Have a small powder room that I’m redoing. Room is always cold as it has two exterior walls and is at the far end of the duct run. Ideally I’d rip all the walls out & add better insulation, but it’s a tight space already. instead I want to add a supplementary baseboard electric heater. Can’t use a toekick heater as there is no cabinet to tuck it under. Question is, can I install this behind the toilet? Two issues come to mind – water and electricity are rarely a good combination, and the effect of the heat on the wax ring. Don’t know the answer to the first question, but planned on using one of those o-ring gaskets to prevent hte latter problem.
any advice?
Carlos
Edited 6/16/2006 4:12 pm ET by ceb
Replies
It seems to me that you could still improve the insulation on those two exterior walls, if you want to do that- ridgid foam will be much better than fiberglass, if that's what's in there.
A radiant heating mat could go on the floor- it adds a lot of comfort, all though it doesn't heat up the room like a baseboard does.
zak
"so it goes"
Splashing from use of the toilet will corrode the heater in no time and it will be an ugly rusted mess.
I second the recommendations of the first responder. The insulation in your walls may have been poorly installed or missing in spots, so even if you add no thickness you may very well be able to improve it. Secondly, even ½" or 1" of foam board will help a lot. I'd recommend unfaced fiberglass batts carefully installed with foam board over everything.
The in floor heat won't add many BTU's to the space, but with better insulation it may be just enough. And warm floors may add more apparent comfort than just the increase in air temperature alone.
If your window is really bad it may be part of your problem, too.
Another alternative is a flat panel radiant heater that you mount on the wall.
In addition to the infloor radiant heat there are also in wall heaters that fit in a stud space if you have an internal wall.
Also vent fans with heaters.
And "cove" ceiling radiant heaters.
Thanks, hadn't thought of the corrosion issue. You can see I wasn't very happy with my options. May have to reconsider to make space for a toekick heater, although I've never liked them much. As to more insulation, I was hoping to avoid tearing out the existing drywall and avoid mission creep.
Carlos
Another option might be an infrared heat lamp in the ceiling. You would not have to worry about the wall or floor space.
For the most part, they are in older bathrooms, but its an easy install and quickly heat up the space. There are newer units out there that look pretty good. http://www.elights.com/nutbulheat.html
As for the insulation, I would also consider taking the sheetrock down and installing rigid foam. You can get up to R-5 per inch, and take the time to make sure everything is air-sealed.