Curtains and radiators advice

Stevie1

We are currently shopping for new bedroom curtains (saw a material I like at John Lewis but nearly died heaing the price!). When we put the central heating in, we placed radiators where possible under windows - we read that this is the best place for them.

How does this affect the curtain length, if at all? Is there a 'rule of thumb' when it comes to these things?

I would like full length curtains but am worried it will block out the heat from the radiator and lock it in the gap between the curtain and the window.

MX5huggy

No point having curtains over the rads, they will stop the heat entering the the room when they are drawn.

So you have to have short curtains or long ones and turn the rad off when they are drawn.

scheming_gypsy

third option..

i know somebody who tucks their curtains behind the back of the radiator.

tanith

I have most of my curtains at a level where they just rest down the back of the radiator that is under that particular window.. they will definately cut out the heat from the radiator if you pull them over it.. Drawing the curtains certainly makes a difference to the heat in the house.. so it up to you to decide which you want more I guess... nice long curtains or a warmer house it seems you can't have both...

andrew-b

The bay window in our bedroom has curtains that we tuck in behind the radiator. It doesn't seem to emit as much heat as i would like so i'm not convinced tucking in curtains behind it is a good idea (though that could be related to sludge in it and it's at the further point of a pipe run).

Out of interest is it actually still true that radiators should be placed under windows...i was under the understanding that this was the old way of thinking and not really relevant now in times of decent double glazing with less natural ventilation from draughts. I ask because i'm intending to relocate the bedroom radiator to an internal wall.

We also have two small radiators underneath a large "picture" bay window in our lounge that are tight upto the windowsill - so tight that on one of them you can't even tuck the curtains behind it. When i remember (which isn't very often!) i push the curtains up onto the windowsill. If i don't draw the curtains when it gets darks the pup jumps up on sofa and barks at his reflection!!

Andy

Stevie1

andrew-b wrote: »

Out of interest is it actually still true that radiators should be placed under windows...i was under the understanding that this was the old way of thinking and not really relevant now in times of decent double glazing with less natural ventilation from draughts. I ask because i'm intending to relocate the bedroom radiator to an internal wall.Andy

That is what I read when I was looking into that, either way that is still the best place in all the rooms considering the layout we were planning.

TomsMom

andrew-b wrote: »

Out of interest is it actually still true that radiators should be placed under windows...i was under the understanding that this was the old way of thinking and not really relevant now in times of decent double glazing with less natural ventilation from draughts. I ask because i'm intending to relocate the bedroom radiator to an internal wall.

Andy

I agree, the old way of thinking was for them to be under the window, then there was some talk of it not being necessary.

Our builders are putting rads in the new house at the moment. They said "It's usual for them to be under a window". However, in the lounge it was originally on an inside wall and the window wall now has french doors/windows so it can't go there and is staying on the inside wall. Kitchen is on an inside wall. Bathroom also. In the loft conversion it will be under a window on one side and the other on an inside wall back to back with the en-suite. One bedroom is under the window. The other bedroom had one under the window but that's the only place to fit a dressing table so the rad's been moved to the outside wall.

In our present house there are no rads under windows at all except the bathroom.

I think as long as you have decent, lined curtains and draw them when it gets dark/cold then you would be fine not having them under a window, just put them where it's most convenient.

Now a heating expert will come along and tell us the correct way and how to work out the BTUs etc. :rotfl:

Stevie1

MX5huggy wrote: »

No point having curtains over the rads, they will stop the heat entering the the room when they are drawn.

So you have to have short curtains or long ones and turn the rad off when they are drawn.

Damn! Long ones would have been perfect as we have two windows in our bedroom and I am always worried short curtains look a bit council-house-y (no offence). My temporary curtains are short and the hot air from the rad puffs them up, which is annoying

Bennifred

Maybe you could have blinds or short curtains for drawing, and "dress" long curtains for effect?

andrew-b

TomsMom wrote: »

Now a heating expert will come along and tell us the correct way and how to work out the BTUs etc. :rotfl:

Your implying i haven't worked out my BTUs already? :shocked:

Existing two rads in that bedroom total over 7600BTU (2.26kW) but my thermal calculations for the room comes to around 2500BTU (732W) at 18C room temperature - intending to have one rad (new one but same as already got) of 4904BTU (1.437kW) output so in theory it should be more than ample. Anyway I have been conducting an experiement by turning one radiator off to bring the radiator output down to just the 4904BTU rad with TRV set to about 4 (as before) and haven't noticed any real difference yet - nor has the OH who doesn't actually know what i've done!

Andy

Nomad25

Maybe you could have blinds or short curtains for drawing, and "dress" long curtains for effect

This what we did, it looks well I think, the long 'dress' curtains can be fairly minimal width [keep cost down], cos you don't wan't them too bulky, but make sure the pole for these, extends far enough either side of the window. Our radiator is the about same length as the window, so the 'dress' curtains hang to the floor either side of them [window + radiator].