Insulate behind radiators

Raffles_3

Jolaaled wrote:

Can i just use kitchen foil glued onto some cardboard??...or would it be best to try and get some sheets of shiny metal, or something else??

.

Yes of course it will. It will reflect heat into the room.

But why use glue when one has sellotape?

mookybargirl

The shiny side of the kitchen foil should face the radiator

Jolaaled

ScoobieGirl wrote:

While trying to satisfy my own curiosity I came across these guys

Groundwork Leicester & Leicestershire, - helping communities become more sustainable through joint environmental action.

They reckon that 6 radiator panels save £8 annually. Not bad!

THanks for this, scoobiegirl.
I think i'll make up home-made panels ( nearly all my rads are on external walls) to keep the costs as low a possible.

thanks for taking time to do some research.. i failed miserably when i googled!

tawnyowls

Wickes did the proper stuff really cheap - I think I bought a roll for under a fiver, which did all my radiators (4 bdm house) with plenty to spare.

gavinp

Screwfix also sell the proper stuff:

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=10612&ts=48128

All of our radiators are on external walls and it definitely seems to have made the rooms warmer.

Thanks

Gavin

plumb1_2

Just paint all the walls with
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hammerite-Smooth-Silver-400ml-Aerosol-Paint-NEW-3pck_W0QQitemZ220019067819QQihZ012QQcategoryZ57217QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Tess

I know this may sound a bit stupid but I have bought a roll of radiator reflector foil from Wickes and on the "how to use" section it says "fit foil side to face back of radiator, ensure wall behind radiator is clean. Fix double sided adhesive pads along the top and bottom edge on bubble side". My question is do I stick the foil to the radiator itself or on the wall behind it?

silvercar

Tess wrote:

My question is do I stick the foil to the radiator itself or on the wall behind it?

To the wall, you want to create movement of air between the radiator and the wall.

So the order would be: wall, bubbly side of sheet, foil side of sheet, air gap, radiator, room.

Anyone know if there is a minimum distance between the sheet and the wall. Some of my radiators are very close to the wall particularly in the bays.

bigdic

I've used this stuff and a roll lasts for ages, best thing to stick it up with is coving adhesive. It's cheap and has a good initial grab, also I found a broken broom handle came in very handy to flatten it onto the wall. I wouldn't use sellotape as eventually it'll dry out and you'll have to re-do it all again.

After I installed it I was told by a central heating engineer that it wouldn't make any difference, as has been stated, but to be honest the stuff is brilliant, MUCH more heat coming out of the radiator.

silvercar

Done it!

The foil feels cool to touch whereas previously the wall behind the rad felt warm. can feel the warm air blowing up from behind the radiator.