Would closing the curtains keep the house warmer?

wazza

My house is mid-terraced and fitted with double glazing doors and windows in 2002.

The house does not have any draughts etc to worry about. Tend to keep the heating low when needed. It warms the house up satisfactory. I have vertical blinds fitted to all windows and they are in closed position. Some windows also have curtains but are never drawn. The radiators are situated under the window sills. If i were to draw the curtain i have to lift the bottom edge of the curtain and place it on the window sill so the heat from the radiator will go into the room.

Will there be much difference in keeping the house warm with the curtains drawn?

As a matter of interest the central heating only comes on days like today when it is cold.

20 minutes in the morning before the chikdren wake up for school.

In the evening the gas fire heats the front and dining room.

20 minutes before they retire to bed the central heating is on for 1 hour.

The thermostat is set at 18*C

garethgas

Yes. The curtains will help to slow the heat loss through the windows.

Hintza

Closing the curtains with "single" glazng will make a huge difference. With double glazing they will still help and don't cost you anything.

Not sure I would put heating on just before bed though.

dibuzz

I close ours and tuck them behind the radiators as they are only a few inches longer.

macman

Is this a wind up? It's like saying 'would I be warmer with the duvet on me or off?'
Though obviously the weight/thickness of the curtains will determine their insulating ability-properly lined curtains will do a much better job.

vasseur

macman wrote: »

Is this a wind up? It's like saying 'would I be warmer with the duvet on me or off?'

:rotfl:

It will definitely help. If you keep the curtains open the window just acts as a cold radiator.

Antispam

Yes they will make a difference even bigger difference if you have single pained glass. You can get thermal linings for curtain too but not sure how effective they are

PudseyDB

Only exception would be if like today there's a lovely sun coming through the window......both my dogs are making the most of it and "sunbathing" in the lounge

ic

Try closing them, wait a bit, then stick your hand through the curtains - the air will be obviously colder behind the curtain.

Antispam

I get some nice heat of mine during day its south facing large bay, opposite at night though feels colder with big windows

PudseyDB wrote: »

Only exception would be if like today there's a lovely sun coming through the window......both my dogs are making the most of it and "sunbathing" in the lounge

Ben84

Overnight, even with good modern windows, your windows simply become a poorly insulated section of wall. I would always close curtains around the time the sun goes and I put the electric lights on to help the house retain the heat inside it. Better to do this before you feel cold and put the heating on as the heat is already lost by then.