Heat question?

[Buckman]

Does anyone use Radiator Insulation Foil that they have placed between the back of the radiator and the wall? Except of one radiator, all our radiators are mounted on "dry walls". Part of me says it may work and another says that it will not make much difference. Cheap enough, but any thoughts on the foil? Thanks.

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[Jcloughie]

Does anyone use Radiator Insulation Foil that they have placed between the back of the radiator and the wall? Except of one radiator, all our radiators are mounted on "dry walls". Part of me says it may work and another says that it will not make much difference. Cheap enough, but any thoughts on the foil? Thanks.

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By ‘dry walls’. Do you mean dry lining to exterior walls?

My thoughts are that foil will only be an advantage on exterior walls. And even then. The better insulated that wall is, the less the benefit will by. So, if you have solid walls, it could be worth while.

John

 

[Buckman]

By ‘dry walls’. Do you mean dry lining to exterior walls?

My thoughts are that foil will only be an advantage on exterior walls. And even then. The better insulated that wall is, the less the benefit will by. So, if you have solid walls, it could be worth while.

John

Our outside walls are brick and have that foam stuff inside. I assume the term "dry walls" was for internal walls which are not solid?

 

[Sam Vimes]

Discussed recently here...

Foil behind radiators

Anybody have that foil stuff behind there home central heating radiators? Does it make a difference? If so what is the best stuff to buy 🤔

forums.practicalcaravan.com

 

[Sam Vimes]

Our outside walls are brick and have that foam stuff inside. I assume the term "dry walls" was for internal walls which are not solid?

If your internal walls are dry lined, do you mean the plasterboard is stuck onto brick or fixed to a timber frame?

Typically these days plasterboard has a foil backing. If so adding some additional foil on the front I would think would have minimal affect. If it doesn't and its stuck onto brick then maybe it might help a little. If its fixed to a timber frame, again I don't think it would help much.

On the other hand I would think its a cheap thing to try anyway.

 

[borderbilly]

Thanks Sam for highlighting my recent thread. I have installed the foil behind all my rads, and 2 of them I have fitted shelves. I can notice that the room temperatures are a bit warmer. I checked them with a infrared thermometer I got from Lidl, its worth a try as the foil was about £20 from fixscrew.

 

[Buckman]

Thanks Sam for highlighting my recent thread. I have installed the foil behind all my rads, and 2 of them I have fitted shelves. I can notice that the room temperatures are a bit warmer. I checked them with a infrared thermometer I got from Lidl, its worth a try as the foil was about £20 from fixscrew.

I assume a lot depends on the thickness of the foil? 🤔

 

[ProfJohnL]

I assume a lot depends on the thickness of the foil? 🤔

No. more on the reflectiveness as its primary function is to act like a mirror to reflect the long wavelength radiation back to the radiator which should keep it slightly warmer and thus produce a little more convection heating. The difference isn't going to be massive, but may be a few % better.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Strangely enough a black surface makes a good radiator. A poor reflector though.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Strangely enough a black surface makes a good radiator. A poor reflector though.

Not strange at all, that's just the way it works, but most people would probably object to having their radiators painted black - but they would work even better.

You may have noticed how you can get "designer" styled radiators often that stand upright from floor to ceiling, and are often painted in dark colours to make a statement. Actually they will be working better than the traditional white painted radiators and will, as you say,convert more of the heat in the radiator into thermal radiation with slightly less convected output. It can often be noticed how such radiators can seem to warm the far side of the room better, provided the direct line of sight to the radiator is not blocked.