Chicken Memorials

[Tutti Frutti]

We hope to be moving soon (fingers crossed) and our new house has RADIATORS under the windows! Which we've not had before (currently have storage heaters against flat walls)

 

So please may I ask... is it OK to have full length curtains drawn closed in front of a radiator? Or will the curtains block the heat, meaning short curtains would be better (so the radiator's open to the room)?

 

Any thoughts or advice very welcome! I've ordered far too many curtains, both long and short , and don't know which ones to return I do like the look of long though... but need to be practical with my 3 furball cats And my current full length curtains shrunk in the wash so maybe I'd do less damage with short!

[Egluntyne]

I think the long curtains will trap the heat behind them when closed.

[Lavenders_Blue]

I have full length curtains over my windows in the living room because I have no choice. We have french doors with a window either side with radiators below.

If we had short curtains they would cover the windows but only cover half the length of the french doors so we have to have full length curtains.

We haven't noticed particularly that the heat gets trapped behind the curtains but then our house is really well insulated and doesn't lose much heat anyway.

[LuckyChickenLover-]

In my house we have radiators below the windows. Our curtains are slightly longer than the windows, so they would cover the top of the radiators, so we tuck them behind.

[Charlottechicken]

I agree with Egluntyne, I don't think you will feel the benefit if the curtains are covering the radiator.

 

I have two radiators under windows. In my bedroom, the curtains just tuck behind the top of the radiator, and in the kitchen I have a shelf above the radiator to throw the heat out and the curtains sit on top of that.

[Tutti Frutti]

AHA! Had an idea Long and short were the same price so I'll keep the long ones and, if they do trap the heat, shorten them in the wash :lol:

 

Thanks everyone, I knew you'd help me clarify it in my own head!

[Happy chickens!]

... or do what we do, which, as I like long curtains, is to have them long, but with the linings short so the majority of the heat gets into the room. I used to think that it was very illogical to put radiators under windows, but aparantly it is the most efficient place, something to do with convection currents.

 

Good luck with the move anyway!

[Janty]

I need to get out more.

I read the title of this post as 'Strange question about chickens and radiators'.

 

[Tutti Frutti]

I need to get out more. I read the title of this post as 'Strange question about chickens and radiators'.

Too much fizz on your anniversary Janty? Hope you're having a nice day

 

Next question. If curtains shrink vertically, do they shrink horizontally as well???

 

I like the idea of half linings! Thanks, Happy Chickens!!!

[Janty]

I need to get out more. I read the title of this post as 'Strange question about chickens and radiators'.

Too much fizz on your anniversary Janty? Hope you're having a nice day

 

Next question. If curtains shrink vertically, do they shrink horizontally as well???

 

I like the idea of half linings! Thanks, Happy Chickens!!!

 

I am, thank you.

 

[LuckyChickenLover-]

Next question. If curtains shrink vertically, do they shrink horizontally as well???

 

I would assume so.

[Charlottechicken]

AHA! Had an idea Long and short were the same price so I'll keep the long ones and, if they do trap the heat, shorten them in the wash :lol:

 

Thanks everyone, I knew you'd help me clarify it in my own head!

 

Or you could chop the extra bit off and make your own matching pelmets, that's what I do if I buy curtains

[abwsco]

I can't stand short curtains so always have long ones that cover the radiators

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

Go short. Another tip is foil behind the radiator - reflects the heat back into the room rather than losing it out of the wall. Apparently.

[Becka]

I suppose it depends on how the radiator is attached to the wall. I have very large, old-fashioned cast iron radiators which are attached with one large bolt, in the middle, to the wall. I have long curtains which tuck behind the radiators and keep the heat in the room. If I had short curtains, some of the heat would disappear up the curtains and I need all the heat I can get in this room during winter!

Becka

[Guest]

In my house we have radiators below the windows. Our curtains are slightly longer than the windows, so they would cover the top of the radiators, so we tuck them behind.

 

This is what we do as well and it is the best way to heat the room and it's also more energy efficient than having no curtains, or allowing heat to be lost behind the curtains.

 

Placing radiators under windows is a relatively modern idea (started late 1900's iirc), but it helps to heat the rooms more efficiently because the warm air rises in front of the window and circulates in the room by convection which is provided by the warm air meeting the cool air in the window area.

 

But obviously having the radiator behind curtains would block most of the heat as it would rise up from the radiator and get lost out of the window and wall - it's effectiveness would certainly be reduced and you would lose the benefits of convection heating. However you would have nice toasty window sills to put your tropical plants on!

[chickenanne]

IMO if you're dead set on long curtains, then maybe one option is to buy unlined ones /other chepaer ones which will provide no insulation, such that they don't keep the heat out. I don't think it makes much sense to hang thick curtains over your radiator, unless you don't use ut. We have one radiator that's below a window (in bedroom), and use curtains that are shorter-length which works fine.

[Tiggy]

I need to get out more.

I read the title of this post as 'Strange question about chickens and radiators'.

 

 

very funny

 

half linings, not one Ive heard before but makes sense, I had new system & the rad was moved to under the window that is next to french doors so having long curtains next to short ones would look odd. I'll have to take a look at the half linings, you learn so much on here