How to Remove a Baseboard Water Heater Before Drywall

For a remodeling project requiring new drywall, you may need to remove wall fixtures such as baseboard water-heater covers. The inner portion of a baseboard water heater consists of a length of pipe surrounded by a series of metal fins. Water from your hot water heater passes through the pipe, heating the metal fins and surrounding air. A protective cover assembly attaches to the wall and shields the metal fins and pipe. To replace drywall behind a baseboard water heater, you must remove the cover, but you won’t have to remove the metal pipe or fins.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips or flat-head screwdriver

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Pull up on the corner pieces of the cover assembly to remove them.

   • 2

     Remove the horizontal lower and upper plates of the baseboard water heater by jiggling gently to release them from the hooks. Don’t pull sharply or you risk warping the thin metal. Instead, peer inside to see how the hooks are holding them,then detach the plates carefully.

   • 3

     Remove the screws attaching the backing plate to the wall, using either a Phillips or flat-head screwdriver as required.

   • 4

     Separate the backing plate from the wall and pull it away from the pipe and metal fins. The pipe and fins will be far enough from the wall for you to remove and replace the drywall.