We are starting a remodel project in our very small kitchen and after adding much needed cabinetry, there is no wall space. We plan to install a toe-kick heater or two under the cabinets, and would like to tie it into our existing oil-fired/ hot-water system. In our small (~1200 sf) house, we already have 3 heating zones, so my husband is adamant about not adding another zone. I think we should have 3 heaters, he is now considering not having heat in the kitchen at all! (Of course, it's now summertime, and we are going through a heat wave.)
He is worried about hot air blowing on his feet while he's washing dishes, and I am remembering many freezing mornings with the portable electric radiator next to my chair at the kitchen table.
Do you have any suggestions regarding size and number of units? The kitchen is 10'x11', and will finally have insullation after the remodel. (It's an old brick house, with no insulation on the first floor.) But it will still be on the north side of the house. Is there any way to tie the toe-kick heaters into our existing system and still get some sort of heat-on-demand for breakfast time? I noticed that some have two-speed fans. Do you have to get down on the floor to switch the speed or is it controlled by an additional thermostat?

 

The only way to get heat on demand to the toekicks only is to have them on a separate zone. Without knowing which units you are considering, I can't tell you how the fan speed is changed. To determine how much heat you need, you would need to do a Manual J load calculation. There is a "short form" in Burnham's Heating Helper. Here is a link to Burnham's Tool Box. http://www.burnham.com/tools.cfm Just click on Burnham's Heating Helper. This is a good sized file so if you have dial up, be prepared.

 

Thanks for the link. It was just what I needed. I still need to check out the water temp, and flow rate on the boiler when I get home. But my preliminary calculations and checking out the specs for Myson and Beacon-Morris (they both make 3 sizes) it looks like the small size might be almost enough for the whole room (from either manufacturer.) And the mid-size ones might be too warm. I'll have to get more accurate of course when I talk to my hubby.
So for now, I'm thinking of putting in the small size. But since I am always freezing once I start eating, I want to add a small electric toe-kick heater on a timer, (I'm a big fan of things that turn off by themselves) blowing under the kitchen table. This way I can get the room REALLY warm just when I need it, but not waste energy.

 

If you are the designated dishwasher, you might want to think about putting a small toekick heater under the kitchen sink cabinet (electric or hydronic, your choice). EVERY place I've put one in like that, the designated dishwasher LOVES having nice warm feet while doing dishes.