How to Replace an Electric Baseboard Heater With Control Knob

Cut off the circuit breaker or remove the fuse from the fuse box controlling the electricity to the room where the old heater is presently installed. The fuse simply needs to be twisted and removed, similar to removing a light bulb.

Pull off the cover panel to expose the mounting hardware underneath. This is only necessary on some models. The cover may simply have a clicking mechanism to hold in place, or you will need to use a screwdriver to remove any screws holding the panel cover closed.

Remove the screws holding the baseboard heater to the wall on the left and right sides, using a screwdriver.

Pull the heater forward to access the electrical connections, which are typically immediately behind the control knob on the appliance. The control knob is usually on the left end of the baseboard heater.

Disconnect the wires on the back of the heater from the household wiring using wire cutters, if necessary. In common installations, unscrew and remove the cone-shaped wire connectors, then untwist each heater wire from the household wiring to disconnect the appliance. Remove the old heater.

Label each wire on the household circuit with a piece of tape and a pencil to denote its connection to the corresponding wire on the baseboard heater. Use the color of each wire as a guide. Modern electrical wiring consists of a black and white wire, plus a green wire for the grounding connection.

Knock out the perforated metal plate in the bottom of the new heater with a screwdriver and hammer to run the household electrical wires to the heater wires.

Strip 1/4 inch of insulation from each wire on the new heater to expose bare wire underneath using the wire cutters.

Splice each wire on the back of the new heater to its corresponding wire in the household circuit using the tape labels to guide your connections. Twist the bare wire ends together, then screw on a cone-shaped wire connector.

Fold the connected wires gently into the wiring box on the inside back of the heater.

Secure the new heater to the wall using the mounting screws and a screwdriver.

Attach the cover panel if the new heater is equipped with a cover.

Restore power at the circuit breaker or fuse box.