Radiators serve a great role when it comes to keeping our homes warm and toasty during those chilly winter days. But on the flip side, these handy heat exchangers can be ghastly.
Gone are the days when radiator installation advice was to set them under windows so that cold air seeping through inefficient single panes could get heat.
Today, with the advent of double glazing and vertical radiators, there’s much more versatility around where these heat exchangers can be installed. That said, there are still various things that should not be placed in front of radiators wherever possible.
So Can You Put Furniture In Front of a Radiator?
Of course, no one would recommend placing furniture directly in front of a radiator. However, you can put furniture in front of a radiator as long as there’s at least one foot in between them.
Pulling them a few inches away from the radiator can provide a channel for the heat to rise up and into the space. Otherwise, due to limited space, it’s rare to come across the issue of having to place large pieces of furniture in front of a radiator.
Nonetheless, you should be extra careful with leather, wood, or any upholstered pieces of furniture as leather can get damaged, and the upholstery and wood pieces will take up much heat and quite possibly catch fire, too.
Also, when a radiator is set in an awkward place, things like a sofa or a chest of drawers pushed right against it can block the heat from being distributed into the room. Furthermore, the furniture could be damaged over time from the close exposure to heat.
Is it Safe to Place Furniture in Front of a Radiator?
If you’re planning to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing space with a radiator inside, you need to get things right when it comes to furniture placement. One common issue among homeowners runs into how they can complement their room with the hideous, larger radiator onboard.
The good news is that it’s safe to place the furniture as long as it’s one foot away from the radiator. There are plenty of ways to decorate your home without risking fire or simply not getting enough heat throughout the rest of the room.
We’ll be discussing how you can safely put furniture around and in front of your radiator, alongside some awesome tips and tricks to help turn that horrible, but very much-needed radiator into a neat, usable area.
Check what you’re putting in front of the Radiator
If you’re planning about placing furniture that is made of wood, leather, and any form of upholstery, then there’s a need to be even more careful. Even though the minimum recommendation is at least one foot, you might want to a bit more than one foot- just to be sure. Here’s why:
Leather can be damaged by too much heat. The heat produced by the radiator will eventually wear your leather down, which is something you to avoid by all means.
Furniture can block heat distribution; obviously, if there’s anything in front of the radiator, it is won’t be able to deliver the heat to the rest of the room, thereby subsiding the purpose of having a radiator in the first place. This is especially the case with furniture that is made of wood or/and upholstery as they draw in the heat.
Wood and upholstered furniture absorb heat. As previously mentioned, wood furniture and anything that is upholstered will absorb all the heat coming off the radiator. While you might get a warm and toasty sofa, the rest of the room will be left blistering cold. Besides, heat can eventually ruin these materials over time.
The furniture can catch fire: Although it is not super likely, your furniture could still catch fire when placed too close directly in front of the radiator. Without a foot or so in between the radiator and the furniture, you might set yourself up for a spark in your home. You can avoid this by ensuring there’s enough space- at least one foot. The more the safer.
With a minimum of one foot, you can feel at ease that your family is safe, and you won’t have to worry about your house becoming too cold during winter months, due to heat being blocked by the furniture.
Can Radiators Cause Fire?
Electric radiators and heaters can cause fires in some cases. Water radiators will not start a fire because they may not get hot enough. However, loose materials placed close to or on a water radiator can burn and cause a fire.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are two main reasons why these heat exchangers could cause a fire in the home: Dirty Chimney; The unit located too close to flammable material.
To prevent fire hazards associated with radiators, it is important to keep the unit as well as the heating system they might be connected to in proper working condition. In case the heating units sustained any damage, they should be turned off and inspected by a professional.
Damage could concern the wiring of the heating units, causing a short, which could lead to a fire. Also, your home’s heating system should be inspected yearly before being turned on for the winter to make sure all components are in good working condition.
The Bottom Line
So, to sum up, you can put furniture in front of a radiator as long as there’s at least 1 foot in between them. You might want to toss in an extra few inches to the minimum recommendations when you’re dealing with furniture made of delicate materials.
Check on your furniture regularly to make sure there are no damages. This is particularly important when it comes to leather. In regards to wood and upholstery items, you can inspect how hot they are and how well heat is being delivered throughout the room.