Should radiators be positioned under windows?

Author: Norwood Mosciski  |  Last update: Monday, December 22, 2025

The traditional place to position your radiator is the coldest part of the room. Whether that's beneath your window or against the wall. This is due to conduction, with incoming cold air causing more effective heat conduction and pushing the hot air from your radiator into the middle of the room.

Is it a good idea to put a radiator under a window?

Radiators should be positioned under the window - placing opposite a window will result in colder air from the window being drawn across the room. If placing it under a window is not possible, the next bext place is on the wall that is at 90 degrees to the window.

Where should radiators be positioned?

For even heating and the right comfort levels, most radiators are best placed in the coldest part of the room, traditionally found under a window or against an outside wall, where the cold air drops to the floor helping create convection inside the room i.e., pushing the warm air from the radiator into the room.

What height should a radiator be below a window?

If a radiator is to be installed under a window, the height of the radiator depends on the distance between the windowsill and the floor. The lower edge of the radiator should be placed at least 10 cm above the floor and the upper one at least 10 cm below the sill.

Do radiators under windows cause condensation?

Yes, placing a radiator directly under a window can cause condensation to form on the glass, due to the temperature difference between the warm radiator and the cold window surface. As the radiator heats the air, it rises and comes into contact with the cooler window, causing the air to cool down rapidly.

Expert Guide To Radiators

Should you tuck curtains behind radiators?

Don't tuck curtains behind the radiator, use tie backs instead. Pair floor length curtains with blinds for additional privacy and sunlight control. Install ceiling tracks to increase the distance from the radiator to the curtains.

Can radiators cause mold?

The truth is that radiators can often be a major culprit of mould creation.

Does radiator placement matter?

The traditional place to position your radiator is the coldest part of the room. Whether that's beneath your window or against the wall. This is due to conduction, with incoming cold air causing more effective heat conduction and pushing the hot air from your radiator into the middle of the room.

Is it better to have radiators on high or low?

Put simply, a lower flow temperature = more efficiency = lower heating costs. Do radiator covers block heat? Check our guide and more energy-saving tips.

Where does the radiator go in Dusty Trip?

Put the radiator just ahead of the engine. (The Radiator is located at the table.)

Where is the best place to install a radiator?

Try to put your radiators on walls that can't be used for things like storage and furniture, so that you don't take up valuable floor and wall space. Place it in the coldest part of the room (if there is one). This can cause more effective heat conduction.

Should radiators be on in unused rooms?

Energy savings: By shutting off radiators in rooms that are not being used, you can reduce energy consumption and lower your heating costs. This is especially beneficial if you have several unused rooms in your home.

What is the correct radiator orientation?

The side of the radiator where the tubes connect should be at the bottom, and the pump should be mounted in a position where it is slightly lower than the top of the radiator, where air is captured. One good mounting position is to place the radiator at the top of the case with the tubes pointing downwards.

Do heat vents need to be under a window?

Efficiency and Air Flow

Placing the heat vents beneath the windows is actually best for efficiency and proper airflow.

How do you style a window with a radiator underneath?

Floor-length curtains work best with radiators under the windows, but closing them means they'll block the heat generated by the radiator. Generally, pairing up floor-length curtains with other window coverings can do the trick.

What is best to put behind a radiator?

Reflective radiator foil is an economical solution to prevent heat loss and the installation is quick and simple. If you're looking for the most effective radiator reflector on the market, here we offer a range of radiator foils that will help you to reduce heat loss and cut your heating bills.

Are radiators best under windows?

If you still have single-glazed windows at home, we'd recommend keeping your radiators positioned underneath them for maximum warmth and efficiency. However, if your windows are double-glazed, there are alternative locations for your radiator.

Is it cheaper to keep your house at a constant temperature?

Keeping your home at a constant temperature generally means that your HVAC system will run constantly to meet it. This means that your furnace or air conditioner may run when you're asleep, at work, or out of the house. This wastes more energy than the minimal amount that you might save by having it constantly run.

Where is the most efficient place to put a radiator?

What is the best position for radiators? The best position for radiators is the coldest area of your chosen room. This will often be beneath a window or close to an entrance door.

Should curtains cover radiators?

If by chance your curtains do cover your radiator at all it is recommended that you tuck them behind the radiator and not block it. This advice applies to a whole range of radiators. This could be a single panel, double panel, horizontal, vertical or column model, it doesn't matter.

Where to put radiators in an open plan kitchen?

If your room layout is tricky, vertical radiators are ideal for tall but narrow walls, and are often the solution to 'dead' space, especially either side of a window.

What are the best radiators to buy?

Aluminium radiators are the best radiators for heat output because the metal is a superconductor. As a result, it heats rooms quicker and more efficiently than any of the other materials.

Do radiators cause more dust?

Indeed, when the radiator is turned on, it causes hot air to rise. This hot air will carry the dust microparticles with it and cause them to fly throughout your home. As long as you are allergic, it's a guaranteed crisis! Furthermore, the mites present in dust proliferate in a warm and humid atmosphere.

How to stop mold in bedroom in winter?

a dehumidifier, which extracts moisture from the air, can be bought or hired. wipe down surfaces affected by condensation regularly to prevent mould growth. mould can be removed by washing the surface with a disinfectant or a fungicidal wash. This must be used in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions.

What is the black stuff in radiators?

Magnetite, commonly referred to as sludge, is the black substance comprising dissolved and rusted metal from the pipework of your central heating system. It forms when air and water react with ferrous components – for instance, the water within the system reacts with the steel inside your radiators.

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