Radiator under window. DH wants half curtains!

[PoppyAmex]

as in title, really - we have a radiator under a large bay window and DH is adamant that full length curtains will represent a waste of energy (and a cold sitting room).

But I can't bear the idea of half length curtains and can't move the radiator - any genius ideas please?

You're not, Trinity. It is a question of taste and sometimes, cost because obviously there is less fabric in a shorter curtain. Plus as the OP knows, long curtains over a radiator make the room cold which again is a waste of money.

The problem with blinds too is that they don't cover the whole window in the same way that curtains do so if there is any draught from the windows you will feel it.

I'm sure your house doesn't look shit Trinity perhaps you should see mine!!

You've got me shopping for blinds, now!

These look good, and actually seal to the window frame to prevent draughts.

Actually floor-length curtains are a hang-over from the days before central heating, when there was never a radiator under a window and frequently a narrow sill. They were designed to trap the cold air against window and floor.

Now houses are different, we manage them differently. And floor-length curtains can be worse than none at all.

I am now looking at roman blinds rather than wooden ones, from a heat retaining point of view. I have ordered a red checked one in the Next sale and they have some other nice ones in different sizes.

Hi PartialFancy, thanks for your kind link. I've been making the blinds for a couple of years & have just taken on an apprentice to help as they are getting popular. Please everyone be aware of very new child safety regulations and make sure roman blinds you order really do comply with the regulations as sadly there have been several deaths with children getting tangled in chain loops. You can read more on my blog.

Move the radiator? Who sits by the window? I understand the reasoning why they site them under the window but it just doesn't work in my experience...get it sited more into the room, you ll have a warmer room and wont have the faff of blinds or short curtains. Full length curtains are so much more elegant.

Oh goodness! I'd never heard of you before I googled: you must be very hot on tracking your internet presence, ThermalKaty!

Anyway, your blinds do look the business, from their spec at least, and I'm delighted to find good quality thermal blinds available: last time I was buying I couldn't find anything that took heat-saving seriously.

Haha, no not really, I was just trying to get rid of spam on my website & noticed several visitors from mumsnet, so thought I'd pop in & see what was happening. I used to work with old buildings and came up with the magnet idea when trying to refurb a house with terrible downdraughts. I'm just working on a wider range of rather lovely fabrics if anyone wants more than just the plain range.
Just testing them at the mo.

Are you sure you can't move the radiator? Maybe a vertical radiator or 2 smaller radiators would work in the room.

I am now spending too much time thinking about curtain length. My bays currently have 3/4 curtains which give the impression of needing to curtain a very high ceilinged house quickly and cheaply. I was thinking of hemming them to 'half curtains' so they fit behind the sofas better/don't get covered in cat and baby; but then long ones so look better...

ThermalKaty, how are you finding the blinds perform? My concern is usually condensation.

I couldn't work out whether your blinds allow moisture through or not.

We had a curved bay. We had short curtains made to sit inside the window they don't quite touch the sill. We aldo then "dressed" the bay eith matching full length curtains that were really for display only.
The short curtains were hidden when open in the day behind the full length ones.
I think this looked good (always lots of compliments when people visited) on a curved bay. If it had been a square bay I would have opted for blinds in the Window with full length curtains for display.

That said I don't have any issue with Window length curtains st all. Several rooms in our house don't have full length.

We also have plantation shutters in most of our rooms. They look great, and really block the light in the kids rooms! We got ours from www.shutterdelight.co.uk

Hi PartialFancy, Yes, in theory it might exacerbate an existing condensation problem, it depends on the exact circumstances, how much trickle ventilation happens at the edge and how much moisture is in the air. The fabrics I use are high quality, the facing fabric is 100% polyester & very robust (& spongeable) and the fabric facing the window is poly cotton with a thermal lining which could eventually have a mould problem in certain situations (no complaints so far). The mylar prevents moisture getting into the blind itself. I recommend a 'moisture trap' for extreme conditions, but have supplied for bathrooms. I'd rather have condensation on the cold windows and a snug room - best to make sure paintwork is in good nick before hanging the blind though.

Thanks for that, ThermalKaty.

I did wonder if it might actually improve a condensation situation. By reducing the flow of warm, moist air to the cold glass.

Yes, I have exactly the problem of slight mould in the fabric facing the window - caused by a protruding metal handle which attracted condensation.

So another question I have is: can your blinds be easily dismantled to be dry-cleaned (if only to kill off the mould)? Or am I missing something about how to deal with mould in the blind lining?

Thanks for all the advice.

We have decided to get a local Blacksmith to do a made to measure rod for the bay window and possibly get some half voiles and full dress curtains.

I'm still not convinced but understand DH's argument about energy saving so we might actually end up with plantation shutters

Hi PartialFancy, Yes, you're correct, it could improve the situation. Condensation happens when warm moist air hits a cold surface. The thermal blinds will reduce the temperature between the blind & the window so if there isn't much air flow then condensation will be reduced, then when the blind is opened, the warm air will hit the cold window & potentially produce condensation at that point. In theory the blinds could be dismantled, but the aluminium bar at the bottom is sewn in. I would use a fabric spray cleaner if there were any stains from mould. You could use a scotchguard spray or similar on new blinds but its not a very nice chemical! Here is a diagram showing temperatures through the window & blind so you can see the impact.

What on earth is so aesthetically pleasing about floor length curtains that you can't close!

I'm with your DH, curtains that cover the window and allow the radiator to work, would be the best solution.

Your DH is absolutely right. MIL's north facing living room is never warm when her full length curtains are drawn. It is a monumental waste of heating to heat just the window.

"We have full length curtains on our patio door but at the other end of the room with have a window with a radiator under and half length curtains."

So do we and it looks fine, and we have a warm living room at night.