Replace one radiator with underfloor heating?

Manaris

Hi,

I'm currently in the process of buying a house. I will be replacing the kitchen before moving in. There is a radiator on one of the kitchen walls that is going to limit my options re: kitchen design. Does anyone know if it is possible to replace an existing radiator with underfloor heating in one room only (leaving the rest of the heating system as is)?

If it is possible, what might be involved and what would be ballpark cost for an average sized kitchen?

Thanks.

Dtp1979

Manaris wrote: »

Hi,

I'm currently in the process of buying a house. I will be replacing the kitchen before moving in. There is a radiator on one of the kitchen walls that is going to limit my options re: kitchen design. Does anyone know if it is possible to replace an existing radiator with underfloor heating in one room only (leaving the rest of the heating system as is)?

If it is possible, what might be involved and what would be ballpark cost for an average sized kitchen?

Thanks.

If you’ve concrete floors then you’d need to dig up the entire floor. If timber suspended floors then you’d still have a huge job ahead of you.
Even apart from that, it’s not really feasible as the water temperature would be too high. Plus, by the time your radiators are hot (45mins or so), the concrete slab wouldn’t even be tepid. Your best bet is to either install a kick space radiator or a solo radiator

sprucemoose

depends on the floor build up as the other poster pointed out. you can get under-tile mats that are easier to install compared to the more traditional pipe/screed build up but havent had much experience of these yet. have heard good reports anecdotally though

LenWoods

I've lived in a house which has underfloor heating in every room, and to be honest the kitchen was the one room which I wouldn't recommend having it,
Because it heats the entire floor including under kitchen units which will see a sliced pan going hard within 24hours
We ended up keeping bread in the fridge,

Now fitting it in only one room will require you to fit an automatic valve to the kitchen seperate to the rest of the house and water tank, aswell as a dedicated thermostat,
The boiler would be allowed to be always active and cut in/out as the various temperatures were met,

Have you considered some designer vertical radiator's?
Check out Milano at bestheating.ie

I've fitted my entire home with Milano Aruba steel designer Radiator's much better output partially due to there increased surface-air contact compared to standard.

Penn

LenWoods wrote: »

I've lived in a house which has underfloor heating in every room, and to be honest the kitchen was the one room which I wouldn't recommend having it,
Because it heats the entire floor including under kitchen units which will see a sliced pan going hard within 24hours
We ended up keeping bread in the fridge,

That's a failure on the part of your designer/builder. Underfloor heating isn't supposed to be installed under kitchen units for that exact reason. It's supposed to just be installed in the rest of the room.

CaptainCoPilot

Had the same issue. Replaced the traditional radiator with a vertical designer style radiator to free up the wall space.

Underfloor heating in one room isnt feasible, without major works in your house, as previously mentioned.

Manaris

Thanks all. Really appreciate the advice. I will cross underfloor heating off the list of possible options!

wandererz

What type of floor tiles are there?
If you are moving in and replcing the kitchen, would you consider replacing the tiles? It would be an ideal time to do so if the entire kitchen was being replaced.

Simply replace with electric undefloor in the middle of the kitchen, not under the cabinets.

Should not cost much comparatively & in the long run.

Dtp1979

wandererz wrote: »

What type of floor tiles are there?
If you are moving in and replcing the kitchen, would you consider replacing the tiles? It would be an ideal time to do so if the entire kitchen was being replaced.

Simply replace with electric undefloor in the middle of the kitchen, not under the cabinets.

Should not cost much comparatively & in the long run.

Electric underfloor heating costs a fortune to run. It’s a gimmick. Sure, it’s nice in a bathroom when you step out of the shower onto a warm floor but that’s where it ends.

sprucemoose

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Electric underfloor heating costs a fortune to run. It’s a gimmick. Sure, it’s nice in a bathroom when you step out of the shower onto a warm floor but that’s where it ends.

If installed correctly it most certainly isn't a gimmick and is much more efficient than most of the other methods

Wearb

sprucemoose wrote: »

If installed correctly it most certainly isn't a gimmick and is much more efficient than most of the other methods

It is most likely very efficient, but certainly not more economic to run than most other methods.


People regularly get confused by efficient and economic.

e.g. (leaving tariffs aside as this is only an example) Heating your house with electricity is almost 100% efficient. Heating with oil or gas is about 80/90% efficient. BUT, -because of unit costs- providing the same amount of heat will cost much more with electricity.



Lots of official price comparisons here https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/key-statistics/prices/

sprucemoose

Wearb wrote: »

It is most likely very efficient, but certainly not more economic to run than most other methods.


People regularly get confused by efficient and economic.

e.g. (leaving tariffs aside as this is only an example) Heating your house with electricity is almost 100% efficient. Heating with oil or gas is about 80/90% efficient. BUT, -because of unit costs- providing the same amount of heat will cost much more with electricity.



Lots of official price comparisons here https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/key-statistics/prices/

Except that's largely negated by the spot heating of something like a rad against the whole area heating provided by UF, with a rad having to work much harder to heat the same area

Wearb

sprucemoose wrote: »

Except that's largely negated by the spot heating of something like a rad against the whole area heating provided by UF, with a rad having to work much harder to heat the same area

Just to avoid taking this off topic I'm not going to argue the point as there is enough information out there to show that your point doesn't hold much water.

Dtp1979

Wearb wrote: »

Just to avoid taking this off topic I'm not going to argue the point as there is enough information out there to show that your point doesn't hold much water.

It’s electric heating, it holds no water at all!!!

youtheman

Would a 'Plinth Heater' be an option?. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smiths-Hydronic-Plinth-Heater-Stainless/dp/B008YCQ6XG/ref=asc_df_B008YCQ6XG/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=344385374383&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8576227500239820540&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007835&hvtargid=pla-716760129768&psc=1 Fitted one myself to my parent's house. Kitchen backed up against the hot press so there was plumbing available at the other side of the wall. Made a huge difference to the kitchen.