Why does literally every house have radiators?

[SammyLiimex]

I have never once seen a radiator in real life in any house or apartment I have been in, but in this game its the only option and pretty much every room in every house has one. It really breaks the immersion when I have to install things in every room that do not make a lot of sense. Especially things like towel radiators.

Why is the only AC option a small thing? Wheres the normal central Heat/AC and window units?

[71006.1644]

My guess is because the devs aren't American. Most American homes are new enough that they have central heat and air. Most European homes are old enough that they were designed to be steam heated, hence all the radiators.

[Zhenya Yedinarozhka]

We have a radiator in every single room. In big rooms, we have two of them. ( Austria)

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

Yeah Europe has lot more older buildings and old soviet block countries used them extensively as well. Most renovations now switch over to floor heating or thermal pumps etc.

[CrazyCatLady]

Yep, in the UK lots of people have radiators in most rooms. Especially in a bugger of a cold country like Scotland, where you practically sit on the damn things during the winter ;)

[mr nut]

Originally posted by Sataluzi:

We have a radiator in every single room. In big rooms, we have two of them. ( Austria)

We have central heating and A/C in every single room. In big rooms, we have two of each vent sometimes. ( US and Canada)

[Turtleswatter]

UK here. Radiator in every room. I think some new buildings have underfloor heating though.

" It really breaks the immersion when I have to install things in every room that do not make a lot of sense. Especially things like towel radiators."

It shouldn't really. You have the option to sell the radiator fittings and not put any radiators at all anywhere and, if you like, stick as many air cons anywhere you want. Nothing is compulsory. You do you.

[Redacted]

I did live in a house once that had radiators, back in the 90's, but they are pretty rare these days. For this game, though, I just use the space heaters they sell in the electronics section. They look nicer and don't take up a lot of room.

[Cat Tank]

The house of a friend of mine is so old that the monument protection authority doesn`t let him to change the floor tiling - either conservation (~ 500-600 € / m2) and then special covering, or restoration (~ 150-200€ /m2) were and are the options. (Germany-Poland border, Germany side).

[haleondk]

floor heating, in concrete

[Draconifors]

Radiators are the norm where I live, and I would assume the same applies to Poland. I'd certainly put radiators in houses if I were a game developer, probably even if the game took place in some very warm, tropical place.

[Metallos]

Originally posted by 71006.1644:

My guess is because the devs aren't American. Most American homes are new enough that they have central heat and air. Most European homes are old enough that they were designed to be steam heated, hence all the radiators.

Hot water, not steam.
And yes, our (European) houses are old enough because we usually don't build houses made of "paperboard" and they survive even a T3 tornado (ok, windows and roof have to repaired), US "paperboard" houses are completely blown away in comparision. ;-)
Ok, houses made of brick / stones (solid build) are more expensive than "paperboard" houses.

And where I live (not the house where I live, that's from 1947 with brick walls and isolated at outside, and of course with those hot water radiators, before that there were ovens in the rooms) are many houses (half-timbered / "Fachwerk" (even the English Wiki has "Fachwerk" as term...) from 19th century or earlier.

[71006.1644]

Hmm, get a lotta tornadoes where you live, huh? Didn't know there was a European tornado alley. Most houses in tornado alley are brick or stone, for an obvious reason. Helps, but still a little tough on houses.

[stormfeather3]

If you don't like working with the radiators in the game, don't. Just sell them all and don't install any. The buyers don't care and it doesn't affect the sale price.

[mjerrett]

I live in the U.S and have a radiator

[Turtleswatter]

I love these threads. I haven't had so much fun since somebody disputed putting washing machines in bathrooms.