Plinth heater under a fridge?

ian_w_4

To gain a bit of kitchen cupboard space we've removed a radiator and fitted an integrated fridge where it was. I'd planned on putting an electric plinth heater in the middle of the room but just found Smiths 'hydronic' heaters. They appear to cost a lot less to run, and as the pipework is still in the wall where the radiator was it would be an easy job to fit a plinth heater there. BUT, is it a good idea to fit a heater under a fridge? It's a new A+ rated fridge so insulation should be good, the heater won't be running permenantly and I've had an oven next to a fridge before with no noticeable adverse effects.

Does anyone use hydronic heaters? Do the units get particularly hot when they run?

Thanks

Ruski

How do you have room if the fridge is sitting on the floor??????????

Meepster

I'm guessing it's a built IN fridge, not a built under...

Ruski

Ahh yes Meep... senior moment... although in my defence I was assuming the radiator was at floor level

ian_w_4

Haha, yes its a built in fridge. Didn't think about the fact that 'integrated' could also mean sat on the floor!

Meepster

Ruski wrote: »

Ahh yes Meep... senior moment... although in my defence I was assuming the radiator was at floor level

Tee hee

But back to the OP's question. No, it isn't a good idea. Not due to the fact the heating elements are under the fridge, but more because the heat will be blowing out right under the door seal and I would hazard a guess that it would seriously reduce it's life-span. Also when the fridge is opened, hot air would easily get in...

ian_w_4

Hmmm.... thats true. I had just thought about sticking some engine heat shield material on the bottom of the cabinet to help reflect some of the heat. Though just looking at Smiths website they say they have a very low surface temperature anyway http://www.smiths-env.com/products_why.asp

Could maybe swap the fridge for the freezer- doesn't get opened as often and has draw fronts inside so less heat exchange. Depending on how fast the fan operates, I would have thought that the air is directed out more than immediately up, especially with the overhang of the cabinet.

kwatt

Don't do it, you'll kill the fridge.

It will block airflow and cause the fridge to have extended running times. Aside from which condensation could form on the bottom of the fridge and cause insulation failure.

Highly not recommended.

K.

peachyprice

Could you not just extend the pipework and have the heater under a cupboard instead of the fridge or freezer.

ian_w_4

peachyprice wrote: »

Could you not just extend the pipework and have the heater under a cupboard instead of the fridge or freezer.

Not very easily, the cabinet concerned is in the corner on it's own, the pipework would have to go up and over the ceiling and back down behind all the wall units on the other side of the room. I think I'd rather go electric if it's going under another cupboard.

shop-to-drop

We have a very expensive plinth heater in the kitchen that we had put in when the central heating was installed. Was a bad mistake. We hardly ever bother to use it as it is noisy and not very good at warming the space. I would have put in under floor heating instead if I'd known what it would be like.