could also indicate loose wires that are connected to the thermostat, which should be inspected by professionals only.
• If the fan of your heater is turning on but you do not feel any source of heat, the issue could be coming from your heating element, which might need replacing. Alternatively, if the fan isn't working but there is warmth emitting from the heater, there may be an issue with the fan motor that could require replacement.

If you feel uncomfortable about how to install wall heater parts and accessories, consult with an electrician who can effectively identify the issue and install the parts need.

With an extensive selection of wall heaters from trusted brands, HomElectrical is your one-stop shop for renovations, construction jobs, and DIY projects. In addition to electric fireplaces, connectors, and wiring devices, we also carry LED lighting, HVAC system equipment, appliances, and tools.

To place an order, register for an account today or call us at 888-616-3532.