Plinth Heaters UK: What Forum Users Recommend
Smiths Space Saver SS7 dominates UK forums at £230-355 for hydronic kitchen heating with 5-year warranty and 2,200W boost output. Myson Kickspace 500 wins as the established alternative at £250-355 with 20-year track record. Avoid cheap unbranded electric plinth heaters: fan bearings fail within 3 years per DIYnot and Screwfix forums. Choose hydronic over electric before buying — running costs differ by £200+ per year.
| Model | Price | Verdict | What Users Say | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smiths Space Saver SS7 FORUM FAVORITE |
£230-355 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best mid-size hydronic |
"5yr warranty with Smiths. More reliable than Myson — we fit them regularly as we're a heating contractor" — UK Plumbers Forums "Our kitchen is quite large yet the Smiths plinth heater does the job. Low speed is ideal for holding the temperature" — Screwfix Community |
View Deals |
| Myson Kickspace 500 PROVEN CHOICE |
£250-355 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best established brand |
"We've had a Myson plinth heater in our kitchen since it was re-done about 10 years ago and it has worked well" — DIYnot "I replaced a Myson kickspace that had nearly twenty years of trouble-free service" — UK heating forum |
Check Price |
| Smiths Space Saver SS9 LARGE ROOMS |
£257-460 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best for open-plan kitchens |
"Despite having a Myson Kickspace plinth heater breathing warmish air into the kitchen it was never powerful enough. Replaced with Smith's Space Saver plinth heaters — much better" — PistonHeads "Smiths tend to remain quiet for a much longer period" — Overclockers UK Forums |
View Deal |
| Myson Kickspace 500E Eco ELECTRIC OPTION |
£287-320 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best when no pipe access |
"Electric ones are simpler — just plug in. But you'll pay for it on your electricity bill" — Screwfix Community "For a small kitchen or an under-sink spot where you can't run pipes, the electric Kickspace is fine" — DIYnot |
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| Cheap Unbranded Electric Plinth Heaters ❌ AVOID |
£40-120 | ⭐ Waste of money |
"Both wet and electric plinth heaters are noisy, inefficient dust traps" — Screwfix Community (on cheap units) "Never use it, waste of money, but I was railroaded into it" — MoneySavingExpert Forum user on builder-supplied cheap electric unit |
Not recommended |
🔍 Why These Recommendations?
- Smiths SS7: Professional heating contractors on UK Plumbers Forums fit Smiths over Myson for the 5-year warranty. Two-speed fan handles both fast warm-up and quiet temperature maintenance. Standard kitchen size (up to 34m³).
- Myson Kickspace 500: 20-year track records documented on DIYnot and PistonHeads. Built-in low-limit thermostat activates fan automatically at 43°C water temperature. Widely stocked by UK plumbing merchants.
- Smiths SS9: Step up for open-plan kitchen-diners. 2,600W boost output versus SS7's 2,200W. Users who found Myson or SS7 underpowered for large rooms consistently upgrade here.
- Electric Kickspace: Only when central heating pipes cannot reach the plinth location. Running cost approximately 34p/hour at current UK electricity rates — the same as a portable fan heater. Hydronic units cost approximately £5/year to run from the boiler.
- Cheap electric units: Fan bearings fail within 1-3 years. No spare parts available. Draw cold air from beneath the floor rather than room air — creating a hot spot rather than distributing heat.
Sources: DIYnot, MoneySavingExpert Forums, Screwfix Community, UK Plumbers Forums, PistonHeads, Overclockers UK Forums, BuildHub. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Last updated February 2026.
The Electric vs Hydronic Debate: Forum Verdict
UK forum consensus on electric versus hydronic plinth heaters is nearly unanimous. Hydronic wins on running cost and noise. Electric suits only locations without central heating pipe access. MoneySavingExpert forum users calculate hydronic units at approximately £5 per year running cost versus electric units at 34p per hour. A typical kitchen using an electric plinth heater for 3 hours daily costs £375 per year in electricity. The same heat from a hydronic unit costs under £10 per year from the boiler.
| Factor | Hydronic (Central Heating) | Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Running cost per year | ~£5 (heat from boiler) | £300-400 (electricity) |
| Noise level | Lower than a fridge (Smiths) | Fan noise audible always |
| Installation | Requires plumber for pipe connection | Plug-in — DIY suitable |
| Best for | Any kitchen with central heating | Under-sink or no pipe access |
| Forum recommendation | ✅ First choice | ⚠️ Last resort only |
"Hydronic ones have much lower running costs — circa £5 per year — as the heat comes from the central heating system."
— MoneySavingExpert Forum
Smiths vs Myson: Which Does UK Plumbers Forum Recommend?
UK Plumbers Forums threads comparing Smiths and Myson consistently give Smiths the professional installer edge. The 5-year warranty on Smiths versus Myson's shorter warranty is cited by contractors fitting multiple units. Overclockers UK forums document Smiths units staying quieter over a longer period — Myson units develop fan noise after approximately 10 years while Smiths units remain quieter longer. Both brands have 20-year track records on UK forums with no consistent failure patterns reported.
"Smiths tend to remain quiet for a much longer period, while Myson models tend to get noisier more quickly — though this takes about 10 years."
— Overclockers UK Forums
Why Forum Users Warn Against Cheap Electric Plinth Heaters
Screwfix Community and DIYnot document the same failure pattern for cheap unbranded electric plinth heaters. Fan bearings seize within 1-3 years creating rattling noise. No spare parts are available for budget units requiring complete replacement. The units draw cold air from around themselves and from beneath the floor rather than room air. This creates a hot spot directly in front of the unit while the rest of the kitchen remains cold. Professional electricians on UK forums explicitly advise against fitting any unbranded electric plinth heater.
- Fan bearings fail within 1-3 years — no spare parts available for cheap units
- Draw cold air from beneath the floor rather than room air — floor coverings can buckle from heat below
- Running cost identical to a portable fan heater — no energy saving over a cheap plug-in unit
- Do not position under a fridge — condensation forms on fridge base causing insulation failure per MoneySavingExpert
- Do not position under oven or hob — burns feet when cooking per DIYnot installer warning
FAQ: Most-Asked Plinth Heater Questions
How Much Does a Plinth Heater Cost to Run?
Hydronic plinth heaters cost approximately £5 per year to run using heat from the central heating boiler. Electric plinth heaters cost approximately 34p per hour at current UK electricity rates — around £375 per year if used 3 hours daily. MoneySavingExpert forum users consistently recommend hydronic for this reason alone. The higher upfront installation cost of hydronic (plumber required at £150-300) pays back within the first year of running cost savings compared to electric.
What Size Plinth Heater Do I Need?
Smiths SS7 suits standard kitchens up to 34m³ with 2,200W boost output. Smiths SS9 suits open-plan kitchen-diners up to 41m³ with 2,600W boost output. Myson Kickspace 800 reaches 2,100W for mid-size rooms. Calculate room volume (length × width × height in metres) before buying. PistonHeads forum users who bought SS7 for large open-plan kitchens upgraded to SS9 after finding the smaller unit insufficient. Measure twice — returning a plinth heater after installation is impractical.
Can I Install a Plinth Heater Myself?
Electric plinth heaters plug into a standard 13A socket — DIY installation is straightforward. Hydronic plinth heaters require connecting to central heating pipework — a competent DIYer with basic plumbing skills can do this but a Gas Safe registered plumber is recommended for boiler system integrity. DIYnot forum members advise fitting a magnetic filter on the system to protect the unit from sludge. Flexi hose connections are sludge traps — replace with copper where possible per UK Plumbers Forums advice. Warranty validity may require professional installation — check manufacturer terms before self-installing.
Choose plinth heaters based on UK forum consensus rather than price alone. Smiths Space Saver SS7 at £230-355 delivers the best hydronic performance for standard kitchens with 5-year professional warranty and installer backing. Myson Kickspace 500 at £250-355 offers a proven 20-year track record for those preferring the established name. Avoid cheap unbranded electric units — fan failures and high running costs make them a false economy. Only choose electric when central heating pipes cannot reach the plinth location.
