Foil behind Radiators?

amtrakuk

I currently have convection heaters heating my house but find the regular clicking of the thermostat and the hum of the heating element annoying, especially in the bedroom when trying to get to sleep. I'm looking for an alternative. Last winter I tried wall hung 1.25Kw Dimplex OFX radiators but even with the radiators being on full, the rooms never really got above chilly, I even tried leaving the heater on high 24/7.

Feeling the wall the radiators was hung on, it seems most of the heat was being lost into the wall. Someone suggested putting foil on the wall behind the radiator would make a substantial difference. I remember doing this when I was very young before central heating radiators had fins. I couldn't remember if/how much benefit this gave.

Is it recommended, would it be the answer to warming my room or should I be looking at an alternative quiet heating solution.

The rooms have double glazing and all vents are closed.

Thanks

Slinky_Malinky

Maybe something like this would help you...

http://www.envirosaveuk.co.uk/

I have wondered about these panels myself - personally I`d be more interested in whether they actually increase the warmth in the room rather than saving money.

Fingers crossed someone comes along who has tried them.

skiTTish

We have tried the special radiator foil behind ours and tbh it has made no difference

Vibrant

I put foil with a foam back, behind my storage heaters, some years ago and there was a noticable difference, particulary where they are mounted on external walls.
Whether it would make enough difference in your case is hard to say. A 1.25Kw Dimplex OFX radiator isn't particulary powerful, if it has to warm the room from scratch. I would have thought it would be rather expensive to run.
It is hard to know what to suggest. Storage heaters are reasonably cheap to install and no dearer to run than gas, when you include maintenance charges. But they are not very controllable and it gets cold in the evening (sitting here typing with a blanket over my shoulders).
The other electric heaters all give out the same amount of heat, just varying in the delivery.

amtrakuk

Slinky_Malinky wrote: »

Maybe something like this would help you...

http://www.envirosaveuk.co.uk/

I have wondered about these panels myself - personally I`d be more interested in whether they actually increase the warmth in the room rather than saving money.

Fingers crossed someone comes along who has tried them.

Thanks for that. I have seen something like this before and thought it maybe a cheap gimmick.

Reading up on the web this evening it seems on a Central heating radiator convection seems to be as important as radiant heat. As it was explained the radiant heat makes you feel warm directly while the fins on the back of the radiator warm the air.

I was hoping the temperature difference between the OFX and the inch or so gap between that and the cool wall would crate a convection draft but it doesn't seem to work that way

amtrakuk

Vibrant wrote: »

I put foil with a foam back, behind my storage heaters, some years ago and there was a noticable difference, particulary where they are mounted on external walls.
Whether it would make enough difference in your case is hard to say. A 1.25Kw Dimplex OFX radiator isn't particulary powerful, if it has to warm the room from scratch. I would have thought it would be rather expensive to run.
It is hard to know what to suggest. Storage heaters are reasonably cheap to install and no dearer to run than gas, when you include maintenance charges. But they are not very controllable and it gets cold in the evening (sitting here typing with a blanket over my shoulders).
The other electric heaters all give out the same amount of heat, just varying in the delivery.

I did think of fitting storage heaters but the cost of buying new storage heaters is prohibitive. I understand modern storage heaters are a lot better than older models especially when it comes to heat retention during charging.

The cheap £30 convection heaters satisfy my heating needs. Being in a metal box, it's just the amplified persistent "CLICK - Hummmmmmmmmm - Click", I'm trying not to listen out for when trying to get to sleep, its enough to drive you insane :mad:

The OFX radiators seem to be quieter (especially the thermostat) and at 750watt less than the convection heaters I have I would have thought would be "man enough for the job"