Heating an open plan living room.

[Hugh Jaleak]

My mate has been bugging me about his house for a while. 3 bed semi, back boiler, gravity HW, pumped CH. Living room (approx 20' x 16') has the stairs leading up from the living room, parallel with the side wall onto landing. 2 windows in living room, 1 on landing. Double glazing and cavity wall insulation installed.

He finds the room difficult to keep warm, and is asking me to fit a rad on the upstairs landing in the hope this will keep the upstairs warmer, and prevent some of the convection from the living room. Seems logical in theory, any other ideas or thoughts appreciated.

 

[slapper]

Mate,you need to think alot more logically than coming on ere DUH,ventilation on BBu,open vent,gravity circrs

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Sorry, but where is the ventilation, open vent and gravity circulation relevant to fitting another rad?

 

[gasbanni]

You might find that if he fits thermal curtains around stairwell it has the desired effect, with a bbu he's got to have ventilation to outside in the front room so its always going to be a problem for open plan living !
He might not like the idea of drapes but at least he would be warm !

Rad on upper landing might actually exacerbate the feeling of draughts as it could increase the pull from downstairs as it works !

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Cheers Chap, thats the answer I was looking for. I'll tell the tight git to turn the stat up

Curtains have been mentioned, he's not taken with that idea. (I know someone who has a similar property, and has built a stud wall, and fitted a door to access the stairs and prevent the problem).

Boiler is on a service contract with E-on, (for whatever thats worth...), and there is a vent on the front wall.