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Original poster

Kitchen plinth heaters - advice required

30 replies

FantasticMrsFoxx · 10/08/2014 22:10

We are currently planning an extension to our kitchen and will have a radiator in the new dining area but have been told me may also require a radiator to be installed in the ’old’ kitchen.
We don't really have room for a radiator in the kitchen but plinth heaters have been suggested as an alternative and I'm looking for feedback from anyone who has them.
We think we'd like the ones that run off the central heating system (combi boiler located upstairs but gas and pipes enter via the kitchen) rather than just elecci ones, but open minded.
Can anyone advise if they need to be sited away from / how far away from freestanding fridge/freezer?
Can they go next to washing machine (elec v water = not good)?
Does food (tins and packets) in the base unit above get warmed up?
Our alternative would be a 'designer' wall radiator but that would use up valuable base / wall unit space.
Thanks in advance for any assistance!

OP posts:
lgwilk · 10/08/2014 22:21

Wehave one. Was there when we moved in. Seems like a bloody death trap. All the dust from under kitchen cupboard (am sure everyone has dust under there, we are not slobs honest) gets sucked in, heated up and blown into the kitchen. It stinks of burning as soon as you switch it on. Am terrified of the day toddler switches it on and causes a fire with the blumming thing. Sorry to be so negative but I would avoid if at all possible.

Marmitelover55 · 10/08/2014 22:22

We have just had one that runs off central heating fitted but obviously haven't used it yet due to the weather. Ours is below a drawer full of plates though. The plumber seemed to think it would be good and it has an electrical fan to boost things when required. Will be interested to hear what others with more experience have to say.

Marmitelover55 · 10/08/2014 22:23

Oh dear igwilk Sad

Goldmandra · 10/08/2014 22:26

Wee had one fitted with our new kitchen 11 years ago also because there was no room for a radiator.

I think we've used it twice since then to dry the floor when I've washed it. It's never been needed as a source of heat.

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 10/08/2014 23:06

We had an extension built last year, creating a large L shaped kitchen diner. Like you we have radiators in the dining part, but no room for radiators in the kitchen part. We had an electric plinth heater put in, but the whole extension is so well insulated that we didn't switch it on last winter at all. Mind you, it was a mild winter.

In retrospect, we didn't need it but I guess we may be glad of it if we get a really cold winter. I certainly wasn't prepared to lose a kitchen unit to gain a heater, so it was a good solution. Also, it was fairly cheap, I think about £100.

iggymama · 10/08/2014 23:09

I am hoping to have a hydronic plinth heater in my kitchen so that I can run the units right across the wall, but I wonder whether the electric part has a limited lifespan. My other option is a small radiator on the side wall above the worktop which will look rather odd.

I hope pigletjohn will pop in to offer his valued opinion.

Viperidae · 10/08/2014 23:16

We were told we may want to think about having one or two in our kitchen but didn't due to where the appliances were going and just have the radiator in the dining area which, so far, has been fine

Original poster
FantasticMrsFoxx · 11/08/2014 19:59

Thanks all for your replies. We are planning an L-shape kitchen diner and the radiator will be on the short end, furthest away from the kitchen. Interesting to hear about the insulation in your extension UsedtoBe. We've asked the architect for advice but based on your responses, we'll probably just go ahead and install them - just in case of a cold winter snap. The smell of burnt dust has to be an improvement on the smell of burnt toast when it's my turn to make dinner!

OP posts:
Pinkfizzy · 14/08/2014 15:54

Agree with electric plinth heaters; burnt dust smell put me off using them.

There are different ones though referred to upthread, called hydronic plinth heaters, and they are the ones connected to the central heating. The fan can push out warm air, or in the summer, cool air, though I don't think that it would replace air con for example.

I would love to hear from anyone who has the hydronic type as to how they work/smell etc.

Mitzimaybe · 14/08/2014 16:13

My builder was keen on the idea but I decided against, in the end, and got a radiator. You can't dry the tea towels on a plinth heater.

PigletJohn · 14/08/2014 23:07

what does hydronic mean?

Chasingsquirrels · 14/08/2014 23:29

I've got 2 in the kitchen. The burning dust smell only occurs after they haven't been used for a while - ie when they get switched on in the autumn - and burns off fairly quickly on the first use.

I think they are quite expensive to run, but if you are well insulated you probably won't use them much, but if they are there you have the option and they are quite cheap to buy.

Pinkfizzy · 14/08/2014 23:53

AFAIK, hydronic means attached to the central heating (wet? water?)
as opposed to the purely electric fan heaters. It was the term used by the builder Smile

MysteriousCircusZebra · 15/08/2014 00:12

We've got one. Under the sink and next to the dishwasher. I quite like it. Our kitchen is tiny though, no room for a radiator.

iggymama · 15/08/2014 00:38

Like this pigletjohn

iggymama · 15/08/2014 00:40

www.amazon.co.uk/Hydronic-Kitchen-Plinth-Heater-Brushed/dp/B002T9K8IO

Sorry as above. I think it is a normal radiator with an additional electric fan to pump the heat through the plinth grill.

Marmitelover55 · 15/08/2014 08:45

Ours is attached to the central heating plus has electric fan but only fitted recently, so nog used it yet. Ours ix s large open plan space with 2 rads, but no room for one in the kitchen area. Hopefully we will just need on odd occasions to boost the heating. Looking through the grill at the from though, I can see a few crumbs/dust in there already...

Pinkfizzy · 15/08/2014 09:45

iggymama & marmitelover

Would you mind telling me how loud yours are? My builder suggested that it would be a gentle fffff sound which I wouldnt hear unless tuned in, so less than a fan oven?

Marmitelover55 · 15/08/2014 10:03

Ok will turn heating on and check and let you know...

TheElementsSong · 15/08/2014 11:08

We had a hydronic plinth heater, under the sink cabinet. It worked very nicely, the fan was pretty quiet and I liked having warm toes while washing up Grin. I believe the heater, like everything else in the kitchen, would have been about 11 years old.

One evening some part of the pipework or innards corroded and leaked the contents of the entire central heating system over the kitchen floor. Next day the plumber removed it and capped off the pipes under the cabinet, we've done without heating in the kitchen ever since.

I would like to replace it one day, but DH (Yorkshireman) insists the kitchen is Not Cold Hmm

iggymama · 15/08/2014 17:34

Sorry pinkfizzy I haven't got one yet, but would like one when I update my kitchen.

I will put up with a bit of noise to keep the kitchen warm as currently have awful condensation in there and my cabinets stink inside. Not looking forward to seeing what state the walls are in when we pull out the current kitchen.

iggymama · 15/08/2014 17:34

Sorry pinkfizzy I haven't got one yet, but would like one when I update my kitchen.

I will put up with a bit of noise to keep the kitchen warm as currently have awful condensation in there and my cabinets stink inside. Not looking forward to seeing what state the walls are in when we pull out the current kitchen.

Chasingsquirrels · 16/08/2014 09:39

Mine are purely electric ones, I would say they are about the same level of sound as the fan oven.

sazy6 · 24/11/2018 11:30

Have any of you mums had a hydronic plinth heater installed, I’ve bought one but can’t find out the cost of installing or if I employ a plumber, or an Electrition. Please help my kitchen is very cold. Thanks.

MarmiteTermite · 24/11/2018 12:18

I see I posted on this thread 4 years ago! I’m quite pleased with ours. I wouldn’t say it pumps out a huge amount of heat but the kitchen always seems warm enough. Ours is connected to the CH and it’s on now - I can hear a quite fan noise if I listen out for it!