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How Curtains Steal Heat from Radiators

By Radiator Tips 7 Comments

Feeling cold even though your heating is on? Don’t put your curtain on top of the radiator!

 

Rooms with radiators under windows can be pretty cold during winter and this gets worse with curtains on radiators. Modern radiators heat the room with the convection system that circulates warm air around the room.

 

How Radiator Convection Works

(Modern Radiator Convection System)

 

When curtains are pulled in front of a radiator, the radiator releases warm air behind the curtain and heats only the window’s space.
During winter, days are shorter and curtains are pulled even earlier than usual. By doing so, we risk using more energy/heat more than necessary, leading to much higher bills.

 

Curtain on Radiator

(Curtain in front of a radiator, blocking circulation of warm air)

 

If your room feels cold, our tip is to try putting your curtains behind the radiator.

 

Curtain behind Radiator

(By putting the curtain behind the radiator, warm air can travel in the room freely)

This way the radiator warms the room rather than the window’s space. It also allows the radiator’s convection system to work perfectly and as it was designed.

If you are concerned the curtains may catch on fire – don’t worry, radiator surfaces do not get hot enough to cause a fire or flame.

 


Energy prices are on the rise, the more efficient our radiators the less we pay and the warmer we are! Curtains on radiators are a commonly overlooked issue, don’t let that give you a higher bill!

To find out more advice on how and which energy provider to use, we suggest www.ofgem.gov.uk who are Great Britain’s independent energy regulator.
If you want to compare your energy prices, check these comparison sites:

 


If you’ve found this article useful, please consider giving it a share to help others.

How Radiators Work

By Radiator Tips One Comment

Most modern heating systems use convector radiators. They heat the room with the convection system which pushes air around the room. Blocking this system greatly decreases the efficiency of any modern convector radiator.

 

How Radiator Convection Works

(Modern Radiator Convection System)

Cold air passes through inside the radiator, where the fins warm it up. Then it is released into the room through the top of the radiator as warm air, continuing the convection process.

While this is happening, the water inside the radiator cools down and eventually returns to the boiler where it will be heated then returned to the radiator and the cycle continues. This process is what typically regulated with a thermostat.

 


 

Radiators also radiate heat. This means heat can be emitted from the surface of the radiator as well.

Modern Convector Radiators also Radiate Heat

(Heat coming off the radiator’s surface as radiation further increasing its efficiency)

Contrary to popular belief however, covering the surface of the radiator does not stop it from releasing hot air but, in fact, helps insulating the convection process, making the radiator actually more efficient.

 

Blocking radiation and convection via objects like settees, sofas or beds seriously affect the heating process:

How Furniture can affect the Radiator's Convection

(Furniture blocking cold air from passing through the radiator)

Heat from radiation is lost into your furniture and therefore the convection system is blocked off. It is crucial to keep the convection system unblocked to maximise the efficiency of the radiator.

If, however, it is unavoidable to place furniture in front of your central heating radiators, then the recommended method is to pull the furniture away slightly and give the radiator as much gap as possible. The more space there is between, the more this will help the convection system and the radiation.

 


Energy prices are on the rise, the more efficient our radiators the less we pay and the warmer we are!

To find out more advice on how and which energy provider to use, we suggest www.ofgem.gov.uk who are Great Britain’s independent energy regulator.
If you want to compare your energy prices, check these comparison sites:

 


If you’ve found this article useful, please consider giving it a share to help others.