Preparing for Winter

Winged_one

the_cat wrote: »

I have a quick question. Hope no-one minds!

For the first year I am the owner of curtains for the dining room end of my through lounge.

There are good double glazed windows and door installed. The radiator for the room is under the window and the curtains are full length (had to be as going across both door and window)

Will I make it warmer or colder by drawing the curtains? I can't tuck them behind the radiator, so I'm assuming it's better to leave them open and not divert the radiator heat up behind them

Am I right?
Thanks in advance

Would it be possible to close the curtains, but put hooks (large enough for purpose) up at the doors, so that you can pull up the curtains letting radiator heat into room. So curtains are long at doors, but pulled aside from under windows? (It might mean a small gap at the bottom outside corner of the windows too though).

Just a thought.

oystercatcher

the_cat wrote: »

I have a quick question. Hope no-one minds!

For the first year I am the owner of curtains for the dining room end of my through lounge.

There are good double glazed windows and door installed. The radiator for the room is under the window and the curtains are full length (had to be as going across both door and window)

Will I make it warmer or colder by drawing the curtains? I can't tuck them behind the radiator, so I'm assuming it's better to leave them open and not divert the radiator heat up behind them

Am I right?
Thanks in advance

Hmmm not a well designed house...... I would think you need two sets of curtains on the rail, one or two longer ones for the door and shorter ones to go over the windows so the radiator isn't covered. Not the answer you want to hear when you've just got nice new curtains !

In the meantime I'd be experimenting to see how much draught you get from the windows when the curtains are open as opposed to how much heat will rise up and circulate when the curtains are closed. It depends if you have an overall warm or cold house. If it's a warm house then presumably the thermostat will turn radiators off frequently and then it would be better to keep heat in with curtains closed.

Personally I hate uncurtained windows on dark evenings as I feel so aware that everyone can see in, even when were aren't overlooked. It just feels safe and snug with closed curtains.

the_cat

oystercatcher wrote: »

Hmmm not a well designed house......

Definately not! 60's style with enourmous windows going the whole width of the rooms

In the meantime I'd be experimenting to see how much draught you get from the windows when the curtains are open as opposed to how much heat will rise up and circulate when the curtains are closed. It depends if you have an overall warm or cold house. If it's a warm house then presumably the thermostat will turn radiators off frequently and then it would be better to keep heat in with curtains closed.

Thanks I will try this, and also see if inelegantly wedging them around the rad will work, even if just for extra cold spells!

Personally I hate uncurtained windows on dark evenings as I feel so aware that everyone can see in, even when were aren't overlooked. It just feels safe and snug with closed curtains.

Me too! At least the window is totally unoverlooked, as it backs onto our very secluded garden

Rummer

I have the same issue in relation to my radiators being under huge draughty windows. I have decided though to scrunch them onto the window ledge and hope for the best!

jackieglasgow

To the_cat and rummer. Could you not string a piece of string or one of those net curtain wires across the windows a third of the way down and sort of loop-up or fold up the curtains over this when they are closed, so that they bottom of them sits above the rads, this might also double-up the insulation over the glass? That makes millions of sense in my head, I hope you can kind of see where I'm going with it?

PS to say that you know that if you have TRV's (thermostatic valves) on the rads they should not be blocked by curtains or furniture etc., as they detect the room temp from the air circulating around them.

Rummer

Thank you jackie that is an interesting idea!

happytails

Sorry have to boast :j in our new house we have Very big windows (150" wide x 60" drop) and found curtains to fit (albeit at floor length but it doesnt matter as the radiator isnt underneath window). They are brand new, fully lined and lovely - all for the grand price of £25 :T So So happy!

jackieglasgow

You can't brag without telling us where from!

cyclingyorkie

i have admitted defeat...and am sat with my SAD light on the desk......

i seemed to be preparing to hibernate........lets hope I get it sorted soon!

greenbee

young_at_heart wrote: »

Have had problems with squirrels in the loft in the past but thought they had gone forever. However, have heard worrying sounds the last few days and getting panicky as they can do a lot of damage but wouldnt do anything to hurt them. Does anyone have any ideas for holistic removal? Would really appreciate advice. Many thanks

If you remove them from the roof it is illegal to release them back into the wild unless you have a licence to do so (only 450 can be released each year) see here for more information. The best thing to do is call a pest-control contractor and get them a. to check what it is (I thought I had squirrels in the roof but it was actually starlings which can be dealt with outside of the nesting season) and b. remove whatever is there and make your roof vermin-proof. There are apparently some ultrasonic devices that repel squirrels that might be worth a try, but if you trap it, you'll have to dispose of it.

valk_scot wrote: »

Cat? If you can find a nice smelly tom cat or a good hunting cat to borrow for a day and lock it up the attic (with a litter tray and food of course) then it might just do the trick. My mother used to B&B one of the local cats (with owner's full permission) when she spotted any signs of mice in her house. Worked a treat.

Squirrels are vicious fighters. It would be cruel to lock a cat in the attic with one as it may well come off worst ... and it's not particularly humane for the squirrel either. As squirrels are similar in size to rats, if you were to do this you'd need a terrier rather than a cat - and these are often reluctant to deal with squirrels according to our local gamekeeper! The food & litter may well also attract other vermin.