eli5: Why are radiators in houses often situated under a window- surely this is the worst place and the easiest way to lose all the heat?

Question

eli5: Why are radiators in houses often situated under a window- surely this is the worst place and the easiest way to lose all the heat?

In: 2851

Answer 1

There’s a great story behind it. The practice of putting steam radiators under windows dates back to the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. It was believed that the flu was caused by bad air, so radiators were put under the windows to allow the occupants to leave the windows wide open to let in fresh air no matter how cold it was outside. The radiators would heat the incoming cold air.