Panel radiators in niches in the walls??

bruce_21

To get a sleek wall my customer wants to put the panel radiators in niches in the double studded walls and cover them with a screen of some sort. I'm sure this will reduce the heat output, but don't know any foolproof way to calculate this. I think there must be good airflow opening at the top and bottom and the niches need to be at least 6" above and below the rads. Does anyone have experience trying this? I called Buderus tech support but they were no help ("people should follow our install instructions and hang them on the wall"). Thanks in advance for any advise or comments!

Jamie Hall

It will reduce the heat output -- how much depends on how much air circulation you can keep and induce around them. Somewhere there is an article on convectors and enclosures which might help -- someone else may have the reference.

GW

Ahhh they want you to make the guess, and if your guess isn’t correct you can come fix it when and if it doesn’t work well? Yeah right! How about triple the rad size and jack the dough some? That should do it. And install a boiler that will go to 200f if things really get funcky

hot_rod

Quite a bit of the heat output from steel panel rads is radiation, you don't want anything in front of them. Also some convection transfer, so air flow in the bottom out the top. and conduction transfer if you sit on them.

If they want a screened over heat emitter just use a stack of fin tube it will be a lot cheaper.

unclejohn

I have the kind thats sticks out of the wall about a inch. The inside is curved so air flows out the front. When the kids were little they would all sit with their backs against it and eat their pop tarts before school. Can't get those days back.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Somewher there is a % loss listed for steam radiators with and without enclosures.

I know this is hot water but it would probably be close

Solid_Fuel_Man

I would talk them into radiant walls.