How high should a radiator be off the floor?

Radiators should typically be mounted so that the foot of the radiator is positioned a minimum of 150mm from the floor. The height of nearby floorboards could influence how high a radiator is fitted, if only for aesthetic reasons.

Does the height of a radiator matter?

Radiators and Heating Efficiency

Getting the balance right with radiator size is critical. If your radiator's too big, you'll be wasting energy every time it's on - and you may be taking up unnecessary wall space.

How much clearance does a radiator need?

A minimum of 10% of the radiator's height is required for the space around it to be enough to prevent impedance on heat output due to lack of natural air movement.

How much space do you need above a radiator?

The clearance a radiator needs depends on the size of the radiator. A general rule is that the radiator needs a minimum of 10% of its height in clearance. So if your radiator is 36 inches in height, this means it needs at least 3.6 inches in clearance around all sides.

What is the best position for a radiator?

The best place for a radiator is in the coldest part of the room. This used to be under windows. However, in more modern double-glazed homes, there may not be a cold area, so you can put radiators where they won't affect the use of walls. A general rule is to have one radiator for every 4m or so in a room.

HOW TO HANG A RADIATOR - Plumbing Tips

Can you put a radiator up high?

There is a simple answer to this problem though: select a position for your new radiator based on the layout of your room. There are no real rules to the position of a radiator and it doesn't have to stay where is right now.

Why do builders put radiators under windows?

This is something most of us learn in school and it helps to explain why radiators are located underneath windows. As the hot air rises from the radiator, the cold air that is coming in through the window pushes against the warm air, circulating it around the room much more efficiently.

Is it OK to have a sofa against a radiator?

It's not dangerous for a radiator to sit on the wall behind a sofa. In fact, it's a very common place for a radiator to live due to restrictions caused by availability of wall and floor space. However, while it may not be dangerous, a radiator behind a couch is not always the most efficient use of your central heating.

How much gap should be between radiator and shelf?

Measure the gap between the wall and the radiator, making sure the gap is AT LEAST 50mm (5cm) and NO BIGGER than 90mm (9cm). This will help ensure that the Radiator Shelf Brackets fit behind your radiator.

What should you not put around a radiator?

Should there be a gap between radiator and wall?

A radiator should be positioned 2cm or more away from a wall.

Can you put a table over a radiator?

Although you can put a table over a radiator, it's not recommended unless there is enough clearance for the air to flow naturally and prevent the table from heating up too much. The heat generated by radiators can damage wood, warp it or potentially ruin the table's finish which can lead to an expensive fix.

Is it OK for curtains to touch radiator?

Curtains can catch fire from electric radiators if the radiator is close to a curtain made of flammable material. Water radiators usually don't get hot enough to cause curtains to catch fire, but the radiator could still burn any fragile materials nearby.

Does a bigger radiator give more heat?

The longer the panel, the larger the heat emitting surface area, so bigger radiators will emit more heat, but also remember that a double panel radiator will emit more heat than a single panel radiator of the same length.

Are thicker radiators better?

Thicker radiators have a lower fin density. If noise level is a concern, these will let you sleep at night. Lower density radiators allow air to flow more freely allowing you to run slower fans while still dissipating heat effectively due to the additional width.

How do I know if my radiator is too small?

If your perfect radiator is too small, it will struggle to warm the room as it won't be able to produce enough heat. This will place extra strain on the boiler, while also increasing your heating bills as you keep your heating switched on for longer than necessary.

Does foil behind radiators work?

Silver foil placed down the back of a radiator will reflect heat back into a room rather than letting it uselessly escape through the walls of a house. Do-it-yourself buffs suggest wrapping the foil round pieces of cardboard which have been cut to the right size to make it easier to fit.

Is it safe to put wood on top of a radiator?

Wood Radiator Covers

Even though wood does insulate to some degree, you should still avoid putting anything on them that could be affected by heat on them.

Can a radiator cover touch the radiator?

Benefits of radiator covers

Radiator covers reduce the likelihood of fires and physical burns because they act as a layer of protection between the radiator and everything it may touch.

Should radiators be hot to the touch?

Are hot radiators unsafe? There's radiators that get hot enough to adequately heat the room and then there's radiators that are too hot to touch and pumping out far too much heat. If your radiators are too hot to the touch then this is of concern, especially if you have young children.

Can you place furniture in front of radiators?

You shouldn't place furniture directly in front of a radiator. The furniture would prevent heat from being distributed freely throughout the room, and could be damaged over time from the close exposure to heat.

Is it expensive to move a radiator?

Moving a radiator costs less for electric radiators than for central heating radiators. The cost of moving a radiator to another wall is higher than moving it a few inches due to additional pipework being needed. Jobs to temporarily remove a radiator for decorating work are priced lower than work to move radiators.

Should you tuck curtains behind radiators?

The main mistake that people make is to fit heavy floor-length curtains over both the window and the radiator below. This traps the heat in the window space and does not let it into the room. Correctly fitted curtains should not cover the top of the radiator, but should stop just below the window ledge.

Is it bad to have radiators under windows?

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.

Should radiators be below windows?

In a room with single glazing, the reason it is more efficient to place the radiator under the window is due to conduction. On a traditional radiator most of the heat that comes from the radiator is emitted as hot air through the top of the radiator.