Central heating question

[SavageHoutkop]

We've recently moved from a very well insulated double glazed flat (heated via electric storage heaters) to a single glazed house, with gas central heating.

Neither of us likes the house hot (especially unnecessarily). At the moment we are heating the radiators and hot water for about four hours a day - two just before the morning shower and two just before hometime. This keeps the house warm enough.

However, the curtains we have are idiotic (rented house, they came fitted). The curtains are too long so they drape onto the floor, covering the windows and the radiators below. Would it be more efficient if we fitted shorter curtains that ended just above the radiators, so the curtains could block the cold air from the windows and the heat could heat the room rather than the curtains? The curtains aren't very thick and are unlined, so light comes through easily as well.

Also, we are having lots of condensation on the windows. This is despite opening the windows a crack permanently (probably not helping that our extractor fan in the bathroom is broken). Is there anything that would help for this aside from heating the whole house more than we find comfortable?

TIA

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Fold your curtains up and let them lie on the window sill so the rads aren't covered. Much more sensible. Or if you can afford to change the curtains - choose shorter and thicker.
The condensation is probably permanent at this time of year. Just allow a draft to flow (crack your window open) to keep it to a minimum. Or double glaze.......... There are dehumidifyers out there somewhere - those might help?

 

[ColinJ]

I saw some thermal imaging pictures a couple of days ago of houses using sensible curtains i.e. thick lined ones of appropriate length. Single glazed windows with heavy curtains were not losing any more heat than double glazed windows with the curtains open.

Normally, You'd want floor length curtains to keep the maximum heat in, but if your radiators are behind your curtains then you are actually keeping heat out of the rooms and sending it out through the windows, especially since you have them open!

I'd replace the curtains with thick, lined ones and choose the length so they go down the backs of the radiators as far as they can. You can also get reflective panels for putting down the back of radiators to stop so much heat going into the walls.

As for the condensation - why not get a dehumidifier? My sister's used to suck pints of water out of the air in her house every week in the winter. If you overdo it though, the air will be too dry and that isn't pleasant either.

 

[biggs682]

yes shorter curtains that sit near to top of rads and try and get some lined ones , we always have 1 window normally open to help with ventilation .

what temp have you got heating on we dont go any higher than 18 , if thats not warm enough we go and put another layer on .

bah humbugs

 

[ColinJ]

what temp have you got heating on we dont go any higher than 18 , if thats not warm enough we go and put another layer on .

It always bugs me when people visit me and moan about how cold it is in my house when they are wearing sleeveless dresses or t-shirts. I have a long-sleeved base layer on, a t-shirt over that, and a long-sleeved fleecy top over that. My gas fire is on as low as it will go. Actually, I've just realised that it has got too warm in here so I'm going to turn it off for an hour or so! (Done.)

 

[al78]

It always bugs me when people visit me and moan about how cold it is in my house when they are wearing sleeveless dresses or t-shirts. I have a long-sleeved base layer on, a t-shirt over that, and a long-sleeved fleecy top over that. My gas fire is on as low as it will go. Actually, I've just realised that it has got too warm in here so I'm going to turn it off for an hour or so! (Done.)

Some people adapt their dress sense to the climate, whereas others expect the climate to adapt to their dress sense.

 

[Globalti]

This thread is too sanctimonous for words.

Wickes are doing a special on loft insulation at the moment, four rolls of 170mm, each covering over 8m2, for just under £30. Insulation has never been cheaper; go and buy some, you'll save that on your heating bill this winter and more and the landlord will thank you for improving the house.

 

[zacklaws]

When I had my central heating installed last year, the salesman insisted that it should go in front of the window despite my curtains hanging down to the floor and instead of along a bare wall I have, so unless I lay the curtains on the window sill the room can stay cold.

 

[Beardie]

When I had my central heating installed last year, the salesman insisted that it should go in front of the window despite my curtains hanging down to the floor

More fool you for going along with that.

Also, ColinJ, I don't hold with the idea of stuffing the curtains down the back of the radiators every time they're drawn. It's time-consuming, will scuff the curtain fabric and will look awful.

 

[zacklaws]

More fool you for going along with that.

Yer right, but I had no experience of central heating, been a scrooge all my life and only had one gas fire in the entire house, but as I had my gas pipes condemmed last year plus I'm getting on a bit, thought I would spend some of my new car funds on central heating. The rep said it would make no difference, but I know now that it does.

But it would not be difficult for me to move it, its only a bit of copper piping that needs redirecting and soldering is not that hard to do.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Thanks all!

The curtain hunt has begun

 

[bikepete]

Yer right, but I had no experience of central heating, been a scrooge all my life and only had one gas fire in the entire house, but as I had my gas pipes condemmed last year plus I'm getting on a bit, thought I would spend some of my new car funds on central heating. The rep said it would make no difference, but I know now that it does.

But it would not be difficult for me to move it, its only a bit of copper piping that needs redirecting and soldering is not that hard to do.

Think carefully - there are some good reason to have rads under windows (and arguments against too).

A thorough if meandering discussion is at e.g.

http://www.greenbuil...iscussionID=924

Can't go wrong upgrading the curtains, though :-)