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While it does not happen regularly, you might find that your baseboard radiator heat system could experience pump failure. There are a number of pumps in the system, so the likelihood of one of them eventually failing is great. So, how would you know which pump it is? When a pump fails it is usually not the whole pump, normally the bearings in the pump fail and the pump becomes noisy. So, if your pump starts making lots of noise you could probably assume the bearings are beginning to fail, and need to be replaced. Replacement is usually a fairly simple task since most systems have isolation valves on both sides of the pump so that it can be removed with little loss of water from the system.

Another relatively simple pump problem that could cause pump failure is that pump seals also develop leaks. This is not common, but it is a possibility. If this occurs you need to reseal the pump.

Another possible problem with your baseboard radiator heat system could be boiler failure. This is similar to a water heater failure; the boiler can also develop leaks, so if your boiler seems to be a problem check for the heating element first, and then for leaks. The likelihood of a heating failure is slim, water heaters fail much more often, but in a baseboard radiator heat system the water generally enclosed and is not replenished on a regular basis, therefore, there is not a significant build-up of calcium in the tank as there is in your hot water tank which continually brings calcium into the water heater. That calcium which your system brings in will settle in the bottom of a water heater and causes hot spots and eventual failure of the water tank, this is not usually the case with the baseboard radiator heating system’s tank.

Another problem you might incur, and often comes as a result of decorating are leaks in the system. Sometimes when people decorate they nail or screw things into the walls, and if the contractor did not protect your system well, you may puncture some of the pipes. If you have a leak in your system it is normally obvious because you will see wet floors or carpets underneath the baseboard units.

Other problems include air being trapped in the system, this causes a gurgling sound in the system when the circulator is pumping water. If you hear this noise do not worry too much, often times systems have a small valve, much like a tire valve, at the high points in the system; this valve can be “bled” until all the air is removed and water starts flowing from the valve.

Problems like the overpressure valve blowing off can be caused by the air being removed from the expansion tank, but are not a normal failures. This really can’t happen, or won’t happen unless there is a leak at the top of the expansion tank. If this problem does occur however, the leak must be repaired and the system drained until the air is replaced in the expansion tank.

The radiator units in the baseboard radiator systems are typically made up of copper tubes with fine sheet metal fins attached. Occasionally these fins get clogged by dust and the only way to take care of the problem is to clean the tubes with a vacuum cleaner.

Really, a baseboard heating system is a great idea and you won’t likely run into many or any of the above problems. They are a great option, but one of the major shortfalls of a baseboard heating system is that there is no way to install central air conditioning systems, air filtering system or whole house humidifiers. The really good things is that they are quiet, and clean because they don’t blow air all over the house