Wall heaters are designed so that each is responsible for heating a particular room or area. Each unit is controlled by a thermostat, which can be located on the wall or on the unit itself.

There are three basic components in a wall heater: the element, the fan and the thermostat. The element produces heat when electricity passes through it. The fan forces heated air out to the room and improves its circulation. The thermostat tells the element when to activate and for how long.

How does it work? Cold air is drawn over the heated element and then directed out to the room by the fan. The heated air rises and forces the cold air to the floor, and the process repeats itself.

Tips for operating and maintaining wall heaters

• Turn down the thermostat in rooms that aren't being used and close the door to that room.

• Set thermostats to temperatures at the low end of the comfort range. This prevents excessive cooling at night or when no one is home.

• Follow the maintenance instructions in the manufacturer's manual.

• Keep the area around heating units free from obstructions to allow proper air flow. Fire danger from wall heaters is minimal, but you should avoid having any objects come in contact with the them.

• Don't place combustible materials on or near heaters.

• Clean the wall heaters twice a year. Turn off the electricity to the heater at the breaker panel before removing the grill. Blow down through the element to remove debris, vacuuming any debris out of the blower wheel. Clean and reinstall the grill before turning the power back on to the units.

• Never open the wall heater cover before turning the heater off at the breaker panel and letting the heating element cool.