Conventional wisdom or not?

[PassnThru]

I've been doing some research on garage heaters and placement. During my research I've seen several people say that home heat registers are placed at windows because that is where the cold spot is.
I always thought they were placed there because people were less likely to put furniture in front of a window - thus blocking the register.
Maybe I'm missing something here?

 

[matt_i]

I would guess the former...place most heat where most heat loss will be.

 

[HoosierMark]

I think they are there because the heat will mix with the cool/hot air quicker and be more effective. If they are on the inside walls furniture could block the circular air flow. Then you would have warm and cool areas within the room. On the ceiling and since heat rises, the floors will be cooler. I am sure there are HVAC guys who have specific data but virtually all my properties have had incoming registers by windows and return air vents on inside walls.

 

[Stuart in MN]

If you're talking about a wall or ceiling hung unit heater, typically they are pointed at the coldest spot in the room - so for instance, in a garage it may be hung in a front corner and pointed out towards the garage door in the back.

 

[75gmck25]

It also depends on whether the priority is heating or cooling.

If heating is a priority, they will put registers under windows, usually on the floor, because its the largest source of cold air and it more effectively mixes the air and heats the room well as heat naturally rises.

In a warm climate where A/C is more important, supply vents may be on interior walls and they are often in the ceiling or mounted high on the wall. In a warm, sunny climate you get more heat gain from solar than from direct transmission through the window itself, so solar screens, low-E glass, or good window shades are usually quite effective at keeping most of the heat out.

Bruce

 

[LS6 Tommy]

A unit heater in a garage has entirely different placement needs than a forced warm air or A/C system in a home. As mentioned above, aim it at the coldest area in the garage.

Tommy

 

[jbwilkins]

There are “new thoughts” on register placement by some engineers.....some suggest placing them a ways from the window and use a register that ‘throws” the air across the ceiling toward the window.....the thought is this creates more mixing, a more balanced temperature in the room, and reduces any ‘felt’ draft from the register output......

 

[FullRaceMerc]

Our guys always put them at the far ends of the room, frequently over a window or door. The window or door is often the greatest loss of heat or cool, but it is also because the return is centrally located. If you put the registers at the interior walls, the air will flow from there directly to the return, not across the room. So it would not change out the air in the room as well as outboard placement does.

 

[James-W]

It has always been my understanding that hot air registers are put on the outside walls because they are colder than the inside walls. During the Summer months the outside walls are hotter so you want the air-conditioning to be located on the outside walls. It makes sense to me, it may be all wrong but it makes sense to me anyway.

 

[Marctrees]

In Northern climate, old days, hot water heating radiators were often placed under windows, for same reason ..

Coldest spot in room.

Marc

 

[like2wheel]

Plus the heat/air movement helps prevent condensation on the cold surface of the glass

 

[Jim greengo]

I would guess the former...place most heat where most heat loss will be.

Windows and doors along exterior walls.
For heating/cooling loses.
Returns on interior walls.

 

[SpaceDog5]

I think that the heater form and size is deciding its position for us.

 

[Marctrees]

Hmmm...

You think ?

I don't get into that "Paranormal" stuff.

Marc