If there is one room in the house which can be an issue when it comes to planning the heating it is in the kitchen. This is mainly down to the wall areas being a premium space and required to maximise kitchen work surface and units and floor areas can be smaller than other rooms.Several options are available but all have but all have certain pros and cons. Here we will look at the choices available on the market and explain more about each option .
Wall Mounted Traditional Radiator
Traditional Radiators date back to 1855 were the most common form of heating to be found in the kitchen when people began to have central heating installed.A Prussian-born Russian businessman Franz San Galli, who lived in St. Petersburg, invented the radiator which took 2 yrs before it was finally completed in 1857.
Initially they would have been powered by Steam and not hot water like today, but these radiators were a huge step in the start of modern central heating starting.The cast iron Victorian radiator rapidly became widespread towards the end of the 19th century with companies like American Radiator Company who increased the development of low cost radiators in the United States and across Europe.
Pros :
Cheap to purchase
Low noise
Easy installation
Cons :
For higher heat outputs the size of the radiator can be quite large
Wallspace is used which cannot then be used for anything else
Contain large water volume and give poor heat distribution in the room
Wet underfloor heating
Underfloor heating dates back to even earlier than 500BC when the Romans and Greeks were using a hypocaust type raised floor systems whereby the floor was raised up on pillars and hot air was circulated beneath to warm the floor
By 1960 a Canadian reasearcher carried out the first undefloor heating installation using water pipework. Five years later Thomas Engel developed the method to stabilise polyethylene to produce what was to become the start of things in new pipe technology . He had the Patent on his methods but in 1967 he sold these rights to main pipe producers. By the 1980`s the wet type of underfloor heating wa becoming a more common place across the world and would become in some countries like Korea there main heating method.
Here in the UK it was around the Millenium where wet underfloor heating systems were becoming more and more popular to be installed on new builds. Nowdays people can choose to retrofit ufh when building new extensions or kitchens. The installation of these systems is complex and not suited to the Diyer.
Pros :
Distribute heat more evenly than radiators
Suits low flow tempatures of new Renewable heating systems
Good for hard stone floor finishes that can feel cold underfoot
Cons :
High cost of installation with ground excavation
When retrofitting raised finished floor levels could cause trouble
Smaller kitchens unable to achieve enough heat output in the available floor area that is not under the units
Electric Underfloor Heating Mats
The alternative to the central heating "wet" type of underfloor heating is the electric element mat type which solely uses electricity to heat the flooring. Commonly used in small bathrooms but people also choose this method as a heating solution for the kitchen
Depending on the type of finished floor and insulation you can order the mats heat output to suit.
Pros :
inexpensive compaired to wet underfloor heating
Competent diyer can install
Choose different heat outputs to suit flooring
Cons :
Energy Inefficient and high running costs
Electric underfloor heating are prone to faults and failure
Need to insulate the floor beneath which can become be costly
Hydronic Plinth Heaters
Plinth heaters have been available since 1970`s and have proved to be one of the best heating solutions for your kitchen . Using fan convector principle the hot water from the central heating goes through a heat exchanger which has a small fan blowing across it . This pushes the warm air out of the front of the unit heating the space .
The main kitchen heating energy comes from the central heating boiler and only uses a few watts of electricity to power the fan . The design and operation of these units has not changed for years until recently. Thermix a British manufacturer developed its Patent Pending advanced controls which included wireless thermostat models and now even voice controlled models .
Pros :
Compact and discreet using otherwise wasted space under the plinth
High heat output and fast responce with wireless thermostat control
Low purchase and running costs and ease of installation
Cons :
Requires a fused spur electrical connection
Connections are required to central heating
Electric Plinth Heaters
If no central heating is available the electric plinth heater is an option .Using the wasted space under the plinth like the hydronic versions it takes up very little space.
At 2-3 KW output It does have very high running costs like the electric underfloor heating if it is to be the sole heating solution for your kitchen. Installation is simple but they will need a 13Amp electrical supply so this needs to be considered.
Pros :
Low purchase costs
Ease of installation
Cons :
High running costs
Can make a hot dust smell when not used
Need a 13Amp Power supply
