Correct placement of a radiator is the first step to creating a warm, inviting space for all to enjoy. In colder climates, keeping the room warm when the outside world is cold will ensure that it’s a welcoming place all year round. The challenge is to place the radiator where it can produce the most heat while reducing the chance of impeding the function and flow of the room.
1. Check your pipework
Sometimes, radiator placement is dictated by the location of the central heating system pipes. Their location may also indicate whether a vertical or horizontal designer radiator is the best option. Vertical radiators will be more visible, but can be very stylish. Horizontal radiator models run along the floor and are less obvious, but can limit furniture placement options.
2. Standard practise
Often heating sources are located under windows. This allows the heating source to counteract the cooler air that typically emanates from the window panes. As that air drops, the warmer air rises to meet and mix with it. In buildings with newer insulated windows, this is not such a challenge.
3. Placed for efficiency
In especially cold areas, placing the radiator on an exterior wall may reduce its efficiency, since it has to work harder to counteract the cold from outside, so this is worth bearing in mind. Its heat output may be improved when the radiator is placed on an interior wall, where it can gain additional efficiency from the interior walls’ insulation.
If the radiator is to be installed in a new development, then the design decisions regarding placement of radiators should be made before construction begins. This will allow proper installation of whatever power source the chosen heating system will use. Renovating existing properties will require an evaluation of what currently exists and whether it can be retrofitted for newer, more efficient heating choices. Often, it may be optimal to abandon old systems for newer options.
