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Seen a lot of threads around about kitchen layout, so this kind of thing is obviously a common problem, but I think this situation is pretty unique so I wanted to ask for specific advice.

In my kitchen we've got space for a fridge/freezer in the corner. The adjacent wall contains a door, which is propped open most of the time. In the opposite corner, we'd like to place a radiator, behind the propped open door and opposite the fridge freezer. I have a diagram to make this clear, but I can't seem to upload it? The door opens onto a small utility area, which in turn has doors off to a downstairs toilet and a (well insulated) door to the garage.

There are two potential problems with this. First, the door will obviously block immediate heat from the radiator. My understanding of how heat dissipates around a room makes me think this is unlikely to be an issue: the door will get hot, and that heat will gradually radiate around the kitchen. So in theory the kitchen will get just as warm, but slower.

Second, I know it's bad to put a radiator close to a fridge/freezer, and particularly opposite it because it sucks the "cold" out with an influx of warm air when the fridge/freezer door is opened. The fridge/freezer would be about 74"/188cm away from the radiator and behind the propped open door. So my understanding of this is that because the space opposite the fridge freezer is not immediately warmed by the radiator, due to the door being in the way, it'll be more at the ambient temperature of the kitchen, so that alleviates that problem.

Is my understanding of this situation correct? Is it ok for me to place the radiator behind the door without impacting the operation of the fridge/freezer or the overall heat in the kitchen?

have you considered a plinth heater no wasted wallspace ??

and a radiator behind a door will be less efficient in the 30 to 60% range as radiators need free air all round for both convection and radiation
behind a door it will be surrounded by overly warm air reducing heat transfer ability

big-all wrote: ↑Tue Aug 13, 2024 2:03 pm have you considered a plinth heater no wasted wallspace ??

Yes, but it's an open-plan living area and I'd prefer not to have that constant background drone while we're watching TV. I just wanted to know if behind the door was a realistic alternative to consider.

I have a radiator in my kitchen that is a third obscured by an end cabinet with an integral fridge/freezer. In the 6" gap, we keep the ironing board there as it is out of sight. The door is also next to it and is wedged at 90 degrees. I have never found this to impede the heating in the room and it does not affect the fridge in any way. Most rads work by convection and the radiant heat is secondary. I would proceed.

DWD