Radiator Reflective Insualtion Reccomendations?

cubicacres

After reading Dan's Greening Steam book, we'd like to try adding reflective insulation behind some of our radiators to keep the heat in the living space instead of heat up the outside walls. We saw the UK had some ribbed-panel products, thicker-cut-sheet metal style, and some bubble-wrap with foil on each side type products that claim 20-40% more heat in the room? Has anyone tried some of these, and would you reccomend one over another? We have a small 5-unit residential building in Milwaukee, WI with a single-pipe steam boiler.

Neild5

This is what I use, I lined the inside of the radiator enclosure with it. http://m.reflectixinc.com/applications/diy

FranklinD

I used Reflectix behind a few of my radiators (that are on outside walls). I think that's about the only worthwhile use for the stuff, personally.

Does it make a difference? I honestly couldn't tell you. My hope is that it helps to reflect some of the radiant heat back out instead of just warming the plaster.

20-40% claims seem a little nutty...there's a good article around here somewhere that debunks most of the 'amazing' qualities of the bubble-foil insulation. I think the actual R-value is like 0.5 to 1.0, if that.

vaporvac

I use something similar bought in England where everyone uses it. It came in a roll and one used wallpaper paste to apply. A few years ago, one of the pros posted some IR images of rooms next to one another and also right before and after application, from the exterior. There was no question, it helps a lot. All my old built-ins had a reflective piece of metal custom formed, so this isn't a new idea. It's cheap and there's no down-side. Go for it.

Gordy

Not to say the reflective assembly does not work. However most rads are under Windows. Warming the wall window assembly does help elevate the MRT of those surfaces.

cubicacres

Thanks. If the 2nd floor often gets too hot, would there be any value to install them on 2nd floor radiators as well as the 1st floor?

And the MRT elevation that used to go to the window assembly would probably be on the reflective panel or just reflect back around the radiator area with the reflective panels installed. Would this be less or more efficient than leaving the heat energy on the window wall assembly?