I'm redoing some rooms in my house, and my husband discovered some nice-looking plastic baseboard heater covers that are also affordable. However, our contractors have warned us that they might be unsafe since they could melt or release toxic fumes. On the other hand, the guy at Lowe's who sold them said they're safe as long as we don't have electric heat. We've got hydronic heating, so I'd love to hear what others think about the safety of these plastic covers.
3 Answers
Even if these covers don’t melt, I’m not a fan of plastic for heat applications. The heat cycles could warp them over time, making them less effective. Might be worth considering alternatives that are more durable.
I recently installed a plastic cover in my bathroom, and it’s been doing great! It’s high-temperature rated, so no melting or warping so far. I think it's a safe option if you are cautious about the type used.
That's the only place I would consider using plastic too.
Hydronic baseboard water can get pretty hot, around 185F, but that’s still not enough to melt plastic. However, I’ve heard that metal is a better choice overall since it conducts heat better. If you’re using it in a bathroom, though, plastic might actually be a smarter choice because of potential issues with urine spray.
But honestly, I doubt the temperature changes would be enough to mess with the plastic used in those covers.