Best radiator setup in this room?

ChasingtheWelshdream

I have two options for radiators in this room (north facing). Both have pros and cons but I wonder if the placement makes a difference in the heat distribution within the room? I'll call the options purple and yellow.

Total heat calculation required is approx 9000Btus. This can be done with:

Purple - two rads in the bay window (existing position). 
Yellow - one tall rad moved to the yellow position.


Purple  pros: Existing position, looks more traditional. 

Purple cons: Restricts putting furniture and floor length curtains in the window. Pipework is ugly and hard to hide (currently 10mm, not easy to swap to 15mm)

Yellow pros: Will not restrict future furniture options as the doorway already does that. Easy to pipe-up in 15mm (from a rad that will be taken out from above) and hide the pipe drop in the corner.

Yellow cons: Will the heat just disappear out the door and into the hallway? The door is kept open for four-legged friends to roam freely.


Overall, is one option overall more effective than the other?

kimwp

Have you considered just behind the door or next the the other window? Furniture tends not to be tucked into the wall there. Radiators can get really hot, so I'd be a bit worried about people brushing past it as they went through the door.

ChasingtheWelshdream

We have two sofas along the top and right and wall (and will always likely have a similar combination). There are built in units under the left window and alcove (either side of the chimney) so no options along there unfortunately.

The bay window radiators have always been a bug bear as we can't put a chair in there without blocking heat, and I have the most fabulous fabric to make opulent floor length curtains. So in that respect moving to the opposite wall is a no-brainer.

Except, it is still a lot of work (me diy-ing) if it could be ineffective.

Eldi_Dos

Would the tall radiator that near the door hinder getting furniture in and out the room and be more prone to damage.

ChasingtheWelshdream

Edit: We could position a tall radiator in the bottom right corner, but would have to take out a built in cupboard which unfortunately has the floor laid 'around' it. So would be a major expense and PIA, which I am not sure is worth the hassle.

ChasingtheWelshdream

Eldi_Dos said:

Would the tall radiator that near the door hinder getting furniture in and out the room and be more prone to damage.

Good point - possibly!

Albermarle

I would imagine with the yellow radiator in Winter, with the door open a lot of the heat will go out into the hallway and up the stairs ( assuming you have any).
So if you add in all the other negatives mentioned, it looks like a bit of a non starter.

ChasingtheWelshdream

ChasingtheWelshdream said:

Eldi_Dos said:

Would the tall radiator that near the door hinder getting furniture in and out the room and be more prone to damage.

Good point - possibly!

 I've just measured and have 130mm between the wall and architrave. 

This is the kind I was thinking about -  Milano Windsor - Vertical Four Column White Traditional Radiator - 1800mm x 470mm (bestheating.com)  which is 140mm not including brackets. So yes, it would obstruct. :-/ 

MysteryMe

Yellow is a non starter if the door is always open surely? So much heat is going to escape into the hallway and the solid open door is going to block some heat into the right hand side of the room which I imagine is the most popular sofa to be sat on, especially in colder weather.

I don't know if you have tested out having a chair in the bay but presumably it wouldn't fill all of the bay or be wedged up against the radiators otherwise it would be a faff to open windows and draw curtains? Are you able to be creative with the draping of the curtains and tie backs so they don't just go straight down over the radiator? Or simply just make them shorter, even the nicest curtains start to look a bit dated after a while so that's not a hill I'd personally die on but it may be more important to you and it's your house!

If you really didn't want to keep purple than I think the initial hassle and cost of bottom right might be the most practical option, that way you have the bay area as you wish and still have effective heating.

FreeBear

ChasingtheWelshdream said: Total heat calculation required is approx 9000Btus.

If possible, increase the size by at least 30% - This will help offset the fact it is north facing and inherently colder than other rooms. If you have decent double glazing, you don't have to site the radiator(s) in the bay. I've moved all my radiators to internal walls without any ill effect. I'd go for putting the radiator centrally on the back wall.

If the bay windows are old, perhaps a couple of small radiators in the bay, and a big one on the back wall.

You say the pipework to the bay is 10mm - That is going to place a limit on how big a radiator can be. Roughly 8500BTU (or 2500W). 15mm pipe is good for ~13650BTU (about 4000W), so adds weight to using the back wall. I think I'd add a couple of small radiators in the bay just to be on the safe side (the room is quite long).

ThisIsWeird

ChasingtheWelshdream said:

Edit: We could position a tall radiator in the bottom right corner, but would have to take out a built in cupboard which unfortunately has the floor laid 'around' it. So would be a major expense and PIA, which I am not sure is worth the hassle.

Photo of this cupboard?