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Toekick heaters

JML | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on January 7, 2006 02:05am

I am currently remodeling a kitchen and have run into a heating issue. I  had planned to reuse the existing cast iron baseboard radiators but after calculating for heat requirements, I realize that I will not have enough wall space free once the cabinets are installed to provide space for the radiators.  The finished floor will be wood so I am reluctant to install radiant panels on the underside (from the basement). 

I am currently considering toekick heaters installed under several cabinets to provide adequate heat.  Does anyone have experience with these who could recommend a model to use?  I don’t want the noise to be obvious but I do want to have the kitchen be a warm and pleasant space?

Does anyone know of any other options that I have not considered?  Thanks

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  1. User avater
    dieselpig | Jan 07, 2006 02:26am | #1

    Hi JML,

    We have a toe-kick heater in our kitchen that is made by Beacon Morris.  It was in the house when we bought it, so I don't know what it cost, how long it's been there, or where to get one.  Helpful, huh?  :)

    What I do know is that that sucker cranks.  It has it's own 1/2" feed and return from the boiler and has a blower fan.  It's the only heat source in our 20X12 kitchen right now.  (We're in the middle of remodeling).  It also happens to be right in front of the coffee pot which is nice on the lower paws first thing in the morning.  But I'd try to find the identical one again if this one ever dies or I needed another. 

    View Image
  2. user-61008 | Jan 07, 2006 02:53am | #2

    I've used toekick heaters called The QuietOne many times. There are a few sizes depending on the sq. footage, and have different settings on the blower ( max., min., & off). They work well, although some people have complained that they aren't so quiet in places like a master bath. I think they work well. Just be sure to have an access panel in the bottom of each cabinet they're located in and supply shutoffs, so in the event of a leak, they can be accessible & changed without draining down the whole heat loop, or having to make a cutout while they're leaking 

  3. nycarpenter | Jan 07, 2006 06:18am | #3

    I'm a big fan of staple up radiant heat-great for renovation jobs in kitchens where wall space is limited.  Toe kick heaters are too noisey!  If you do find a quiet unit make sure you plumb it with copper and a access panel in the base cabinet- We just repaired a house where the plumber used rubber hose(!!!!)  to barbed connections.  It leaked, warped the oak floor, caused mildew under the base cabs, and messed up the crawl space. 

    1. plumbbill | Jan 09, 2006 05:44am | #6

      Rubber hose?????????

      What did they have Red Green plumb it & where was the duct tape to hold it in place?

      1. RedfordHenry | Jan 09, 2006 05:49pm | #7

        I had this issue when we took out a few feet of baseboard heaters in a renovation.  In addition to the toe-kick units, the HVAC guy told me about "hi-capacity" baseboard heaters which have larger fins and therefore more heat transfer capacity than conventional baseboard heaters (if you have some baseboard to work with).  They also make wall-mounted units that can be plumbed into the baseboard system.  I think they can be ganged to take advantage of some vertical space on a wall where linear feet along the base is limited.

      2. nycarpenter | Jan 10, 2006 05:55am | #8

        Yea- sometimes I wonder what that guy was thinking when it was installed. 

        When all else fails, lower your standards.

  4. steve | Jan 08, 2006 10:58pm | #4

    i recently installed a kitchen with an installed baseboard heater under the sink base

    i ordered the sinkbase with the false drawer under the doors instead of above

    then i cut the toekick for 3 regular heating vents(4 by 10) and did the same with the false drawer front then fasten some vent covers and bingo DONE!!

    1. JML | Jan 09, 2006 04:20am | #5

      Is the noise when the toekick heater is running noticeable? Which brand / model did you use? Thanks

  5. jayzog | Jan 10, 2006 06:37am | #9

    If you do the calcs and you can get enough heat out of a radient floor, nothing is more comfortable.

    I have staple up radient under wood floors throughout my entire house and wouldn't trade it for noisy, hot /cold,  dust  blowing system for anything. 

  6. greggo | Jan 10, 2006 08:24pm | #10

    Have you checked out panel radiators(veha.buderus,runtel,and myson )make some nice ones,with a lot of btu options.You might be able to sneak one into the available wall space that you have.

    Greg

    Lead,Follow,or Get the Hell Out of the Way!

    1. JML | Jan 26, 2006 10:18pm | #11

      I ended up putting in two of the toekick heaters and so far all appears to be well.  They are working a bit harder than normal right now due the the lack of insulation in the kitchen but they appear to crank out good heat and are very quiet on the low fan speed setting.

  7. bryank | Jan 29, 2006 03:42pm | #12

    I have a similar problem in my kitchen. One big steam radiators on far wall in ajoining dining room---no heat in galley kitchen over crawl space in Massachusetts. Gets wicked cold in there.

    Can someone recommend a quiet, automated (thermostat) electric heater? I need a super low profile for toekick (3"). I'm also converting a door back to a window in there and will have some wall space below the window for a wall heater of sorts. (I can't put a radiator on that wall though, or my pull-out pantries aren't going to work!)

    Any recommended brands?

    Since I have steam heating that's in great shape, electric is probably all I can do. Thanks all.

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