Radiator panels?

Mrs_Thrify

Hi everyone, I have ordered a pack of 6 radiater panels from Scotish Power. To put behind the radiators in our home to help save energy, reduce heating bills and keep warm.

The panels willl reduce the heat absorbed into the walls and reflect the heat back into the rooms. Now! I am begining to wonder if I have done the right thing? as they might cause damp in the outside walls? We have a coal fire that helps keep the house cosy. Radiators are on 4 hours a day in 3 bed semi.

Has any MSE's invested in radiator panels and do they help?

morrow56

Hi Julie

I would be interested in these - can I ask how much they cost?

Mrs_Thrify

morrow56 wrote: »

Hi Julie

I would be interested in these - can I ask how much they cost?

Hiya, yes. The cost is £30.04 OR if you are with Scotish Power the price is reduced to £25.53. Including delivery.

The radiator panels are supplied in a pack of 6 along with double sided tape and fitting instructions.

morrow56

Great - thanks so much

aliasojo

julie_d wrote: »

The panels willl reduce the heat absorbed into the walls and reflect the heat back into the rooms. Now! I am begining to wonder if I have done the right thing? as they might cause damp in the outside walls?

Found this....

18. Will fitting HEATKEEPER Energy Saving Radiator Panels on the wall behind a radiator cause problems with damp because they prevent the radiator from drying out the wall?

The purpose of the radiators is to heat the room and not to dry out a damp wall. If your wall behind the radiator is damp we recommend you do not fit HEATKEEPER Energy Saving Radiator Panels. Consult an expert such as a buildings surveyor to find out the cause of the damp and to recommend appropriate action. Once the damp problem has been fixed you can then fit the radiator panels. Back to top



So as long as your wall is ok to start with, these wont cause any damp problems.

I'm about to use them too and am looking around for the best prices which is how I found the above quote.

Pack of 5 here...£24.50

http://www.heatkeeper.co.uk/Buy%20Now.html

Pack of 5 here....£13.50 + £4.99 p+P

http://www.greenstamp.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/16

Cardew

There are several threads on these panels - no evidence that they work at all!!

aliasojo

My own personal feeling is that I'll give them a go as long as they don't cost much in outlay terms to begin with. I don't completely believe the all claims made for them by the manufacturers and the sites selling them, but I do feel they may help in some small way.

Perhaps they are a waste of money but at £13.99 I'm happy to try them out for myself.

JohalaReewi

If you put the pad behind the radiator, how can they reflect the heat into the room. Surely they just reflect the heat back to the radiator?

Pincher

Doesn't the ENTIRE outside wall leak heat?

I have a solid wall, so can't have cavity wall insulation.
There seems to be a thermal panel/layer you can add to the interior wall,
but the extra thickness makes the window shelf look funny.
Ideally, I would like some sort of thermal plaster which does the same job.

Mrs_Thrify

JohalaReewi wrote: »

If you put the pad behind the radiator, how can they reflect the heat into the room. Surely they just reflect the heat back to the radiator?

The tooth design traps still air behind the radiator insulating the radiator from the wall. The heat will rise and spin out into the room, improving heat distribution, reducing the time it takes to heat a room and save us money.

aliasojo

JohalaReewi wrote: »

If you put the pad behind the radiator, how can they reflect the heat into the room. Surely they just reflect the heat back to the radiator?

The sheets have angled sections which are supposed to help direct the heat up and over the radiator. Heat rises so it wouldn't go directly back to the rad anyway.

Pincher wrote: »

Doesn't the ENTIRE outside wall leak heat?

It will do. We have one very small bedroom in particular which has 2 external walls and always seems cold.

I've just ripped off all the plasterboard and insulated between the studs (timber framed house) in an effort to try to stop as much heat loss. You can get insulated plasterboard but again it's thicker than normal stuff.