Does putting tin foil behind your radiator work?

Author: Hassie Cormier  |  Last update: Thursday, July 24, 2025

Does Putting Foil Behind Radiators Work? Putting foil behind your radiators is a great way to save money on your heating bills as it prevents heat from escaping straight out of the wall behind it. Instead of wasting all that money on expensive heating, this simple trick enables you to direct the heat towards the room.

How effective is foil behind radiators?

High-quality radiator foil, like the options offered by Orange Packaging UK, reflects up to 95% of the heat back into the room, maximising warmth and energy efficiency.

What is the best material to put behind a radiator?

Ceramic tile is fine. Anything you put between the radiator and wall reduces the amount of heat absorbed by the wall.

What is the foil trick for radiators?

As a result of the cold weather, there has been a rise in hacks to help with heating and other bills. One of these is the viral “TikTok Heating Hack”. This involves taking tin foil, tearing a piece off and placing it just behind your radiator, reflecting the heat forwards.

What is the silver foil for the back of radiators?

Radiator foils help to reflects wasted heat energy radiated from the rear of the radiator back into your room. Reflective radiator foil is an economical solution to prevent heat loss and the installation is quick and simple.

How to install radiator foil to keep the heat in and reduce your energy bills

How to reflect heat back into a room?

Radiator foils reflect radiant heat back into the room. They help to reduce energy loss and save you money on your annual fuel bill. Rooms may feel warmer after installing these foils so you could always turn down the thermostatic radiator valves. Only install this product behind radiators located on an OUTSIDE WALL.

What is the best radiator foil?

Radflek is also the most efficient radiator reflector approved by Ofgem (The UK's energy industry regulator) for its Carbon Emissions Reduction Target scheme (CERT). A sheet of Radflek will save an average of 8.9 kg CO2 and up to 83 kWh of energy per year.

How to make your own radiator reflector?

Cheap Radiator Reflectors to Lower Your Fuel Bills
  1. Cardboard cartons or other source of corrugated card.
  2. Reflective silver coated material.
  3. Electricians' tape (preferably in a colour that matches the decor) or decorative silver sticky tape.
  4. Double sided tape or a stapler.
  5. File spines/binders of the slide-on type (optional)

Does foil reflect heat?

It is impervious to water vapor and convection currents, and reflects 95% of all radiant energy which strikes its air- bound surfaces. The performance of most aluminum insulation is unsurpassed for upward winter heat it has an added efficiency for downward summer heat because of the absence of convection currents.

How thick should radiator foil be?

The size of this product is 0.6m x 5m and 3mm thickness. It can meet the needs of most radiators, and the high-quality reflective insulation effect can maximize energy efficiency. Mesure your radiator and your foil. Cut the foil according to handles of the radiator.

What should you not put around a radiator?

Chairs, sofas, couches, and other furniture will interfere with the circulation of heat generated from the unit. Items touching the radiator can also overheat and cause damage to the item or injuries and fire hazards for the people in the home.

Does magnetic radiator foil work?

Excellent product with been magnetic foil fitted easley onto the back of the radiators can't tell they are there. The radiators on the outside wall definitely reflect the heat back in. Great product - easy to apply, does the job, amazing. I found it very good that you do not have to bother with a double sided tape.

Can I use Thermawrap behind radiators?

Thermawrap Radiator Foil is a highly reflective 1mm thick PE backed membrane which offers the same Thermal resistance as 30mm of EPS (Extruded Polystyrene). It can be used as reflective insulation for behind radiators, in suspended or floating floors or just general purpose insulation.

Do radiator fans work?

Radiator fans can boost the performance of a radiator and help to heat up a room slightly quicker than usual. Small radiator fans work by being fitted underneath designer radiators and blowing air upwards.

What is a heat reflector for behind radiators?

Radflek is a revolutionary energy saving radiator reflector that reflects 95% of the wasted heat energy radiated from the rear of a radiator back into your room. It is strongly recommended that you measure your radiators prior to purchase to ensure you buy the correct pack size.

What are the disadvantages of putting foil behind radiators?

Over time, foil will degrade and oxidise, diminishing its ability to reflect heat.

Can you use aluminum foil as a reflector?

Also, some people choose to crumple up their aluminum foil before attaching it to the board, since this provides a softer and less directional light. You can also spray paint the foil to change the color and quality of the light you reflect.

How do you make a homemade reflector?

How to Make a Light Reflector
  1. Cut the board: Use scissors to cut your board to size. ...
  2. Wrap with aluminum foil: Pull the aluminum foil out in long sheets and lay it over the board. ...
  3. Tape in place: Use masking tape or duct tape to secure the foil in place at the back of the board.

What foil for behind the radiator?

Reflective Radiator Foil. This easy to use product can be placed behind any traditional radiator. The shiny side then reflects the heat back into the room, significantly reducing the amount of heat lost to the wall behind. Dimensions: 47cm width x 4m length.

What is the best heat reflector?

Top 3 Best Heat-Reflecting Materials
  • Introduction to Heat Reflective Materials.
  • TOP3 Glass Panel with Reflective Coating(73%)
  • TOP2 Aluminum Foil(97%)
  • TOP1 Most Reflective Material: Mirror Silver(99%)

How do I stop the sun from heating up my room?

Increase the Shade

Adding window treatments is one of the easiest ways to keep sunlight from heating your living space. Curtains or drapes with a reflective or light-colored backing would do the best job since they won't absorb extra heat. In addition, you can consider getting adjustable blinds or a roller-type shade.

How cold can a house get without heat?

How cold can a house get without heat overnight? The time of day your heater goes out impacts how long the house stays warm. Indoor temperatures go down faster at night, so if your furnace stops overnight, you can expect a quicker decline. This can be as much as 15 degrees Fahrenheit before morning.

Does putting a fan in front of a heater help?

Improved Circulation: The fan helps circulate heat. During the winter, the “stack effect” can cause parts of your home to be warmer or cooler. That's because heat tends to rise.

Previous article
How to remove rust stains from porcelain?
Next article
Is it hard to sell a house with spray foam insulation?