kickspace heater recommendations?

Royboy

their experience and/or preferences with different brands of hydronic kickspace units. I need to put one in on a job and I don't have experience with the different brands out there. prime concerns include as low a profile as possible and quiet operation. and, of course, quality/durability.

thanks - Roy

kevin coppinger_4

Two that I have used are....

Turbonics and Beacon -Morris...stay away from VRV-quiet one...everyone I have installed breaks w/in 5 years...However I avoid kickspace heaters as much as possible. I usually go w/ high output baseboard to boost the output in the area... kpc

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RianS

Toe space heater

Beacon-Morris is a good unit. Make sure the cabinet installer makes an access panel for it. It will need to be serviced.

Brad White_9

Myson

Myson makes one of the quietest ones and I think has turbulators to increase tube surface output.

Burnham makes or markets them with higher outputs than the nominal 4000 and 8000 BTU models. I think it is a 12 or 14,000 BTU model. But I only turn it on in the very coldest weather for it is a noisy, rattly think. Most are to be fair. Never had a quiet one, just that I found Myson quieter.

As stated, last resort items.

clammy

turbotronics

Sorry to say i've had better luck with the turbotronics unit ,it has a single blade prop instead of a tube style fan which seem to always have a promblem with dust and dig /cat hair while the turbo one seems to be more forgiving ,but sooner or later they all make some noise .If the noise can,t be tolerated then either some high output baseboard as some one suggested or how about some nice radiant and a litle baseboard if it does not meet the heat lose for the room ,but if there no room for baseboard or radiant in the budget the noise will ber forgotten espically if it 's cold they do kick out some heat for the toes peace and good luck clammy

J.C.A._3

I'll side with Clammy....

The Turbonic "Toester" is a nicer unit. I like the acessability of the fan if it becomes problematic. The B/M,Myson and VRV units are a PITA to change a motor in. I also think the rubber motor mounts are cheezy, to say the least. They last as long as they aren't used too much.

With the Turbonics units, a couple of screws and some wire nuts and you're good to go, right from the top. With the others, you need an elbow somewhere about mid-wrist, and an eyeball on the end of a stick to figure where everything has to come out of. JMHO. Chris

Royboy

thanks for all the thoughts &

hmmm ... I had not given any thought to radiant but there is a very accessible (from beneath) area of kitchen floor. this is a kitchen remodel and no space for baseboard in this part of the kitchen. I wonder what it would be like to put a little (40sf?) area of stapled up radiant off the baseboard run via a monoflo tee or two. it would do the area by the sink and primary cabinets. I will have to give this some thought.

I would think that the stapleup mode (Wirsbo clips - where the tubing isn't in contact) would better be able to handle the baseboard run temps, and a balancing valve would let me balance the flow if needed. wonder if putting heat under part but not all of a new maple floor might be a problem ...

I do like the idea of not putting in a component (the kickspace heater) that will probably need more attention and service than the rest of the delivery system ...

intriguing ...

Brad White_52

Radiant: Just Do It.

Even if it does not meet your total heat loss for the space, seize the opportunity and do it. You will be thanked. You may even thank yourself.