RADFLEK: Reflective radiator back

Screwdriva

Cardew said:

No I am not ignoring that link.

However the report is for radiators placed against the outside wall of a SOLID walled house - not even a cavity walled house with an unfilled cavity.

So as the vast majority of properties these days have cavity walls, it should be made clear to MSE readers that the Energy Saving Trust state that the foil behind radiators against a cavity wall will save pence per year.

I'm so sorry - I presumed you lived in the UK where around 7 million homes have solid walls and nearly twice that have pre-80's cavity wall insulation. The savings for those types of homes are substantial, when the price of the product is factored in. 

This does not factor in the increases in comfort that are also experienced regardless of insulation type. MSE readers have read your opinion and mine. I trust they'll make the right decision for their households.

michaels

Screwdriva said:

Cardew said:

No I am not ignoring that link.

However the report is for radiators placed against the outside wall of a SOLID walled house - not even a cavity walled house with an unfilled cavity.

So as the vast majority of properties these days have cavity walls, it should be made clear to MSE readers that the Energy Saving Trust state that the foil behind radiators against a cavity wall will save pence per year.

I'm so sorry - I presumed you lived in the UK where around 7 million homes have solid walls and nearly twice that have pre-80's cavity wall insulation. The savings for those types of homes are substantial, when the price of the product is factored in. 

This does not factor in the increases in comfort that are also experienced regardless of insulation type. MSE readers have read your opinion and mine. I trust they'll make the right decision for their households.

Just seems odd that you are spending so much energy hyping a product that ofgem say brings negligible benefit to the majority who have cavity walls for whom there is basically nil benefit.  Why would ofgem lie?

Screwdriva

If the numbers in the test I linked above do not explain this, I cannot answer your question. Sorry.

Hexane

michaels said:

Is there any data on how much heat from radiators from radiation as opposed to convection?

Almost all of it is from convection. Otherwise all us green and ethical money-saving experts would paint our radiators solid black to increase the radiation from them just a little further.

Verdigris

I'm only guessing but wouldn't heat being radiated back and forth between the radiator and the reflector increase convection at the back of the radiator?

Cardew

Screwdriva said:

 MSE readers have read your opinion and mine. I trust they'll make the right decision for their households.

It is not my 'opinion' I have simply quoted the various reports.

I too hope that MSE readers make the correct decision, but by reading the advertising blurb and ringing endorsments many will find that there are no 'remarkable savings' to be made.

Surely this is the purpose of a money saving website.

Screwdriva

As have I. Sadly, you seem to be of the opinion that people who have poor/ no insulation will not financially benefit from reflectors, despite the shared study screaming the opposite. 

Verdigris said:

I'm only guessing but wouldn't heat being radiated back and forth between the radiator and the reflector increase convection at the back of the radiator?

I believe the reflector acts as a thermal barrier to prevent heat hitting the wall behind. I'm not sure how it does it but heat from the radiator spreads through the area further and lasts longer. 

Verdigris

I believe the reflector acts as a thermal barrier to prevent heat hitting the wall behind

The reflector as as a reflector of radiant heat. The foam backing has a small insulating effect. The radiator itself also reflects, as far as radiant heat is concerned, so my contention is that radiant heat, reflecting back and forth, energises the air molecules at the back of the radiator, turning it to convected heat.

I said "guess" because I haven't done an experiment to prove it but it does fit with basic physics.

DryTheRain

Hi everyone, recently moved into a victorian terrace - complete with 9” solid walls apparently - only to find I’d left the Radflek behind in my old flat 
However it seems that bubble foil is the top selling radiator insulator this year, so I wondered if this would be a better choice. The idea of a thicker layer makes instinctive sense, but is it as effective at being reflective? Would really appreciate an informed opinion on this! 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GUDVUXW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A39IZ27BZDGWD0&psc=1

Cardew

DryTheRain said:

Hi everyone, recently moved into a victorian terrace - complete with 9” solid walls apparently - only to find I’d left the Radflek behind in my old flat 
However it seems that bubble foil is the top selling radiator insulator this year, so I wondered if this would be a better choice. The idea of a thicker layer makes instinctive sense, but is it as effective at being reflective? Would really appreciate an informed opinion on this! 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GUDVUXW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A39IZ27BZDGWD0&psc=1

The link you give says it is reflective, the package states 'it reflects 95% of the radiator heat back into the room'

Of course it omits to say it is 95% of 'reflected heat'. If it was 'all heat' we could just line the walls of our rooms and the energy crisis would be solved!!