Kitchen Heating Guide
How you heat your kitchen has to be worked out before the kitchen is designed. With the popularity of underfloor heating and modern style radiators it is important to decide which way you want to go. Wet underfloor heating needs structural work to install so requires quoting and discussion with a specialist. Electrical underfloor heating is easier to lay, but easier to damage, and has less heat output per metre, so calculations need to be made. Tall modern radiators can gain wall space, so can be useful. I have itemised the most popular options below, with links to good products. It is important to not under-estimate your requirements and do proper calculations with a plumber to work out what you need. Kitchens can be very warm, frequently because of other heating forms, such as hobs, dryers, cookers, and even fridges ! So do not assume this will be enough in all situations, and make do with smaller than you need. It is better to get a larger output than you need and use a thermostatic valve to reduce output to what is required.
Kitchen plinth heaters
this option I would normally add to a kitchen project as a last resort if there is no room for conventional heating solutions such as radiators. This kitchen heater is made to be installed under the kitchen base units with a vent connected to the plinth. Ideally the kitchen plinth heater should be placed where you are not standing for too long ( unless you want very warm legs ). The heater has a fan to push heat out into the kitchen. Noise levels are low with rubber feet fitted but still annoying to some.
Boiler fed plinth heater systems are the best option for economy. There is an in and out pipe for connection to your central heating, and electrical on-of switch with heat level switch to control it. Vents are available in white, black and stainless as standard. There are various sizes for heat output.
Electric plinth heaters are the easiest option to install in your kitchen but the most expensive to run. Even so there are situations where this is the only option to get enough heat into the kitchen. If you require this option then there are various sizes for heat output and vent colours. Standard vent colours are white black and stainless.
Under-floor kitchen heating
Wet systems are the best long term option, running off the central heating system. The planning and practical problems are large if you already have a floor slab or timber floor in place. The pipes and insulation making up this system will add too much thickness on top of your existing floor ( unless you work between the joists of an existing timber floor). Excavating or reducing the floor is not a viable option for most people so unless you are doing major alterations you will need to use a dry method of heating.
Rayotec underfloor heating . Underfloor heating . Continental underfloor heating
Dry system heating is an electrical heating solution normall bought as a mesh sheet with electrical cable elements running through it. The thickness of this sheet can be lost in the tile adhesive layer when laying floor tiles.There are controls and timers available for this system which can be sited for convenience of use. This is a more costly heating method long term but popular when wall space is not available for conventional radiators. It is also important to lay the mesh where there will be open space not island and kitchen cabinets etc. Again calculations are important to make sure this will provide adequate heat.
Warmup underfloor heat . Myson underfloor heat . Underfloor heat
Kitchen towel rail radiators
This is a simple way to combine drying tea towels and adding back-up heat. If this type of radiator is connected to a kitchen base unit side panel then it can solve the problem with lack of wall space, in small kitchens. I would consider it to be a last-resort and not a design choice for me personally, but it is a problem solver. Radiators can be run off your central heating, electric, or both. Colour and style choices are immense.
Vogue radiators . Bisque radiators . Acova radiators
Electric storage and convection heaters
Electric storage heaters are a viable alternative to boiler systems in situations where gas is not present. They are quite bulky and cost more to run but do solve problems for many. Convection wall heaters are an option but not a cheap long term solution in the British climate. Running costs are hefty.
Conventional kitchen radiators
Not necessarily the prettiest option for kitchens but definately the cheapest. Available in various styles and normally an off-white finish. Still my first choice for good over-all heat and economy in existing kitchens. The choice to add interest with more decorative radiators is increasing with more modern kitchen design.
Myson radiators . Stelrad radiators . Quinn radiators
Decorative kitchen radiators
The popularity of modern kitchens has made this option more popular. It is a fact that wall space is at difficult to find in most kitchens so a narrow tall radiator can be a life saver sometimes aswell as adding a design statement. Conventional radiators are ugly whatever you try to do with them so I think this option is my favourite if the budget will allow ( large good decorative radiators are pricy ).
Bisque radiators . Acova radiators . Vasco radiators
|
