Heat register covers for bathroom

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,832
2,618
136
There are three bathrooms in my house, all of which have the baseboard heating right next to the toilet (like 6-8 inches away). After a few years the registers are all rusty. I've stripped them down to bare metal and repainted (regular wall laex paint)-which looks OK for a year or two. Not much return for a lot of elbow grease.

I'd love to replace the register covers with something made out of plastic or vinyl but the only ones I've found are both expensive and hideous. Here's a link to what Home Depot has (Lowes, Amazon, etc. pretty much the same):

http://www.homedepot.com/p/NeatHeat...ot-for-Electric-Baseboard-NEATHEAT6/203537677

Any suggestions or alternatives? PS-it's not an aiming problem, you flush the toilet with the lid up and there will be a light spray that will eventually rust the register covers.
 

monkeydelmagico

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2011
3,961
145
106
T I've stripped them down to bare metal and repainted (regular wall laex paint)-which looks OK for a year or two. Not much return for a lot of elbow grease.

Light sand, loctite extend rust treatment ($10.- at advance auto) and enamel paint (not latex).
 

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
Powder coating? I have no idea how much that runs but it would be a permanent solution.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
69,736
13,351
126
www.betteroff.ca
Maybe try some outside rated primer and paint. Maybe car paint? Needs to be able to handle the heat though. Actually BBQ paint would maybe work, but not sure if it comes in other colours than black.

I would be reluctant to cover a heater with plastic, that and it will not really do much to stop the moisture it may even make it worse by trapping it in.
 

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,832
2,618
136
You could replace with brass and problems are over.

I guess my question is what alternatives do they sell. Like I said in the original post I've only found one very ugly plastic alternative. I can't believe I'm the only person with this problem.
 

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
I guess my question is what alternatives do they sell. Like I said in the original post I've only found one very ugly plastic alternative. I can't believe I'm the only person with this problem.
I have a heat register next to the toilet in one of our full baths that was painted with latex paint 28 years ago that isn't showing one single sign of corrosion.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
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I have a heat register next to the toilet in one of our full baths that was painted with latex paint 28 years ago that isn't showing one single sign of corrosion.
Air flow, construction, water quality, age of home and, State of residence all play a part in things like corrosion and life of fixtures.
 

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
Air flow, construction, water quality, age of home and, State of residence all play a part in things like corrosion and life of fixtures.
Agreed. I had to replace over half in the Florida residence because of corrosion and they're all in the ceiling. I'll eventually replace the rest on the next repaint because they are a bit grungy and won't clean up. Built in 1997.

A bunch needing to be replaced tells me something as does just one.

I couldn't figure out why the chrome was rusting in the master shower at our primary residence in Michigan. Nothing in there was high end but I had never experienced it before. Come to find out when my wife retired and started cleaning the house (we used to hire it out) that she was using some very harsh chemicals when cleaning the tile and grout. I found this out when I happened to stroll in there one day while she was cleaning. Sometimes some investigative work needs to be done.
 

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,832
2,618
136
I'm asking about baseboard heat registers covers, not the register covers for a forced air system. One of the baseboards is 7-8 feet long, the other two are roughly four feet long.
 

herm0016

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2005
8,502
1,117
126
sit to pee? seems sensible to me. keeps it cleaner, more relaxing.


powdercoating should be fairly cheap. I did 2 outdoor steel chairs with 2 colors for 100 bucks. just look up powder coating near you and call someone. should only cost 100 bucks or so and will last forever.