Radiator placement: should it be under the window or on opposing wall?

9 years ago

Yet another dilemma I'm hoping Houzz helpers can advise on.

We are replacing our radiators with designer rads. We need to lift the floors anyways so it's an opportune time to move our radiators to more sensible locations.

Our builder says putting it under the double-paned window is a good idea so that as any drafts come in they are heated and reduced. Other designers who have come through have said the opposite - they advise putting in on an interior wall as window placement leads to increased heating loss.

Supporting the builder argument is every new building (office complex, hotel etc.) that I've seen has radiators in front of glass windows (especially the floor to ceiling windows). This seams to support the concept that as heat rises it will carry and heat any cool air seeping through the windows around the room and keep it warm.

So I'm stuck - should we a) place under the window, or b) leave it on the opposing wall?

Am all ears -

Happy New year everyone!

Featured Answer

drpepe101

9 years ago

It won't matter a jot in a house with double glazing and negligible draftiness.

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Comments (12)

Johannes Hearn
9 years ago
Hi,

From an engineering point of view, you would always place by a window.

Not only does this assist with heating the cold coming through the window but it additionally aids the distribution of warm air through the room by the cold air at the window sinking pushing the rising hot air further out into the room.
kassidypup
9 years ago
I have full length curtains in most rooms so I put the radiators on internal walls or they would be useless at night
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Hi Tanni, what a lovely room and a lovely restful and sumptuous shade of blue that you have chosen on the wall. Lucky tenants! I would recommend doing a roman blind/curtain combo. By layering your window will provide more depth. Although you are adding layers you will be creating the illusion of more space by drawing the eye in through the layers. Having the curtains drawn back more for aesthetics will widen the space and also make the room feel really welcoming and warm to any potential tenant. For renting, I would opt for a blind fabric that is easy to wipe down/off marks. Blindstogo.co.uk have a great selection and an easy online measuring tool. I would recommend going for a bit of detail or pattern on the blinds like below to create interest and a focal point and then a plain curtain fabric. Lighter colours will create a brighter window space and bounce the natural daylight back into the room.
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dottymax
9 years ago
The builder's argument sounds good. It also leaves a free wall to place furniture against. Our radiator is on the one free wall and consequently our sofa blocks the heat. We have a new room with a massive window and a small but full length radiator under it and the room is the warmest in the house.
PRO
User
9 years ago
It can depend on what furniture you wish to place in the rooms. On our last project radiators had been placed on the internal walls and we had to move all of them, as the placing of furniture was impossible with them anywhere other than under the windows. So, entirely depends on the space available !
Tracy Sidaway
9 years ago
If you have modern windows put them wherever you like. We have 2 in our lounge, one behind a sofa and one under the window. The curtains slightly cover the radiator but it still gets really warm.
Elan Tsarfati
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you everyone for your thoughts & experience - it's very much appreciated. I've decided to put the radiator under the window. Here it will be out of the way, leave a wall space open for further decoration.
PRO
Renaissance Interiors, Hartley Wintney
9 years ago
This is something that we come up against all the time. The default setting for radiators is under the window but from an aesthetic point of view this minimises the options for the soft furnishings as no one wants to heat the back of a curtain.

We are about to start a project with this issue and are in the enviable position of being able to move the radiators. However, we are going taller and narrower rather than wide. We are also scheming the radiator finish to complement the wall finish so that they don't compete for wall space and we can still place furniture against the wall, as well as leaving the space under the window free and clear so we will be making long curtains to give a more elegant look to the room.
ladyrimmofpinn
9 years ago
I think radiators work well under windows especially with double glazing. I always have lightweight floor length curtains with a matching roller blind that can be pulled down to below the top of the radiator which helps direct the heat away from the window.
PRO
Renaissance Interiors, Hartley Wintney
9 years ago
You're right ladyrimmofpinn. That's a great way to frame and dress the window whilst working with the radiator position.

I personally favour roman blinds over rollers though, because it is an opportunity to create a solution with beautiful fabrics, possibly a coordinate. However, if budget is tight then a roller works well, or indeed you can laminate fabric and create a roller blinds, as long as it's not too wide.

How to address the dress curtains differs depending on the scenario. You can be lightweight and airy with lovely voiles or you can have something interlined and full to balance the style of your room or the size of the window.
PRO
Ensign Accessories
9 years ago
In this day and age with double glazed and highly insulated walls, the difference is going to be minimal. I would place the radiators where they are most convenient to you, and not to anyone else.
PRO
Best Heating
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi Elan, the old way of thinking is that radiators would be ideally placed under windows to take advantage of the natural convection that the draught from the window would create and because the window is already a wasted space in design terms anyway.

However, as many others here have said, with the advent of double and now triple glazed windows, the effects of draughts is minimal. I see that you have positioned it under the window anyway and we would recommend this in most instances as you are less likely to block the heat with furniture and it is more likely to heat your room efficiently if it is placed under a window.

Just bear in mind that long curtains draped over the top will be incredibly inefficient practice - as you would lose heat through your window (double glazed or not) and remember that if you are using Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) with your radiator, be sure that you turn them up gradually as this will help to adequately heat your room and be more efficient in the long run. Turning them right up to the top will not heat your room quicker, as that depends upon the quality of your boiler and the quality of your radiator itself. For more help and info we have some advice in our radiator buying guide.

Radiator placement: should it be under the window or on opposing wall?

drpepe101

Comments (12)

Johannes Hearn

kassidypup

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Radiator placement: should it be under the window or on opposing wall?

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