radiator covers

[SunnyOutlook]

they look great but do they affect the heat getting out?

Yes, they do.

Yes I'm afraid they do.

Hey, they DON'T look great. So don't even be tempted!

I have them in my rented property, they do look better than exposed radiators and my kids cant burn themselves but they do suck up a lot of the heat when the heating is on.

We ripped ours out today and will be putting lovely new stylish radiators in their place.

The covers are nasty, dust traps and reduce the heat output.

I would get nice looking radiators instead, they look better than covers and that way you dont lose precious heat.

I don't understand this myth that's grown up that radiator cabinets use heat - they are more efficient than an uncovered radiator - a well-designed cabinet will direct the heat from the radiator forward into the room, rather than just letting it bleed out into the walls and floor. Heat in the middle of the room is useful heat: there?s no point in your paying to heat up the walls and if its under a window it stops it heating up the glass.

Hi PushPin, you may not understand this 'myth' but I'm afraid it really isn't a myth at all. Heat is transferred via convection, radiation and conduction. Are you implying that a radiator cover can change the laws of physics and 'point' any of these towards this mythical still area of air in the middle of your room and keep it there?

It can't. They are just something else to heat up in the room, put crap on and gather dust. Rip them out and change the rad for something a bit more stylish. Plenty of cheap flat rads on eBay that are probably far more efficient (yes really because of materials changing the rate of conduction and radiation and the design providing a more efficient rate of convection) than the existing and so can be significantly smaller.

I agree, they do "block" heat - i.e. you'll feel less benefit of having the heating on if you have a radiator cover. I think they look tons better than uncovered radiators, but if I had the money, would install better / more upto date radiators than covers.

I was just thinking about this.

Has anyone got linkys to the nice looking radiators you're talking about? I was looking at cast iron column ones, but they are a few hundred pounds each, and there is no way I can convince my DH or me for that matter that is worth it.

I really like radiator cabinets, I think they can add character to a room, the company we used has some sort of technology that does something with radiation/convention/conduction so that the back wall doesn't heat up and instead the heat gets pushed out the front, this is their link www.classicradiatorcabinets.co.uk/ And I in fact think our living room is staying warmer for longer, I am able to turn the heating down a notch