Does Reflective Foil for Radiators Work?

Today we are going to analyze the concept of reflective foil for dadiators and whether they work or not. First off, let’s start with the basic definition.

What is a Radiator Reflector Foil?

A radiator reflector foil is a tool usually placed between a radiator and the wall with the aim of reducing heat loss through the wall. It is efficient as it takes some load off the radiators, especially during the winter days when the demand for heating is high.

The most essential part of a radiator foil is the reflective sheeting that is usually mounted to the wall. This reflective sheeting is often made up of materials such as metal or foil-wrapped board.

Should I Insulate All My Radiators?

It is wiser to insulate all exterior walls as they are the most exposed areas of the home. Insulating a radiator standing on an exterior wall would prevent the heat from getting lost this way. On the other hand, insulating internal walls really depends on how often certain rooms are used. If a wall is placed between two actively used rooms, the lost heat rule doesn’t apply here because there is no such thing as ‘lost heat’ between two used rooms. On the other hand, if one of those two rooms is a spare room or guest room, the heat between the two rooms will easily be lost and hence the need to place a reflective foil for radiators there.

The same situation applies to party walls which serve as a dividing partition between two adjoining buildings shared by the inhabitants of each residence. For the radiator foil placed on those walls as heat reflectors, you may ask your neighbour if they are heating their homes properly before insulating. If the answer is yes, then there is no lost heat (which means there is no need to insulate those radiators). If not, then you might need to insulate the radiators existing there. Whether your neighbours heat their residences properly or not can also affect your heat loss amount.

How Does Radiator Foil Work?

Radiator foil reflector insulates behind radiators and gives out heat back into the room. Radiator foil insulation is necessary especially for external walls, rather than for internal and party walls. They are basically sheets of materials usually made of metal (commonly aluminium) or a foil-wrapped slimline board. They are highly effective in saving homeowners money and reducing energy bills. If you want to see for yourself how effective they are at saving, you can test our economical radiator reflector foil. 

How Do You Install Radiator Reflective Foil?

Foil insulation for radiators works wonders if you install them properly. Below we listed steps you should take to install them.

• Step 1: Measure the Radiator

First of all, measure the breadth and tallness of your radiator. Then cut the radiator, according to how much you want to see the foil expand beyond the top and sides of the radiator.

• Step 2: Cut Reflective Foil (AKA Radiator Insulation Foil)

Cut the radiator reflector to the right dimensions. It is as easy as a pie to cut straight because the bubbles are placed in rows along the reflective foil. 

• Step 3: Apply Adhesive Tape

Now it is time to lay the reflector insulation on the floor and apply the adhesive you like. Different brands recommend different types of adhesive such as double-sided tape, spray adhesive or staples. Some home inhabitants even choose to use foil tape or wallpaper paste. You can also measure the positions of the handles behind the radiator and cut the foil in half according to those measurements, then place it over the back handles without any tape.

• Step 4: Install

As the last step, you should remove the green backing on the double-sided mounting tape and fix the radiator reflector flush to the wall that is behind the radiator. We should note that there should be no contact whatsoever between the reflector with the radiator, for it to work effectively. 

Secondly, secure the radiator reflector to the external wall. In order to ensure there is a close seal next to the exterior wall, run your hand all over the reflector starting at one corner. And if the taping material you are using is mounting squares, press along the foil for at least 30 seconds to ensure a good “stick”. 

Now that your radiator foil backing is ready, your house is all set to get insulated.

How Much Difference Do Radiator Reflectors Make?

Besides protecting the energy from getting lost, radiator reflectors also help reduce the amount of energy needed to heat your home. If you still ask yourself “does radiator reflector foil work?” there are even studies displaying that by using radiator insulation foil, a three-bedroom house with 5 external wall radiators can save as much as £10 per square meter and show more than 20% improvement in radiator efficiency. So installing a radiator reflector won’t only increase the warmth and cosiness of your home, it will also be a life-saver change that will result in reduced costs of a house. If you plan to purchase a radiator reflector foil to see some decrease in your monthly bills, you can check our high-quality product radiator reflective foil. 

Furthermore as stated in a relevant study, the researchers found that the savings for homes are negligible if we talk about homes with significant insulation in walls. However, more importantly, for those poorly insulated houses, radiator reflectors provide great savings of around 8%. The bottom line is apparently if your walls are already well insulated, the benefits of radiator reflectors are small. But, if your walls are poorly insulated, insulating with radiator reflective foil can save you a considerable amount of money.

However, we should also note that there are some preconditions to be met for the radiator reflector to work effectively. For instance, David Hilton, a renewables installer with over 35 years of experience, notes that "Radiator reflectors only really work well when radiators are really hot and the wall behind is cold."