baseboard that goes below kitchen cabinets?

R. Kalia

We have a kitchen which is always colder than the rest of the house, and has no good place to add radiators, regular baseboard or radiant panels. It has cast-iron baseboard in all the perimeter space available for this, but it's not enough space because of all the under-counter cabinets.

We will be upgrading to a condensing boiler soon, so I don't want to just crank up the water temperature and/or cut down the flow to the rest of the house, just to balance the kitchen relative to the other rooms. I want to add more radiation. (The rest of the house has an excess of radiators.)

Is there such a thing as baseboard that fits in the kickspace (probably not the right term, but you know what I mean) at the base of under-counter kitchen cabinets? If yes, are they too weak (emit too little, especially at lower temperatures) to be worth the money?

Mark Hunt

Toe-Kick heaters

There are blower units with water coils in them that fit in the kick-space beneath cabinets. They normaly come with aqua-stats that bring the blower on when the water temp hits 140, but you can get a low temp aqua-stat that will bring the blower on at lower temps. Some additional wiring will be needed to power the unit.

Have you considered floor warming for the kitchen?

Here is a link to the Beacon-Morris site.

http://www.beacon-morris.com/html/kickspace_heat_twin_flo.htm

Mark H

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J.C.A._3

Toe space heaters....

Running with C.I. baseboard wil only heat part of the time, and seem to last "not very long" before the noises emitted from them are unbearable.

I will agree with Mr. Hunt on this point, think about some floor warming, on a seperate zone. If your going to remodel, I'd go with some type of panels and tracks. If your not planning to re-do the kitchen, maybe a good heat loss, and some staple up with reflectors underneath.

Either way, your going to need a seperate zone for it. If your thinking about staying in the home long term, there is no question that warming the floor will make everyone much happier than "warm air", trying to keep up with the rest of the heating system. JMHO. Chris

R. Kalia

thanks...but...

Thanks for answering the question so quickly with relevant information. However, I am looking ahead to when I'll have constant circulation, with water well below 140, and I would hate to have a fan running 24/7. On the other hand I do have about 20 ft of kickspace.

By the way, the floor is oak. It's above crawlspace, so bringing pipes in for baseboard is relatively easy but underfloor warming would be a serious project.

Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes

Runtal

has such an application:

http://www.runtalnorthamerica.com/radiant-heating/baseboard-vlx-radiators.shtml

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Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes

Runtal

has such an application:

http://www.runtalnorthamerica.com/radiant-heating/baseboard-vlx-radiators.shtml

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R. Kalia

Perfect!

Perfect, thanks! I hadn't been able to find it by googling, but apparently what I should have looked for is "low profile baseboard".

Paul Pollets

OR...

Runtal UF-1 baseboard ...single slat 21/2"H

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R. Kalia

???

UF-1 not listed on their web page, they only list UF-2 and up. If it existed, it would be better (cheaper) since the UF-x is made in standard lengths, not custom, which is fine.

Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes

Runtal again

Either the RF-1 (with fins) or the R-1 (without fins) will fit under there; custom made; available in 2" increments. Call Runtal to find out more infor. and a local dealer.

You'll get more heat output with the RF radiators; 219 BTU's per linear foot of radiator at 140° average water temperature.

P.S. Make sure you leave room below and above the radiators to allow for proper air movement otherwise you'll have an expensive toekick ornament that won't work.

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Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

why not heat

the countertops? are they granite? countertops make great heat emittters. how much more comfortable is this kit. on a below zero day with an 1 1/2" slab of 80 degree granite. bob


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Robert O'Connor_3

Another option

I think there are other makers of slim line radiant rads utilizing pex tubing

http://www.aimradiantheating.com/home.html

jim sokolovic

Don't those warm countertops...

affect food preparation - fruits and veggies spoiling or wilting? What about my frosty mug of beer while in the Kitchen? Just wondering, never seen it before.

R. Kalia

too high, unfortunately

Their 'slimline baseboards' are over 5" high, which may barely fit but doesn't allow space for air circulation above the basebaord.