Radiator Reflectors

The_Wingco

Anyone got opinion on the effectiveness of these things? I see that Radflek currently have a 25% discount on 3, 5 and 8 sheet packs at £21/£33/£49 respectively. Would a sheet of MDF covered in kitchen foil do the job just just as well?

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Previous thread HERE.

Andy_WSM

If your radiators are on cold external walls then there may be some savings to be had. All my rads are on internal walls so any heat emitted off the back of them warms the fabric of the building anyway and isn't lost to the outside. Siting radiators on outside walls under cold, draughty windows is an outdated idea IMO as none of us should really have draughty windows any more.

Cardew

It is really important for anyone interested in fitting these reflectors that they read the link posted on post#2.


Essentially if you have cavity wall insulation - don't bother. Even on solid exterior walls they have limited savings.

Richie-from-the-Boro

If you are going to do this use foil, not radiator reflectors, not ordinary foil, but at least extra heavy duty food grade micron thickness and length available from most catering only outlets. For myself Microtherm®, but be careful how you cut it. For those who just want a quick cheap[er] alternative Screwfix do a moderate but cheap foil, don't buy expensive fixing just use cheepo PVA. There's only a couple of quid a year in it, the 1/8” or better still two 1/8” put together would be the best solution but I have no way of measuring its efficacy.

matelodave

I've read the other thread and am still trying to fathom out how a "professionally" fitted system is better than a DIY job.
Does a professional use better glue? - I bet they charge significantly more.

Likewise how is Radflek any better than this stuff at £7 for 5 metres http://www.diy.com/departments/bq-foil-faced-polyethylene-foam-radiator-reflector-roll-w500-mm-l5-m/26875_BQ.prd. Its also cheaper than the Screwfix stuff that Richie suggests

Richie-from-the-Boro

matelodave wrote: »

I've read the other thread and am still trying to fathom out how a "professionally" fitted system is better than a DIY job.
Does a professional use better glue? - I bet they charge significantly more.

Likewise how is Radflek any better than this stuff at £7 for 5 metres http://www.diy.com/departments/bq-foil-faced-polyethylene-foam-radiator-reflector-roll-w500-mm-l5-m/26875_BQ.prd. Its also cheaper than the Screwfix stuff that Richie suggests

Often [surprisingly] the case, Screwfix is the trade arm [discounted to the trade only] arm of B&Q. So same stuff - same company - different price, the retail package being cheaper than the trade product - madness !

Kin_Melbay

Have been approached by UK HomeSave Ltd Re: Radiator reflecting panels to fit behind my radiators. Quoted £950 to supply and fit to a total of 18 radiators!! I cancelled the Order when I found I could get the panels from Amazon for around £120 and fit them myself. The quote from HomeSave suddenly dropped to £750! Still not interested. Anyone else been approached by this firm based in Manchester?

lstar337

£120?

I guess you are looking at about a million year payback on that money saving measure!

Cardew

Kin_Melbay wrote: »

Have been approached by UK HomeSave Ltd Re: Radiator reflecting panels to fit behind my radiators. Quoted £950 to supply and fit to a total of 18 radiators!! I cancelled the Order when I found I could get the panels from Amazon for around £120 and fit them myself. The quote from HomeSave suddenly dropped to £750! Still not interested. Anyone else been approached by this firm based in Manchester?

Loads of posts on reflective panels. The savings can be measured in pence per year.

Evil_Olive

I made and fitted my own and, though I haven't seen a noticable difference in bills, I did notice a difference in how quickly the rooms heated up from cold. However, I do live in a flat in a Victorian building with solid/uninsulated walls and the radiators in question are mounted on exterior walls so my situation probably had the maximum potential for reflectors to make a difference.

If anyone's interested, I made them from 3 layers of heavy duty (very thick) cooking foil stuck to some heavy duty (3/4 inch thick) corrugated card I saved from the box a dishwasher came in. I bound the edges with grey duct tape for strength/protect the foil edges and glued them to the wall with ordinary PVA. Cost me about a fiver all told for three radiators.

I certainly wouldn't spend any 'proper' money on them.