Cold Kitchen Floor? Try this cheap heat source

Sponsored by Smith's, in this installation video, we demonstrate a great product for anyone looking for heating ideas that save space and money. The key is that the Smith's Space Saver Plinth Heater runs from the existing central heating and means you don't need a space-hogging radiator. The best space heater for 2022.
You're probably wondering how this tiny little kick space heater is going to heat your kitchen, and you're almost certainly thinking it's an electric fan heater, but it isn't.
This heater connects to your existing central heating system and works just like a radiator in that it comes on and off with the timer settings/controls.
A hydronic plinth heater, this product is made up of a heat exchanger (like the radiator in your car), a small fan and some controls. The hot water from your heating system passes through the copper pipe and heat from the water is transferred to the aluminium fins. The fan draws in cooler air; this is heated as it passes over the aluminium fins and the warmed air is pushed into the kitchen. That simple!
MORE FROM SMITH'S
Features:
- Our best selling plinth heater, available for next day delivery.
- Eliminates the need for a wall mounted kitchen radiator - freeing up valuable wall space for additional appliances, units and work surface.
- Sits neatly in the plinth under a kitchen unit.
- SS80 model is designed to fit in 8cm plinths - common in Scandinavian style kitchens.
- Available in a range of outputs suitable for heating different sized kitchens.
- A variety of fascia grille finishes including stainless steel, white, black, brown, chrome, aluminium and gold are available to complement any kitchen design.
- Available in hydronic (hot water), all-electric and dual fuel versions.
- Low voltage model for bathrooms and other high humidity areas also available.
The Space Saver plinth heater offers increased flexibility and space in kitchen design as it enables the removal of kitchen radiators that may be using up valuable wall space. Fitting discreetly into the plinth of a kitchen, the Space Saver provides efficient and effective heat at low level, creating space for extra cupboards, more work surface and additional appliances. Our Space Saver videos will show you the benefits and possibilities of replacing your kitchen radiator with plinth heater.
Space Saver is used predominantly for domestic applications where the ingenious plinth mounting feature makes it ideal for heating kitchens and utility rooms. Plinth mounting also makes Space Saver ideal for certain non-domestic applications such as reception areas, changing rooms, libraries, etc.
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[@sbusweb]

+Skill Builder 2 things :- 1) I installed one of these with a room-thermostat to connect in series with the supply to the heater, so the whole heater is not electrically powered if oven is on etc... 2) This fitting arrangement does not provide any balancing valve, Thus, depending upon location in system, the heater can "hog" flow from the boiler undesirably. I installed an "inline lockshield" to one of the connections so that this can be choked-down appropriately to the location on the pipework/system.

[@silas184]

Many thanks for your video, just gone through a completely new kitchen refurb, was unsure whether this plinth heater was the way to go. Needed the wall space so removed the large double radator taking up one wall of the kitchen and fitted the SS5 under an island unit. Really, really happy with the output that heats the kitchen. In a house in a village without mains gas using oil boiler getting more expensive by the day this was one of our better decisions! Cheers Roger!

[@pauljames4858]

ptfe on olives, yes! been doing it for years as a professional plumber, your the first endorsement i have had!!

[@Shako_Lamb]

Home mechanical systems are so nice and clean-looking in Europe! Here in the U.S., boilers and other heating/cooling systems are metal boxes hidden away in the back of the cellar. Also our fuses are not just out in the open like that, ours are also hidden away. A fuse on the wall in a room is totally unheard of to Americans. Also, in regions of the U.S. with hydronic heating (mainly Northeast and Mid-Atlantic) we have baseboard radiators, which go along the bottom of a wall close to the floor. That would have worked nicely under the kitchen cabinets too, but it seems they're entirely an American thing.

[@SkillBuilder]

SpaghettiGoat We have out fair share of naff plumbing so don't judge us too charitably. The fuse on the wall is called a spur. The main supplied is protected by an RCD and then by a 32amp circuit breaker. That is too high a rating for this appliance so we put another piece of circuit protection rated at 3amps into the line. We also have baseboard heating but you need a lot of it to get this kind of output. The fan heater kicks out a lot more heat and the room is warm in minutes. That is ideal for a cold kitchen in the morning when you only need it warm to eat breakfast. Even in kitchens with underfloor heating this heater is good for those autumn (fall) days when you can't justify putting the whole system on.

[@kickpublishing]

I've managed to get a lot more space in my bijou kitchen by installing a much smaller wife - the running costs are also better

[@SkillBuilder]

Yes but does she keep it warm?

[@786sohailm]

Lol

[@CosmicSeeker69]

@@SkillBuilder bet she keeps the bedroom warm though...

[@merajkhalid9172]

please can you teach us how to add more radiator to existing gravity fead or any other system when we have a individual follow and return pipes in the system is best to use a T junction to add or inline ?

[@mawky1]

are these not a ball ache to get at if you have a leak under the the cupboard? Or is it a case of making sure plumbing is not going to fail under the cupboard?

[@CaptainCoolpants101]

Very nice. But how easy is it to install one of these AFTER the kitchen has been fitted?

[@SkillBuilder]

If you can run a couple of plastic pipes then it is easy. If you can't then it very hard to do.

[@COUPEDUMMY]

I’ve been looking at these to replace a radiator in my kitchen where the the Ch pipes were screeded in the floor and corroded through. To save surface mounted pipe work I wonder if I could fit one of these vertically in the ceiling pointing down into the kitchen. There a pitched roof with small loft and saves a lot of space, the extra cost of pipe work and also the extra effectiveness of being a convector…

[@MrGeorgew92]

Hope you're still replying to comment's, I've recently moved into a new home and found this exact plinth heater in the kitchen, I'm not particularly useful on plumbing but did take a look and only blowing cold air, on further inspection the return valve, although connected to the heater isn't connect to the main pipe. Just simply a flexy pipe hanging from the back of the heater doing nothing. How would I go about connecting the flexy pipe to the main pipe, is just a case of shutting the water off and installing a an isolation valve and just connecting back up? Sorry of this sounds a stupid question, as I said my expertise like elsewhere, or so I tell myself and I'd be a hero if I could get this freezing cold kitchen warm for the winter

[@MrBradfordbiker]

Call a plumber

[@MrGeorgew92]

@@MrBradfordbiker 😑

[@darrencampbell5629]

Great video, very informative, just what I was looking for 👍🏻

[@delphiproductionsmusic]

What boiler wpuld you recommend for hmo with 5 people?

[@tomdunn69]

Thanks, just what I was looking for and well explained.

[@SkillBuilder]

Glad it helped!

[@virrunsingh3417]

I have a plinth/cabinet under the boiler. Can I use pipe work coming from the boiler before it hits the floor, to save me ripping up tiles?

[@jeffreyjohn2037]

I just installed a " Beacon Morris model K-84 " here in Windsor, Connecticut. USA Very similar in features to the Smith unit.

[@wellandwhisper]

Hello from Canada, Can you please tell me if my feet will be too hot, once the winter and cold weather arrives, standing in front of this unit . It will be installed in the kick-plate under the sink in my new kitchen. We are replacing a very large original under-sink hot water radiator. Thank you

[@jeffreyjohn2037]

@@wellandwhisper if you're concerned about too much heat blowing on your feet, you could shift the new unit offset from below the sink. also the unit has a low, high or off switch for the fan. the K 120 would be the larger model.

[@wellandwhisper]

@@jeffreyjohn2037 Thank you for your reply! Truly appreciate it. The layout won't allow an offset location. Toasty toes will be the order of the day! Installing the counter height thermostat is on the specs. We do not know of anyone who has installed this product into their hot water heating system. We have a 2 pipe gravityfed boiler and love it.

[@TheRealFOSFOR]

Exactly what I need. Previous owners of my house just ripped the radiator away and built a cabinet to the wall... now the kitchen is ice cold in winter. I can't help but wonder if it will feel strange to have hot air blowing on you'r feet tho?

[@SkillBuilder]

Lovely up your kilt.

[@jasonmoore3557]

@@SkillBuilder only if your a true Scotsman ;)

[@angrygromit93]

We have one of these in our kitchen, but has stopped working :( Still blows cold air when set to do so, but nothing for heat, heating on or heating off. Any pointers?

[@logik100.0]

I have 3 in my house. The one in the kitchen is fine but I used one in a bedroom. Not sure it was the best idea as it's noisy even on the low speed (compared to silence). I linked it with a timer/thermostat to give control to only heat the room 1/2 hour before bedtime in the morning 1/2 hour before getting up. One good thing is that it does heat up the room a lot faster and takes up only a fraction of the space of the old rad. I have a question, why was it the done thing to put rads under windows? I mean its the worst place! Full curtains cover it so just heat up the window. Half curtains need a shelf to prevent it going behind the curtains. I learnt my lesson the hard way and had to replace all the rads away from the window so the curtains could keep the cold out and actually heat the rooms not just the windows.

[@SkillBuilder]

+logik100 Yeah I would never use one in a bedroom or even in a living room. As for heating the bedroom I have never done it. My wife insists on having two windows open all year round and she is happy if the bedroom is just about zero. Saves me a fortune in fuel bills

[@800bhpvideos]

@@SkillBuilder but when the cold gets to your bones after certain age she probably wont like the cold anymore and very well regret it. Might enjoy paying less but Cold is not for long term use it damages body internally and gradually need 15deg min in a bedroom

[@russwarren1159]

You could just get blinds 🤔

[@caposdad]

Does it work with a single pipe system?

[@kath5938]

Didn't realised until just now that you can have these in a kitchen! I thought you can only get them in caravans! We just moved house 6 months ago. Now its winter, the house is extremely cold. Doesn't help that our house is on the end. If id known this, I wouldn't have moved here! The kitchen and hallway is the coldest. especially the kitchen floor. We have an old radiator but even that is not enough to heat up the kitchen. I did consider under floor heating but it sounds expensive. Then came across this. Is it cheaper than the under floor heating? Would you have to rip up the floor? You should come round mine and install it for me :)

[@SkillBuilder]

It is easy to install. If you have a radiator it is a question of teeing off the flow and return. If the house is that cold you need to look at improving the insulation rather than just pumping in more heat.

[@johndonkin6615]

When fitting a pliinth heater can you use any flexible pipes or do you have to purchase special flexy pipes ? Many thanks.

[@SkillBuilder]

You can use PEX pipe or flexis. I have had leaks from the flexis so I would prefer to pipe up with pex.

[@johndonkin6615]

@@SkillBuilder Thanks very much for your help. Much appreciated.

[@IJ_uk]

Do these need to be balanced? Or can you just leave the valves fully open?

[@SkillBuilder]

It is unlikely that you will need to choke it down because the resistance is high and you want a good flow rate.

[@IJ_uk]

Didn't think about the resistance of these compared to a normal radiator. And I suppose of it was throttled down the heat output would be reduced.... Not what I want from one of these. Thanks for your reply 😀

[@SkillBuilder]

Roger's latest video. Fitting a Smith's Space Saver.

[@fjrxj1134]

If no heat is required in the kitchen and heat to the rest of the house how do you prevent flow through the heater? Does it have an internal cut-off valve? I'm assuming the power to the unit is only to operate the fan?

[@SkillBuilder]

You don't stop the flow because it will not convect without the fan so very little comes out. The fan is operated by a switch or thermostat.

[@deepaklal3334]

Mine just runs on electric, I need to fit the heater but how? There is one electrix power wire which is embedded into the current (very old) heater

[@Amy-hc7bq]

Can anyone share a video of how to remove and disconnect this heater please.

[@davidcockcroft5444]

Can this be fitted below my combi boiler? Our kitchen does not have any radiators in it all. (It was a conversion between a galley kitchen and spare room). Whete would those in/out pipes go? Into the boiler?

[@SkillBuilder]

Hi David Yes it is perfect for that location and a couple of tees into the flow and return on the heating circuit would be the eas

[@davidcockcroft5444]

Skill Builder super, thanks! I'll be placing my order soon.

[@karolinabojakowska6084]

Hi, How many of those heater would I need for my kitchen which is quite big (6meters long and about 3 meters wide)?

[@SkillBuilder]

karolina bojakowska Hi Are you in the U.K or somewhere colder? A lot depends upon how well insulated your kitchen is and whether you want to use it as a dining room. A comfortable heat for a kitchen is around 18 deg cent but if you are sitting as opposed to moving around and cooking then 21 deg cent. is better. The warm up time of the convector is very quick so even one heater will take the chill off the air very quickly. The room I fitted the heater in is roughly the same size as yours and it has done the job very well over the last winter. The kitchen is nice and warm every morning. My feeling is that you will be fine with one heater but if you want it hot in the very cold weather then you might need to add another one. The good thing is that a thermostatic control will stop it overheating.

[@karolinabojakowska6084]

Hi, I am in UK Manchester :)

[@syph0137]

Can it be installed under a built in cooker?

[@SkillBuilder]

If there is room then no problem. It takes the cold air in through the front and sends the hot air out through the middle of the front grill.

[@MarkGarth]

Nice piece of kit. How does the heat output compare to a rad?

[@SkillBuilder]

It is much faster to warm a room up than a radiator because the convection is a lot more efficient. Output is difficult to specify unless know the flow temperature. On 60 deg cent it would give you around 2.5KW which is more than enough for most kitchen diners. I fitted this in my daughter's kitchen and she loves it. Ten minutes after switching it on the kitchen is warm.

[@andrewwhite1793]

* He says the pipes can go either way. If the flow is on the top it could trap air and never get to full output. Fit the flow to the bottom and the air can be bled from a nearby radiator of the boiler auto air vent. * relying on turning it off when the room is hot is wasteful. You may not always be in the room when it gets too hot. Install it with a wireless room stat in the supply, and it becomes a great product.

[@SkillBuilder]

The air wont be trapped. It has an air vent and it doesn't matter if that is on the flow or return.

[@pauljames4858]

i don't believe the small pipes in this could trap any air..

[@telosfd]

Much better with this fan coil.

[@tristangynn2925]

This was great until I saw you wrapping PTFE tape around the olive!

[@donovanvaz3289]

These are good alternatives to space eating radiators BUT they are noisy (even when on low setting) and they attract all the floor dirt. Just want people to go in with eyes open.

[@slowedonly]

Would it help to keep raised above floor level by an inch or two? Cheers

[@I-Teee]

If you close your eyes, you’d swear it’s Jason Statham. If you open your eyes, you wouldn’t let him near your kids.

[@1KILOMUSIC]

I thought the same, but I was too scared to put it here...I swear I can edit the words of this good men, and make a short film of how to bury in cement a wired body....I gotta stop watching Guy Richie´s flicks

[@AlexandraZegarra]

I don’t know anything about this… is there any way to put cabinets on top of baseboard heater(run by hot water) I was reading -idk if I understood correctly- I can use kickspace heaters on top of my baseboard heaters ??? I’m confused 🥲

[@kkkkit]

So you can’t use these if you have no existing radiator in the kitchen? My floor is so cold 🥶 you have to water shoes 😭

[@kkkkit]

*wear

[@SkillBuilder]

Yes you can! If you can run a couple of plastic pipes from a central heating pipe you can hook up this heater.