Steam Radiator Enclosures Choices & Efficiency Benefits

cubicacres

We read Dan's books (see attached PDF) and saw how different radiator enclosures might be able to add or deduct up to 30% of heat output per radiator. Depending on whether there's a solid top cover, a mesh(grating) top cover, solid or 2/3 solid with 1/3 mesh on the bottom front covers, etc.

Has anyone had experience adjusting the cover types and benefiting from this?

We'd like to add the silver foil bubble-wrap on a few radiators as well to bounce back some radiation from outside walls back into the rooms, but didn't want to cut off the air space too much to allow ample convection.

Any advice on playing around with the cover types & adding reflective foil insulation behind the radiators? Our radiators are either completely exposed with no covers at all, have solid back covers along the wall with solid tops, or have mesh(grating) fronts with solid top covers.

vaporvac

Hi, @cubicacres ! I've done both and would encourage you to do likewise if it's not too much trouble. The bubble wrap and other reflective materials have been used for ages and I bought mine in England where it's readily available and is glued on the wall. I think the reflective foil may be better since it reflects in both directions. About three years ago one of the pros posted using his new IR camera, two adjacent rooms from the exterior, one with and one without reflective foil. The difference was amazing and spurred me on to put in in the remaining rooms. All my original recessed rads had sheet metal and tinfoil on top.

I also retrofitted those rads that had the standard heat reducing metal covers with mesh and one room with wooden custom ones. I've still a few left to do, but I intend to do them because the difference was substantial. I was going from bad rads to the best model so the increased output was substantial. I raised the bottom for airflow and made the tops removable so it can be replaced in the off season. For the winter the tops hang down into the enclosure providing the chimney effect. there are a couple where I just raise the lid for the winter or have put chains so I can prop the cover forward. the latter is for large built-ins that are part of cabinetry and the rads are recessed.
Hope this helps. Colleen

Steamhead

Hey Cubicacres, good to hear from you! Here is an article you may want to read, if you haven't already:

https://heatinghelp.com/heating-museum/radiator-enclosures/

How is the rest of the system coming along?

cubicacres

Thanks Colleen & Steamhead! I think that's the article we saw in "Greening Steam". Do you know if there's more than the "Deduct 10%" one available? It looks like a floating solid wall for the top half of the radiator-not sure how to make that or what a "Deduct 20% or 30%" one would theoretically look like? We haven't re-done the mains yet, but are trying to see what other things we can adjust for efficiency. Adjusting the Tekmar settings seems to help.