why DONT radiators have to be uunder windows anymore?

Answer 1

originally because windows were biggest heat loss, and cold spot, other reasons: interior walls made of materials not ideal for hanging radiators, you don't usually put furniture under windows, pipework crossing rooms gives extra heat to room. But they never actually had to be under windows.

Answer 2

There used to be a school of thought that fitting rads under windows countered the effect of the down draught from windows as the air cooled in contact with the glass. Others (like me) subscribed to the opposite view that all the heat was going straight out of the window without doing much for the room.

The real problem comes when you hang curtains, which if they are floor length (better looking and better insulation properties) end up covering the radiator. The best solution is several smaller radiators strategically placed around the room (depending on floor area) and mindful of where you want to put your furniture etc.

Answer 3

Radiators were best placed under windows because external walls where the windows are were the coldest, and the coldest spot of all was the window, just one thin pane of glass. Cold will come at you from the outside, it won't come from internal walls within the house. Place radiator on internal wall and all that cold from the window would create cold draughts.Radiator placed under the window where the coldest air is alleviates that effect as much as possible. Modern double glazing is why sometimes rads are placed practically anywhere within a room nowadays, because the cold air from the window is greatly reduced. Even so,I still think ideally rads are best placed on an external wall where practical due to the coldest air, albeit reduced, coming from there.

Answer 4

Theoretically, radiant heat is designed to be installed closest to areas of the greatest heat loss. This was the "old" practice of having radian units adjacent to windows as opposed to interior (partition) walls.

The notion that double-glazing of modern better fitting windows has allowed some latitude in the installation of radiation.

However, I have both locations in my apartment; and, I am hugely disappointed with the alternative placement of the radiation unit in the Master Bedroom suite.

I think the designer exercised the radiation installation option solely for the convenience of installation of other amenities.

So, the builders were happy, and the Master Bedroom is uncomfortably cold.

I'd like to find that darned Architect who signed off on this design and have him spend one cold night here.

I think the argument for double-glazing, etc., is iffy at best as it depends in the long run on the efficient installation on site; and, that is a variable which cannot be supervised by the neither the designer nor the architect.

Answer 5

Well - I always thought it was silly to put them under the windows as the heat would be lost out the window (especially with the older single glazed and draughty windows) rather than heating the room. However, I think they were often put under the window as you are less likely to put items of furniture such as a bed , wardrobe or sofa under a window so the wall was most likely to be free from obstructions. It is cheaper in certain circumstances to put rads on walls that back each other to save tracking pipes across large areas. So, the answer to your question after that is - I don't know !!!

Answer 6

First, whilst grew to become into the final time you observed a favorite domicile built with radiators? Radiators use steam! STEAM! whilst grew to become into the final time you observed a favorite domicile with a steam boiler? Radiators have been positioned infront and aligned with domicile windows by using fact the glass grew to become into the vulnerable thermal factor of each and every wall interior the room. right this moment and with the introduction of thermal domicile windows, registers are placed the place achieveable interior the floor plan and out of site visitors lanes interior the domicile. commonly the radiate from the essential air handler interior the utility room. Baseboard heating is much greater consumer-friendly and greater handy to place in and those commonly are placed below domicile windows by using fact no one places fixtures infront of a window. subsequently no longer blocking off the ever significant warmth circulate during the unit.

Answer 7

"susie D "got it in one. CHEERS
In the sixties the BBC team from "Tomorrow's World " carried out a survey of a housing estate using infra-red cameras, they got a shock discovering that as the radiators were under the windows, most of the heat was going outside into the cold nite air. The presenter just shook his head in disbelief that architects were still having them placed under windows.
When I was installing radiators I put them behind doors where there was no chance of furniture being placed. ( I used double convectors )
And concerning doors, I notice that architects are sometimes having doors installed so that the door opens into the room instead of against the wall therby making the room appear smaller.
I moved into my present house, and had ALL the doors reversed, allowing me to have better placement of furniture.
The downside was that the light switches are now behind the doors. !!

Answer 8

The never *had* to be in the first place. But before double glazing, windows were cold and draughty so placing the radiator under the window was a good idea.

Answer 9

Ahh yes the bane of every old home owner -- the friggin radiators under the windows!

In the "olden" days when the homes were built window quality and insulation was very poor and they were very drafty. Radiators were placed here to help dissipate that cold draft.

Answer 10

I am a heating engineer and fit radiators quite often.
They don't need to be fitted under windows anymore due to the reasons stated (double glazing etc).
However most new buildings still have them under windows, simply for aesthetic reasons.