Question: Hello. My brother-in-law has MS and we need help. Do you have any ideas on how we can protect our wall heater from his wheelchair? He is constantly knocking it off the frame. One day I know it is going to explode. I need some ways to build or cover the heater to make his home safer for him.
Thank you,
Linda
Answer: Your options depend to a certain extent on what kind of heater you have, how large it is and how far it sticks out from the wall. If it doesn’t protrude very far, it might be enough to install wall guards or rails on either side of it to prevent his wheelchair from bumping it. Another option is a heater guard that looks like a wire cage; many of them are plastic-coated for a more attractive finish, providing the heater’s output isn’t too high. Such guards are widely available through electrical and heating companies, and you can get them in a variety of standard sizes or have one custom made. If the heater is in a corner and you prefer the look of wood to wire you might have something built that functions along the same lines as a box-like sauna heater guard.