Reflective material

Jim Pompetti

Material. Has anyone found a good thin reflective material for behind radiators

David Nadle

Aluminized Mylar

Metallized PET film won't tear like foil and can be adhered to the wall or removable 1/8" hardboard panels. McMaster-Carr has it.

john_122

reflective material

Jamie...I went with the foil on one side and kraft paper on the back...you can find it on the net in 1000' roles for 10-20 cents a square foot. We purchased a truckload a couple years back and it works well for us. I can show you a role if you need to see it...John

Steamhead

Is this the same John

of Laurier? 

john_122

reflective material

it is....still dreaming of inventing a vacuum system so I can generate steam at 170 degrees!

Steamhead

Well it's good

to hear from you!! How ya been?

john_122

reflective material

we've been well. Been playing around with solar hot water for pool use . Our primary concern is still the Winter load, which is why I've been reading up on the use of vacuum in steam systems. It seems the problem is in intermittent firing(hence the use of Gorton's, but why not have something wired to startup which helps to pull air out of the system, and which then shuts off(after 5 minutes or so. THis would further spreed steam to the radiators. But the Holy Grail is still steam at 170 degrees-that's what I'm after. Thoughts?

Steamhead

The Broomell system

originally routed air into the chimney, where the draft produced a slight vacuum that helped pull air from the system. Any more than that though, and the water seals would be sucked dry from too much ΔP across them, which would cause banging etc. You'd really need to change to thermostatic traps if you wanted to pull more vacuum. Of course, this would result in much more mechanical complexity and more repairs down the road.



It might be more practical to invest in some TRV kits for your rad valves. These are used to keep certain rooms such as bedrooms cooler than the main living areas of the house. I believe Tunstall can supply these as they do for most Vapor valves.

Therm_lag

stick em up

When reflector will be unobtrusive, including within/behind radiator enclosure, I've used "broiler" rated foil and FSK-like foil that has reinforcement, both of which are less crinkly (sp?) than standard aluminum foil.  Broiler foil can be stretched tight & tacked at corners with double-faced foam tape as marketed to hang pictures.