Small windowsill means heat from radiator only rises behind closed curtains - what to do?

Heyyouguys

Throwing this on the wisdom of the forum

My master bedroom is freezing cold even when the heating is on, because all the hot air from the radiator rises behind the closed curtain - the reason for this is a very small windowsill.

Without moving the curtain rails or the radiator (big bay window so cannot move it), is there anyone who has had this, and how did you fix it?

I was thinking covering cardboard with foil and attaching it to the windowsill so it sticks out past the curtain (very untidy but does the job) - or somehow anchoring the bottom of the curtain so it stays close to the window?

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks in advance

ashe

Heyyouguys wrote: »

Throwing this on the wisdom of the forum

My master bedroom is freezing cold even when the heating is on, because all the hot air from the radiator rises behind the closed curtain - the reason for this is a very small windowsill.

Without moving the curtain rails or the radiator (big bay window so cannot move it), is there anyone who has had this, and how did you fix it?

I was thinking covering cardboard with foil and attaching it to the windowsill so it sticks out past the curtain (very untidy but does the job) - or somehow anchoring the bottom of the curtain so it stays close to the window?

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks in advance

Install wooden plantation shutters or cheap blinds and keep curtains for decorative effect and remain open

Alternatively have curtain taken up so it can be tucked behind radiator

Typhoon2000

Something like this
https://my-homeware.com/product-category/radiator-boosters/?v=79cba1185463

[Deleted User]

Why not just hem the curtains or buy curtains that fit the window size?
Why buy curtains that are too long in the first place?

GDB2222

Heyyouguys wrote: »

Throwing this on the wisdom of the forum

My master bedroom is freezing cold even when the heating is on, because all the hot air from the radiator rises behind the closed curtain - the reason for this is a very small windowsill.

Without moving the curtain rails or the radiator (big bay window so cannot move it), is there anyone who has had this, and how did you fix it?

I was thinking covering cardboard with foil and attaching it to the windowsill so it sticks out past the curtain (very untidy but does the job) - or somehow anchoring the bottom of the curtain so it stays close to the window?

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks in advance

You don’t need to cover the cardboard with foil. Try that, and assuming it works, look for a neater solution. There used to be things called radiator shelves.

You could try tucking the curtains on the windowsills with weights.

Ebe_Scrooge

Can you not just tuck the bottom of the curtains behind the radiator ?

onomatopoeia99

Brackets on my radiators are L shaped and were set to have the radiator close to the wall. As I renovated each room, I turned the brackets round to move the radiator half an inch further from the wall and got curtains that were long enough to tuck behind.

When I do my lounge I'm ditching the radiators under the windows and having vertical radiators instead. I put one in the kitchen when I replaced that and it doesn't half kick out some heat.

ouraggie

I had this very problem in our holiday cottage.
I eventually solved it by screwing two small white cup hooks into the wall, about 2" above the bottom end of the curtains and about 2" away out from the outer edge of each curtain, IYSWIM. I then bought some braid in the same colour as the curtains ( the sort you might trim a settee with, or a cushion cover) and stretched this across the wall from cup hook to cup hook. When you draw the curtains shut, you just tuck the bottom edge behind the braid. Looks quite neat.
Every now and then I have to re-tighten the braid band when it gets a bit saggy, but it does a good job of keeping the curtains pinned flat to the wall. I also wash it by hand every few weeks.
Hope this helps you.

Heyyouguys

Thank you all for your suggestions.

To clarify, the curtains are not long, they end at the same level as the windowsill so I cannot tuck them in.
The windowsill comes out only 2 inches from the window, and the radiator sits an additional one inch outside of the sill (obviously below the windowsill); then the curve of the curtains goes out to 10 inches, and so the heat goes up the curve of the curtains.

The radiator boosters are a good idea, but they dont do curved ones for a bay window.

The braid band is a good idea so thank you for that, but wondering how to put this in place on a curved bay window.

If you have any other ideas or experiences, I would very much appreciate hearing them.

I suppose the best thing (albeit a lot of work and money) would be to increase the size of the wooden windowsill.

getmore4less

Pictures would help I don't understand what sort of bay you have.

nickcc

I have a similar problem thanks to radiator covers and the settee in front of another, my Wife doesn't like seeing radiators.
I tried a radfan that fits on top of the radiator but even though it worked well the noise was intrusive. I've now ordered two of the type that fit at the bottom of the radiator and blow the warm air upwards, this should hopefully reduce the noise and increase the heat output.
Perhaps the top mounted type would suit your needs as it would blow the hot air outwards and as long as you're not sat directly in front of the radfan the noise won't be a problem.