The master bathroom in my house is freezing in winter. I'm thinking
of installing a wall heater or portable heater that I could put on a
timer to run just for a couple of hours in the morning. I have 2
options:

1) Install an electric wall heater. There's an outlet on the other
side of the wall in where I'd install the heater, so I could run power
to it easily. The heater would be 2ft from the toilet, 4-5ft from the
shower and 6ft from the bath. It would be in a corner, almost under a
window (the window's on the other wall formed by the corner).

2) Install an outlet, presumably a GFI, in the same location, and plug
in a portable heater on a timer.

Any opinions? Are there any electrical code issues I should know
about?

Thanks,
Michael

According to Michael Press :

The master bathroom in my house is freezing in winter. I'm thinking
of installing a wall heater or portable heater that I could put on a
timer to run just for a couple of hours in the morning. I have 2
options:

1) Install an electric wall heater. There's an outlet on the other
side of the wall in where I'd install the heater, so I could run power
to it easily. The heater would be 2ft from the toilet, 4-5ft from the
shower and 6ft from the bath. It would be in a corner, almost under a
window (the window's on the other wall formed by the corner).

2) Install an outlet, presumably a GFI, in the same location, and plug
in a portable heater on a timer.

Any opinions? Are there any electrical code issues I should know
about?

Code doesn't like electrical outlets or switches within 4' (or so,
details vary from code-to-code) from a shower or bath. This would
apply for a permanently installed heater too. I don't think they care
about toilets.

While code doesn't rule on how close a portable heater can be
to a shower or bath, it's best to follow it anyway. Make sure the
cord ain't long enough for it to fall into the bath...

It must be on a GFCI regardless (tho a permanently installed heater
may be code exempt if you want to be picky).

Under a window is best for efficiency.

I'd prefer a permanently installed one.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

From: (Chris Lewis)


According to Michael Press :

The master bathroom in my house is freezing in winter. I'm thinking
of installing a wall heater or portable heater that I could put on a
timer to run just for a couple of hours in the morning. I have 2
options:

1) Install an electric wall heater. There's an outlet on the other
side of the wall in where I'd install the heater, so I could run power
to it easily. The heater would be 2ft from the toilet, 4-5ft from the
shower and 6ft from the bath. It would be in a corner, almost under a
window (the window's on the other wall formed by the corner).

2) Install an outlet, presumably a GFI, in the same location, and plug
in a portable heater on a timer.

Any opinions? Are there any electrical code issues I should know
about?



Code doesn't like electrical outlets or switches within 4' (or so,
details vary from code-to-code) from a shower or bath.

(1) Shower or Bathtub Space. Receptacle outlets shall not be installed in or
within reach [30 in. (762 mm)] of a shower or bathtub space.

This would
apply for a permanently installed heater too. I don't think they care
about toilets.

While code doesn't rule on how close a portable heater can be
to a shower or bath, it's best to follow it anyway. Make sure the
cord ain't long enough for it to fall into the bath...

It must be on a GFCI regardless (tho a permanently installed heater
may be code exempt if you want to be picky).

May be exempt, and is if it's permanently installed. I searched the NEC and
can't find anything that even remotely suggests you can't install a permanently
- connected, permanently installed in-wall heater or electric baseboard heater
right up against the bathtub...


Under a window is best for efficiency.

I'd prefer a permanently installed one.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

According to HA HA Budys Here :
Code doesn't like electrical outlets or switches within 4' (or so,
details vary from code-to-code) from a shower or bath.

(1) Shower or Bathtub Space. Receptacle outlets shall not be installed in or
within reach [30 in. (762 mm)] of a shower or bathtub space.

Is that all US codes? Our code used to say "within reach", and then
it's been specified more exactly. And moved around a bit. This is
why I hedged.

It must be on a GFCI regardless (tho a permanently installed heater
may be code exempt if you want to be picky).

May be exempt, and is if it's permanently installed. I searched the NEC and
can't find anything that even remotely suggests you can't install a permanently
- connected, permanently installed in-wall heater or electric baseboard heater
right up against the bathtub...

H'm. You'd probably find them covered under the switch rules if it has any
user-accessible controls on them.

An ordinary portable heater would _likely_ be considered to be non-exempt from
the GFCI rules. The exemption is primarily for large appliances that wouldn't
move, like a dryer or clothes washer, which usually have excellent grounding
anyway. Or builtins of course.

To be exempt by latest codes, a plug-connected heater also have to be on a
single outlet receptacle.

Thus, a plug heater physically attached to something in the bathroom on a
single outlet may be exempt.

Ie: a B&D plugin cube fan heater would need GFCI. A wall/ceiling mounted
plugin IR unit probably wouldn't if it was on a single outlet.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

If you have wall space, and money, you might consider installing a towel
heater. The quality ones can double as a radiator and warm a small
bathroom. They can also be programmed to heat only at specified times.
Since we got ours, I have closed off the heating vent in the bathroom,
as the towel heater keeps the room warm.

Michael Press wrote:
The master bathroom in my house is freezing in winter. I'm thinking
of installing a wall heater or portable heater that I could put on a
timer to run just for a couple of hours in the morning. I have 2
options:

1) Install an electric wall heater. There's an outlet on the other
side of the wall in where I'd install the heater, so I could run power
to it easily. The heater would be 2ft from the toilet, 4-5ft from the
shower and 6ft from the bath. It would be in a corner, almost under a
window (the window's on the other wall formed by the corner).

2) Install an outlet, presumably a GFI, in the same location, and plug
in a portable heater on a timer.

Any opinions? Are there any electrical code issues I should know
about?

Thanks,
Michael

--
SPAMBLOCK NOTICE! To reply to me, delete the h from apkh.net, if it is
there.

Subject: elec. code for heater in bathroom
From: Michael Press
Date: 1/5/2004 9:13 AM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id:


The master bathroom in my house is freezing in winter. I'm thinking
of installing a wall heater or portable heater that I could put on a
timer to run just for a couple of hours in the morning. I have 2
options:

1) Install an electric wall heater. There's an outlet on the other
side of the wall in where I'd install the heater, so I could run power
to it easily. The heater would be 2ft from the toilet, 4-5ft from the
shower and 6ft from the bath. It would be in a corner, almost under a
window (the window's on the other wall formed by the corner).

2) Install an outlet, presumably a GFI, in the same location, and plug
in a portable heater on a timer.

Any opinions? Are there any electrical code issues I should know
about?

Thanks,
Michael







What about replacing your exhaust vent (if you have one) with a combonation
exhaust vent and heater.