Curtains and radiators?

dandy-candy

Our radiators are under the windows in our house and im never sure of the best length of curtain. DH says they should be short and tuck onto the window sill so the radiator heat comes into the room. Our builder said he thinks they should be long so the radiator is behind them and its heat rises and is trapped between the glass and curtain, warming the cold air.
Does anyone know the best way?

busybee100

Why would you want to trap warm air between the curtains and the window? Warm air will always rise.

I would suggest long enough to tuck behind the radiator in Winter and whatever you like for Summer.

Fire_Fox

I did a fair bit of online research over the last year or so, into energy saving. I have a huge double glazed window that haemorrhages heat due to broad metal frames.

The official/ expert advice is to divert the heat away from the windows, and to stop warm air that is naturally circulating up and around the room from getting to the window itself. Assuming standard modern insulation, windows generally lose more heat than walls and ceiling/ roof.

Plastic secondary glazing (even if already double), and/ or cellular/ honeycomb blinds that fit snugly in the reveal, and/ or heavy curtains that are floor-to -ceiling and wall-to-wall (no gaps).

Closing all the gaps is what stops the circulation of warm air over and behind the curtains, coming out colder and lower, and drawing more warm air in at the top. The problem your builder is talking about I think?

Ideally the heater would not be under the window at all. Easier for those of us with electric heaters than gas central heating to change obviously!

If the heater is under the window curtains are apparently not the best bet. You can't really tuck curtains behind a radiator without gaps. Could try a radiator shelf to direct the warm air inwards, and using curtain wire top and bottom to keep them close to the walls and sills?

Pleased to report that the official/ experts advice worked very well for my situation this winter. Much more comfortable room, and different temperatures behind and in front of the curtains.