Reflectix Insulation for back of Radiators

Julie_4

Hi,

I was wondering if it would prudent for me to put sheets of Reflectix Insulation, (http://www.reflectixinc.com/), taped to a big piece of cardboard to put behind the radiators? Can I use this as a reflective panel to improve the efficiency of the radiator? I have plaster walls with no insulation yet.

thanks

chuck_6

Reflective backing

Julie:

We have the reflective material behind our recessed radiators and it seems to help as it helps to keep the heat in the rooms. We also have plaster walls. We had the dense-pack cellulose blown into the walls. It helps as we had about 3-4 inches worth blown in.

Chuck

Dan_15

I lined the inside box of one of my recessed convectors with it. Seems to work pretty well, but I'm not expecting any miraculous improvements in convective output. Probably better than not having it.

steve_136

Any reflective material between the wall and the radiator will make a big difference in heat loss when the radiator is close to an outside wall, particularly if the radiator operates at a high temperature (such as a steam radiator).

Aluminum foil (shiny side towards the radiator)taped to the wall or a piece of cardboard works well.

I have steam radiators that are about two inches from the wall. The wall used to be hot to the touch. Foil on cardboard reflects the heat so effectively that the wall behind the reflector now is as cool as elsewhere in the room (almost all of the heat from the radiator reflects back).