Do radiator covers restrict the heat?

puddy

I would like to have radiator covers, i dont like radiators, but wondering if they are energy inefficient

TomsMom

I asked this question last year and it appears that you could lose up to 20% of heat output.

Put "radiator covers" into the search facility and click "show threads" and there are a few posts on this.

Becles

I've just bought radiator covers! I was reading online somewhere (can't remember where - sorry) that they are energy efficient.

At the moment, the heat comes off your radiator and floats straight up to the ceiling. However with the cabinet, you get a current going so cooler air is sucked in under the bottom of the cabinet, warms up and comes out of the top and comes out under the shelf into the middle of the room, so you feel the benefit more.

cajef

http://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=22426

olias

personally, I'd spend the money on getting new radiators, either period style, or modern depending on your house style. You can get a massive different variety of styles these days - they no longer have to be the boring white rectangles of the past! and they are getting cheaper and cheaper, especially if you source them online

Olias

cattie

Yes having lived with radiator covers in a previous property I'd say they definitely do.

puddy

oh dear. we are moving into a house where they already have the covers in place and i would like to keep them. i cannot stand radiators. not sure ive got the money to replace the radiators as its not just the radiator itself its the cost of a plumber etc

puddy

cajef wrote: »

http://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=22426

oh dear, what about if you put foil or something behind the radiator??

derrick

Becles wrote: »

I've just bought radiator covers! I was reading online somewhere (can't remember where - sorry) that they are energy efficient.

At the moment, the heat comes off your radiator and floats straight up to the ceiling. However with the cabinet, you get a current going so cooler air is sucked in under the bottom of the cabinet, warms up and comes out of the top and comes out under the shelf into the middle of the room, so you feel the benefit more.

Then straight up to the ceiling, it won't stay in the centre of the room! Heat rises so is always going to go up whenever it "gets out", covers will restrict the heat as some of the heat will absorbed into the material,whatever it is made of.

From the link in #4, (obviously covers will reduce output even more); -
As ANY radiator manufacturer will confirm, radiator shelves actually REDUCE the heat output from your radiators, typically by around 5%. Therefore, this is hardly a measure to increase your comfort – or to save energy. Avoid radiator shelves.

anthonykeates

As you say the radiator will heat up the cabinet and it therefore absorbs some heat. But, does that not mean that the heat in the cabinet is radiated from the cabinet into the room? Surely the heat won't be lost - it's got to go somewhere, and that must be into the room.

derrick

anthonykeates wrote: »

As you say the radiator will heat up the cabinet and it therefore absorbs some heat. But, does that not mean that the heat in the cabinet is radiated from the cabinet into the room? Surely the heat won't be lost - it's got to go somewhere, and that must be into the room.

Depends what the cabinet is made of and how long the heating is on for, it will take so long to absorb then if heat is turned off the absorbed heat will just die away, it is not recommended to cover anything that is designed to heat up something external to the heat source, logic dictates that it will decrease the output!