painting inside radiator cabinet?

jim_14

Paint inside with a reflective silver paint?

Will it make a difference? waste of time??

Brad White_136

Interesting....

I would, now that you mention it. Reasons:

1) Corrosion resistance, an opportunity to clean up those rust spots and get a fresh start. (Saw the Rust-O-Leum. Dave Sutton drinks Dr. Pepper by the way. )

2) Reflect rather than absorb radiant energy (higher reflectance versus the relatively dark color). Much as you would use aluminum paint to take down a radiator's output.

One of those times when you give it the thought you can give it the action for not much more effort. Good opportunity and what harm can it do?

My $0.02

Brad

jim_14

guess a good coating of rustoleum rusty metal primer

and then rustoleum coating on top of that..

Im thinking silver/aluminum color to reflect heat back

or am i better off with white?

Big Bob_2

I think you should quickly paint the outside and the baseboard moulding before the fashion police show up!

jim_14

fashion police make many visits too my house!

thats why my daughter picked that nice shade of pink! dont worry tho, the outside rad cover will be rustoleum white!

Big Bob_2

OK we will let the kid get away with it

Brad White_136

Aluminum

unless you are in England, then use Aluminium. The metal does reflect the radiation portion of the spectrum far more than non-metallic paint.

And I am with Bob... dump the pink.... just kidding.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

You might try a paint called Hammerite for the outside. Extremely durable and a quite attractive finish.

midway

painting

Not to take away from the first fellow's question, but was going to ask the same question about aluminum paint as I have 3 radiators like his ONLY mine also have a return on the right end which returns down to the one pipe system. Would it be OK to disconnect the return and pitch the radiator to have the water return back on the left side?

brucewo1b

Be careful be very very careful

if the supply pipe is not big enough you will have heat problems, and more problems depending on how the takeoff is piped, systems were designed with certain parameters in mind, if you change those parameters then all haties may visit you.

midway

ok, thanks, think I'll leave them as they are.

Dan_15

I have a house full of these convectors like the original poster. One in particular which is recessed in an outside wall, I lined with aluminum bubble insulation. I didnt think it would hurt, and so far seems to be helping if only just a bit.

I've never received a solid answer as to what the output rating of these convectors is. Does anybody know?