Wall heaters are very common in households all around the world. These units are relatively small and are very efficient when it comes to warming a room or even an entire living area.
But these wall heaters do require regular maintenance, and this includes cleaning. Below we’ll look at the steps needed to clean your wall heater the right way.
Do I Need To Clean My Wall Heater?
Yes. Wall heaters accumulated dust, hair, and other debris over time on the grill and even behind the grill. This dust and debris makes the wall heater less efficient.
A buildup of dust and other items can also lead to odors coming from the heater. Finally, dust around the wall heater can contribute to allergy symptoms.
So those with allergies will want to clean these units often to keep them free of dust.
How To Clean A Wall Heater?
1. Unplug or turn off the breaker to the heater
This is very important for safety reasons and if you are uncomfortable with this step, make sure to contact a service professional or an electrician.
With that said, if the unit is plugged into an outlet, unplug it from the outlet and wait for it to cool down. Confirm it is not wired into the home’s electrical system.
If the unit is hard-wired, you will need to go to the home’s fuse box and turn off the power to the unit.
Confirm the power has been cut to the unit by using a voltmeter at the terminals on the heater.
If your unit is powered by natural gas, make sure the gas regulator is turned off and the pilot light is out. Allow the unit to cool thoroughly before cleaning.
When you have confirmed the unit has no power or now flame, proceed to step two.
2. Remove the grill
Remove the cover or grill of the heater. Usually these will come off fairly easy. You may need to remove a few screws around the perimeter of the unit.
On other units, the cover may just be held on with clips or other fasteners which can be removed without tools.
If there are no screws, gently start to pull panel away from the heater to see if it starts to come loose.
3. Clean the front panel.
Use a vacuum cleaner using a brush attachment for this process. If the grill has no components on it such as a control panel, you can also wash it if you prefer in a sink or bathtub.
4. Vacuum or blow out the inside of the heater.
Use a vacuum with a brush attachment to get out any dust or debris inside the wall heater.
If the vacuum has a reverse function to blow air, you can use that method as well.
You can also use compressed air for this task. But only use regular air from a compressor. Do not use canned compressed air from the store as those are sometimes flammable.
You may want to wear a dust mask during this process if you are sensitive to dust or want to avoid breathing it in.
If you are allergic to dust or suffer from other allergies, you should consider wearing a mask.
5. Replace the grill and restore power
Check to make sure the grill is totally dry if you washed it. Then replace the grill and replace any screws or fasteners you removed. Make sure it is reinstalled correctly and securely.
With the grill completely back on, you can now restore power. Either plug the unit back in or reset the breaker you shut off previously.
On a gas powered heater, relight the pilot light according to the unit’s instructions.
The heater should now be clean and ready for operation.
Wall heater cleaning FAQ
How often should you clean a wall heater?
You should try to clean your wall heater at least twice a year to keep it in optimum condition.
If you have very sensitive allergies, you can clean it more often as that might help with your symptoms.
Also, if the wall heater is in an especially dusty or dirty area, such as a workshop, you may have to clean it more often as well.
But for most typical homes, twice a year is sufficient.
Can I clean my wall heater with a vacuum?
Yes. Make sure all power is removed from the unit, either by unplugging it or shutting off the breaker at the fuse box.
You can then use a vacuum to remove the dust inside of the unit. You can also use compressed air if you prefer. But do not use canned air, as this can be flammable.
A brush attachment is generally helpful with vacuuming a wall heater to remove dust.
How do you remove a wall heater grill?
Make sure all power is removed from the unit. This means either unplugging it or shutting off the main power.
When you’ve confirmed the power is off, the grill is usually held on by small screws around the perimeter of the grill. Unscrew these and the grill should easily come off.
If the grill does not easily come off, it means there is a fastener you missed. Search around to find it and unscrew it to remove the grill.
Final Thoughts On Cleaning A Wall Heater
Wall heaters can run care-free for years and years, but they do require a little maintenance on your part to keep them running in top shape.
Make sure to clean your wall heater at least twice a year using the instructions above. Doing so will keep your heater operating at peak efficiency and you’ll avoid any odors or allergens that may be inside.