Siting radiators

[housyhouse]

I am moving to a new flat that has no CH. When discussing where to put the radiators I have had different opinions.

A couple of people have said they should go under the windows to prevent condensation. Others say the heat then goes straight out the windows (btw not double glazed) and should go on internal walls.

What do others think?

 

[nstreet]

The think idea of putting radiators under windows is not to prevent condensation but to prevent draughts.

If you have a radiator on the wall opposite a window, the colder air dropping from the cold glass is sucked across the floor towards the radiator because of the convection currents caused by heat rising from said radiator. Therefore it will feel draughty. Putting the radiator below the window prevents this, as it warms the cold air and gives more even heating throughout the room.

Perhaps one of our plumbing experts can tell us if this is correct?

 

[croydoncorgi]

Exactly so.
But if you have an available wall at right-angles to the window, that could give you best of both worlds: no draughts and no rad in the way of curtains, whatever. apart from the curtains issue, what have you got against rads under windows? OK - you may lose marginally more heat out through the cold glass but if you stay with single-glazing throughout, rad siting is not going to make a huge difference to heat-loss.