Foil behind radiators

The maker's speak highly of it, not surprisingly, and there are other similar solutions with the same objective. How effective, I don't know, and I say that as a user. I have just replaced some radiators, though, and the mounts are wider apart than on their predecessors, allowing an increased area of foil to be used, so I shall see whether I detect any improvement during the coming winter. It could be that the foil's days are numbered.

Around 5-10% heat retention.

Maximum benefits in a poorly insulated environment - solid walls, single glazing etc.

Such as? Obviously insualting the wall would help, or moving the radiator to an internal wall? Any other ideas welcome . . . !

I've just linked to a paper that tested just that. There is a measurably improvement, apparently.

It is tricky to measure at home. I did a pretty basic thermal imaging test last winter and couldn't detect any difference on the outside wall before/after (but this is insulated cavity wall).

It does seem to be a quick and reliable measure, if fixed properly using decent foil. Also available free for some people - google Green Doctor, ECO4 and Warm Homes etc. And there's likely a community orgnaisation near you offering support

But the support for even minor retrofit is a car crash IMVHO.

The square root of sweet fanny adams.

You are entirely correct

Exactly.

Exactly.

It like painting heatsinks black versus adding a fan. Guess whey everybody adds a fan...

We were discussing foil, not extra insulation

I entirely transformed a kitchen with 3mm cork tiles...

Ah OK - plain kitchen foil is not likely to achieve a great deal by itself.

'Radiator Foil', which I think was being discussed (I could be wrong), as sold is usually foam or 'bubble wrap' backed to some degree. I'd be looking for 8mm plus thickness.

Is that measured in any way, or how you felt after you'd put the work and expense in?

A quick check indicates most radiator foils on sale are less than 4mm - including the bubble wrap type.

Indeed - as I mentioned upthread. But even the Superfoil stuff is only (IIRC)

Especially if you're taking the radiators off anyway, it's a good thing to do on external walls. Only takes a couple of minutes and is cheap.

Or not - I'm sensing that most contributors to this thread aren't convinced.

Ah. well yes. forget the radiation but. You are not heating an external wall to a high heat if you slip some insulation behnd the radiator.

It was measured by the fact that condensation no longer ran down the outside walls Which became warm to the touch.

Depending on how good the wall insulation is, that can make a lot of difference. Not because its foil, but because its insulation. At a potentially hotter spot

And while on the subject of thermal transmission, this week Aldi are selling IR thermometer 'guns' for £10.

IF your walls are NOT well insulated THEN a few mm of foam will reduce heat loss through the walls enough to make a slight difference. The foil is almost irrelevant. If you already have well insulated walls then it's a total waste of time

Indeed - as I mentioned upthread. But even the Superfoil stuff is only (IIRC)

No. If you can be bothered translating:

N. König: "Der Einfluß von wäremreflektierenden Folien in Heizkörpernischen auf den Heizenergieverbrauch eines Hauses"

Yes, probably.

Because it stops the moisture seeing cold walls by insulating them

Since it entirely depends on the wall behind, that has to be bullshit

alan_m snipped-for-privacy@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote in news:mjac5bFcb3fU1 @mid.individual.net:

As you point it's mainly convection. They don't quite lie in that they claim to reflect 95% of radiated heat but there is a very limited amount of that.

Foil itself virtually useless, foam or bubble backed prob worthwhile on on a solid external wall.

Superfoil rad stuff doesn't look too bad and not too pricey:

Toolstation do it too.

Wouldn't touch it with a pole for 'real' insulation but this is a special case.

Only for the radiated heat? If so 90% sees 10mm of insulation and the