Replacing baseboards?

I hope this isn't a stupid question... If so, please bear with me.

The baseboard heater in our master bath has seen better days. The inside accordion looking thing is crushed, looks like from when they installed the toilet or something. It's always cold in that room and the thing is an eyesore so I thought I'd find out how to replace it.

When I looked online, I don't think I'm finding what I need. Home Depot has some for sale but they have wattage information on them. I didn't know if that's the correct thing I'm looking at:

Home Depot Cadet baseboard

Is this what I'm looking for or am I using the wrong wording? How do I know what wattage to use? Is this a project that would better be left to a professional?

Thanks

Re: Replacing baseboards?

I did a google search and you can get just a cover to go over them. Not sure if this is what you want.
I think the one you found is a standalone unit.

click here

Re: Replacing baseboards?

I am not sure if you are doing the right search but what you found isn't what you want. Home Depot though does sell what you want in the stores but I found that our local plumbing supply store was cheaper so that is where I bought mine from.

Re: Replacing baseboards?

do you have electric heat in the bathroom?

if not, that basboard you posted is electric.

If you have the type of heating unit that has water running through it, you might want to get a plumber in to fix it since the system needs to be shut down for a bit, so the water doesnt come out.

if the cover is just bent and the unit underneath works, then you can get a new cover at Home Depot and it will look brand new!!

Re: Replacing baseboards?

What type of heat do you have? Wattage would indicate electric -- which is somewhat rare in LI... I don't think what you posted is really what you want.

Re: Replacing baseboards?

We bought them in HD, just look in the plumbing aisle.

ETA: the company that makes them is called slant fin, I think.

Message edited 12/13/2007 11:01:08 AM.

Re: Replacing baseboards?

You just need the baseboard covers for it. look in the air conditioning/heating ducts aisle at home depot the end pieces are called end caps.

Re: Replacing baseboards?

I got ours at home depot- you need a thing called dummy covers. theyare made by baseline. Not too hard to replace. its about 60 dollars or so.

Re: Replacing baseboards?

Re: Replacing baseboards?

all the advice you got so far is right. Depending on the age & brand of what you have now they may not be interchangable w/slantfin. now they are all made sort of universal but for a long time not all brands worked together. you def need a plumber though if you want to change the whole thing. in addition to draining down your system the new set up gets installed by sweating the pipes with a torch. Not really a DIY unless you're very adventerous.

Re: Replacing baseboards?

Re: Replacing baseboards?

Re: Replacing baseboards?

Wow, thanks everyone. I didn't get to come back and see the replies yesterday.

You're right - it's the Slant Fin type of baseboard. I might be able to straighten it out but it's good to know I can just get another cosmetic fix pretty easily.

I guess that won't help that the bathroom is always cold though. Maybe my husband was right that the insulation in that room stinks. It was a new addition in the last 10 years.

Re: Replacing baseboards?

If you do wind up replacing it completely you can get a high output baseboard instead of the regular kind. This produces more heat. We had this installed in our kitchen since we only have a small piece of baseboard in there.