Replies

1. 
   KaiserRoo | Apr 18, 2006 07:48pm | #1

   My wife's niece has a simular issue with their 1970's home. They are working around it where it goes infront of the three dormers. We thought they should build a window seat an a platform that is a little higher than the base board and have the unit overhang the BB. In addition perhaps they might go with small fan unit to go behind the BB in order to blow the warmer air away from the built-in.

   Short of that, maybe look into getting radiant heat.

   Good luck it'll be interesting to see what people write. K-boy  

2. 
   JDRHI | Apr 18, 2006 08:12pm | #2

   If it were just one spot, I'd recomend building around the heater. A built in with an open bottom to allow the heat to escape. Sounds like you're talking about alot more than that though.

   In your case, you might want to incorporate the units into the built ins. I've done this before by pulling the baseboard heaters forward and then building the units to accomodate.

   Costly? Define costly. The plumber is going to have to drain the system....seperate the heaters from the pipes where they come through the floor or walls....pull forward...and reinstall. A days labor perhaps? All he'll be reusing though is the element itself, as the built-in becomes the housing.

   A decorative brass grill dresses it up nicely.

   J. D. Reynolds

   Home Improvements

1. 
   DebSilber | Apr 18, 2006 08:43pm | #3

   Thanks, JD -- I hadn't thought of pulling them forward....duh. Makes sense. Does it cut down alot on heat efficiency, though, even with the grill? (I'm thinking this is hot water radiator heat, so its not like having a blower moving the warm air out from under the built-in). Have you gotten any feedback on the jobs where you've done this, in terms of the heat being diminished?

    

1. 
   JDRHI | Apr 18, 2006 10:18pm | #6

   I'll have to shy away from any estimates of actual heat loss...not my forte.

   When I build the built-ins, I build them to accomodate the heating element....with a back and plenty of open space in the front to allow air movement.

   I did a window seat in my own home in my front foyer. Haven't noticed any heat loss....then again the room is only 4' x 5'.

   I'll try and post some pics this evening.

   J. D. Reynolds

   Home Improvements

3. 
   Lateapex911 | Apr 18, 2006 09:29pm | #4

   Might want to do a heat calc on the house. often they just run them everywhere and that can lead to more than you  need. If the built ins are not too mnay, and not too wide, and the basement is open, just removing the section and rerouting the pipe to the basement could be an option.

   Or build right over them. leave an opening at the bottom, and in the top for flow thru. A false back would do the trick, and if the builtin has a "counter" with open shelving above, that counter can have discreet slots in it. Thats what i'm doing in my house, but they are currently under cinstruction, so no pics yet!

   Or you can just incorporate it in the design. Heres  two shots. The first is actually a radiator..18" tall or so. the seconf is 10" tall cast iron radiant heat 'baseboards".

   View Image

   

    

   Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

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   Edited 4/18/2006 2:32 pm ET by Lateapex911

   
   

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   Edited 4/18/2006 2:33 pm ET by Lateapex911

1. 
   DebSilber | Apr 18, 2006 09:46pm | #5

   Very nice work.....Thanks, Jake, this is definitely giving me hope! Can you tell me how one does a heat calc? My experience in the house tells me it's probably not over-heated, but it might be worth checking out. - Deb

    

    

4. 
   GUNN308 | Apr 18, 2006 11:22pm | #7

   toe space heaters are the answer to your problem they have fins and a 2 speed blower in one unit these can be used in wall mount units also. talk to you heating man I use them under kitchen cabs when wall space is limited