Foil panels behind radiators to stop heat loss

bigfatpig

I've put kitchen foil behind our downstairs radiators, haven't really noticed a difference but our house is quite warm anyway. Thought it was worth trying for the price of kitchen foil. Like the idea of the car windscreen thingies but wouldn't spend a lot of money on proper ones as our house does keep warm, we have cavity wall and loft insulation and double glazing throughout plus I hang blankets behind the curtains too!

Lotus-eater

I made some for all of our radiators and they work well. Although as someone else says, it makes the most difference on a solid walled house, which ours is.

I had some stout cardboard, with bubblewrap on back to insulate the wall and tinfoil, shiny side up, stuck on the front.

Butterfly_Brain

abankerbutnotafatcat wrote: »

On the preparing for winter site people recommend all types of foil products for the purpose - the panels sold to put on car windscreens to keep the sun out are popular and can apparently be bought from pound shops.

I use these and they work great and I bought mine for 50p each in Wilkinsons sale last year

ksh123

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

I use these and they work great and I bought mine for 50p each in Wilkinsons sale last year

How do you make them stick? I bought some special paper ones from Homebase last year but the heat melted the tape used to attch them - result - lots of shiny paper curled up opn the floor

camNolliesMUMMY

Do you feel an instant improvement? I feel the cold and our lounge is fairly long and I'm always cold and don't seem to get warm when I'm sat still.
The kids are always running around like nutters and so am I, but in the evenings when I sit down even in my onesie n slippers I'm feeling it now the temperature has dropped. And I chuck a blanket over my lap when the kids have gone to bed.

I've asked dh to bring some boxes back from work to try it but I thought I'd ask.

:cool:

MoneyMate

Probably better looking at other factors like insulation drafts etc
http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/tips-insulation

UserX

I phoned British Gas (who were my energy providers at the time) with an energy efficiency query (TRVs I think) and they were doing an offer at the time and sent me enough foil backings for 4 of my radiators for free. I wouldn't have paid for the proper stuff but had often wondered about trying foil. IMHO the foils have certainly made a difference.

They are only worth putting behind radiators on external walls. But, yes, they make a noticeable difference.

mardatha

I did it yesterday and we can't notice a difference yet - but the temp dropped sharply here and its snowing hard, so maybe that's making it feel colder.

camNolliesMUMMY

Thank you for replying. Anything is worth a go. It doesn't help I've lost two stone quickly so I'm feeling it more and I was nesh before. It runs in my family.

Think il be putting this together tomorrow and digging out my tights.
I'm constantly wearing a cardi as my shoulders get cold. But more so my legs once they are cold that's it and I struggle to get warm again.

camNolliesMUMMY

I don't want to spend money here as we've bought a house and will finally getting out of our flat that we rent.
By putting this this together I can take it with us or chuck in the bin and make new ones if they fall apart lol