radiator foil

[dabaldie]

//www.diynot.com/shop/RADIATOR_REFLECTOR_FOIL_5M_X_5M/6354
is this stuff actually worth ethe hassle of removing the rad to fit?
just noticed some of the rooms in the house are cold even with the rads on full.. anything to help!

 

[Agile]

The answer depends on your attitude to saving!

For a start IF you have solid walls then perhaps it is?

If not then perhaps.............................................!

If you heating bill is £600 per annum with 10 rads then saving 5% or £3 per annum per rad IS or IS NOT depending on your income and how many years you expect to live or live there!

In many cases then probably not but if you have just retired at 60 and hope (?) to live for another 20 (?) years and have nothing to do all day then it probably is.

Its up to you!

If rooms are too cold then the rad size ( or temperature ) would appear to be too small.

Tony

 

[jimbox]

the difference it makes is minimal, but can be worthwhile when rads are on external walls. some people suggest using kitchen foil is just as good as this stuff.

you don't need to remove the rads to install it, provided there's at least an inch of space behind the rad you can carefully lower it into position and then use a tightly rolled up newspaper or similar to smooth it against the wall. easier if you have someone to help but i did it fine myself.

you can stick it on with wallpaper paste or even double sided tape (less messy)

however, if you're finding some rooms are cold even when the rads are hot it's almost certainly going to take more than a bit of reflective foil behind the rads to make a difference.

- if you have old and poorly fitting/closing windows then draught stripping is a good start - cheap and effective
- if you don't have curtains on the windows they can make a surprising difference even if you have double glazing - make sure they go behind not infront of any rads below windows
- loft insulation - whilst not particularly cheap it is well worth the investment and relatively simple to install
- cavity wall insulation - makes the whole house warmer in winter, and keeps it cooler in summer. a lot of local governments and energy companies are doing some excellent subsidised deals at the moment

 

[jimbox]

If you heating bill is £600 per annum with 10 rads then saving 5% or £3 per annum per rad IS or IS NOT depending on your income and how many years you expect to live or live there!

5% of £600 is £30 not £3!!!

 

[Diyisfun]

If you make a good job of it, apart from maybe saving a few p's it makes decorating behind radiators obsolete.

 

[jimbox]

If you heating bill is £600 per annum with 10 rads then saving 5% or £3 per annum per rad IS or IS NOT depending on your income and how many years you expect to live or live there!

5% of £600 is £30 not £3!!!

Sorry Agile, I didn't read your post properly! You were splitting the saving by the 10 rads.