Electric Saver Device? Sounds like a Con...

Cardew

saver_1 wrote: »

Going back to the polystyrene with tin foil behind radiators.

This does seem to work as it reflects the heat back into the room instead of a %age going through the wall but these are easily made by ones self as i did and the rooms do seem a bit warmer as the heating goes off more frequently

There is absolutely no proof that these foil sheets do work. Loads of posts on this.

As far as I am aware no Government body - Energy saving Trust etc - makes any claim of saving for them. If the Government are handing out £hundreds in grants for insulation it is surprising that they don't incude these as they would cost no more than a pound or two.

IMO it is one of those devices that seem a good idea - but just don't work in practice.

Stick a brick in a bowl of hot water so it is half covered, and in a short while the half in the air will get just as hot by 'heat soak'. In the same way the bricks behind the foil will still get as warm as the rest of the wall by heat soak.

If they did work why don't we line the whole room with silver foil.

Biggles

Cardew wrote: »

If they did work why don't we line the whole room with silver foil.

My parents once bought a house where that had been done (under the wallpaper, obviously). No idea whether it worked or not!

Cardew

Biggles wrote: »

My parents once bought a house where that had been done (under the wallpaper, obviously). No idea whether it worked or not!

A Faraday cage no less! How was their radio reception!!!

saver_1_2

Foil does reflect heat.So instead of the heat going through the wall it gets reflected back into the room.It must work

Cardew

saver_1 wrote: »

Foil does reflect heat.So instead of the heat going through the wall it gets reflected back into the room.It must work

Then why isn't recomended as a savings measure by organisations other than those who sell?

Why don't we line the whole room with foil?

My wife puts foil in the bottom of the grill pan(to assist in cleaning) - the grill pan still gets hot!!

If you feel it works, then fine. However if recommending them as a money saving measure, please come up with something better than 'it must work'. Perhaps have a look at radiation and convection.

markharding557

polystyrene with tin foil behind radiators.

this could be done easily for a few pounds never mind some rip off merchant

saver_1_2

That's what i was saying you can make these for a couple of quid i have. Takes about 15 minutes. No need to go to the shops or buy them on line for silly money.

Okay then Cardew. It does work. Well it does in my home. Does that make you feel better.

My wife also uses tin foil but for it's proper use not as a cleaning assistant

st999

Hi saver 1, when the radiator has been on for a while feel the temperature of the foil or if you have a thermometer measure it's temperature.

I bet it will be almost the same temperature as the radiator. So if it is reflecting the heat why is it not cold to the touch?

Stan

saver_1_2

Hi st999 it is actually cooler quite noticeably in fact.It is not cold but is warm to touch. When i touch it with the front of my hand the back of my hand which is facing the rad gets very hot so i have to move it.

Is that what foil is for when used in cooking to reflect some of the heat away from the roast so it does not burn[I'll have to ask the wife that one]

Cardew

saver_1 wrote: »

Hi st999 it is actually cooler quite noticeably in fact.It is not cold but is warm to touch. When i touch it with the front of my hand the back of my hand which is facing the rad gets very hot so i have to move it.

Is that what foil is for when used in cooking to reflect some of the heat away from the roast so it does not burn[I'll have to ask the wife that one]

I meant putting foil in the bottom of the grill pan or oven dishes to stop fat burning onto the metal surface - and thus make them easier to clean. However the grillpan and dishes still get as hot;)

Putting foil on a joint or chicken is to stop the direct heat from overcooking the top of the meat before the rest is cooked. Putting anything over the meat would have the same effect. Some ovens have spit roasting for the same purpose.

Quite seriously, if putting silver paper behind the radiator works, why not line the whole room?