Altering heating duct location - through toekick or out ceiling?

homebuyer23

10 years ago

We currently have a heating/AC duct in our floor, where new cabinetry is supposed to be installed.

Should I have a preference between through the toekick or out the ceiling?

MY GC suggested the ceiling would probably be better,
but I'm not crazy about a duct in my ceiling.

Are there any drawbacks to the toekick thing?

Any help, much appreciated, thanks!

Comments (15)

chicgeek
10 years ago
Well, the first thing that comes to mind is that heat rises, and if it's already at the ceiling I'm not sure how warm the room will get. Is the GC the one who will move the duct or have heat through the toe kick? Where is the duct currently? Can the duct work be moved to another placement in the floor? Is there another heating duct in your space that will also heat the room?

We ran into an issue with our remodel with an unexpected HVAC run that was in a wall we were taking down. Our contractor was able to reconfigure the duct work. It took some time and money, but we found that's what happens when the drywall comes down...you don't really know what lurks behind it.
chispa
10 years ago
I prefer through the toekick, but make sure it isn't right next to or under the cabinet with a trash pull-out ... you don't want to be heating up your trash.
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annkh_nd
10 years ago
Also make sure that the duct actually goes all the way to the toe-kick vent. When we pulled out our old cabinets, we discovered that there was simply a 6" round duct that ended at the floor, and the entire area under the cabinet served as a plenum. I don't know what the code requirement was in 1987, when the house was built, but today you certainly cannot use wood for ductwork!

Strangely, I couldn't find anything in the big box stores, or local building stores, to do the job. I could have had something fabricated out of sheet metal, but I went the easy (and expensive) route and ordered one of these on-line (see link), along with a wood vent cover that I'll have stained to match the cabinets.

Here is a link that might be useful: Toe kick duct
chesters_house_gw
10 years ago
If you're in a warm climate I'd put the vent through the ceiling, since AC matters more than heat.
geller
10 years ago
If you put it in a toekick, it would be good to put the toekick where you will not blow directly on your feet while working. I find that the A/C coming out of the toekick feels very cold while I'm wearing sandals in the summer.
annkh_nd
10 years ago
But that heat on my tootsies feels so wonderful in the winter! I agree with chester - it depends on whether one does more heating or cooling. We heat for 8 months out of the year, and cool for 2.
Fori
10 years ago
If you have a cat, the space in front of the toekick vent may at times be occupied. In spite of that, I prefer toekick vents. They certainly look better.
MizLizzie
10 years ago
We have a toe kick vent directly under the kitchen sink, and I have never minded it. Yeah, when it's really going in the summer, sometimes your feet will get a little cool if you're doing dishes. It's just not a biggie to me; when we reno'd we put it right back.

I also have one in my dining room bay window. We had a window seat/chest contraption built, and had to vent the air underneath it. We cool here more than we heat. In the winter, the cats do sometimes curl up by the sink.
catbuilder
10 years ago
Where are your other supplies? Do you have returns? The whole system has to work together, so you need to take that into account.

This post was edited by catbuilder on Fri, Jul 26, 13 at 20:16
westsider40
10 years ago
The hvac company moved the ductwork in the basement so that the heat and ac would now be under a newly designed peninsula. Now there is a toekick vent. Works better than I'd imagined.

The hvac company does this all the time. Who knew?
homebuyer23
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks everyone. Yes I'm aware now of what hvac guys can do to the ductwork, we just worked out how to move 6 other stacks, some returns, some supplies that were all housed in the load bearing wall we are removing!

I am happy to let this one stay in the same bay and just decide up or down.

I live where its cold in winter & hot in summer. I'm leaning towards the toekick, aesthetically I think its better and sounds like many of you have it and its fine.

Do I need the cabinet maker to cut a hole in the toekick or does this all get worked out by the GC/hvac guys after cabinet install?
annkh_nd
10 years ago
homebuyer, my cabinet installer will cut the hole for the toekick vent on site.
corgimum
10 years ago
We have a toekick vent and my dog loves it! He does not lay directly in front of it but near it so the air conditioning blows on him after a walk. Our cabinetmaker cut the vent in the baseboard and also made a channel to direct the air.
a2gemini
10 years ago
We didn't have any vents in the actual kitchen - our GC added a toe kick and moved other vents to improve air flow. I can close it if I want, but so far it has been fine.
Sydney Martin
2 years ago
I‘d like to get an estimate on moving my ducts in my kitchen so that I can get taller kitchen cabinets. Can I get an appointment?

Altering heating duct location - through toekick or out ceiling?

Comments (15)

chicgeek

chispa

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Altering heating duct location - through toekick or out ceiling?

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