HeatKeeper Radiator Panels = Insulating behind Radiators   

Now I know the jury is out on this one - some pro evidence - some 'possibly works' evidence (and of course, the downright sceptical) - the bottom line for me is do I think they work - and my evidence comes from simply trying them in my own home and the finding a real difference.  What difference I hear you ask - I mean more heat from my radiators and more rapid warm up of the rooms they serve.  What is more I am not alone in thinking that they work as I have started supplying clients with the panels and the feedback is very positive.  The difficulty with looking at your gas and oil bills is that the unit costs are rising so fast it is hard to know whether any measure you employ has worked.  However, for larger commercial clients we can apply something called Degree Day Analysis - it's a measure of energy use weighted against changes in the weather over time - and that also shows a 10-12% reduction on average where these panels are fitted.

So what am I going on about anyway?   Well, it is often overlooked that 35-40% of the radiated heat produced by radiators is lost into the walls - and - I heard this recently from a client who's plumber told her the back section of a double skin radiator acts as an insulator - well - in my humble opinion, double skin radiators suffer in the same way because guess what - around half of the still radiator faces the wall - but heck what do I know? 

When the wall gets warm a process called conduction causes the heat to travel through the structure towards colder sections of the building and unless the internal room temperatures fall below the structural temperature this heat is be lost as it eventually reaches the roof or the wall ties to the ground and dissipates outside through what we call thermal bridges.  Great news for the birds on your roof but no use to you whatsoever.  

Every building using central heating radiators wastes heat in this way and to compensate for these losses extra fuel is burnt contributing to global warming and costing you money.

Now please forgive me but I am trying to keep this simple.  As you can see from the graph it is possible to improve the thermal efficiency of your radiators with any simple reflector - a bit of Alcan foil for example - but fitting crinkly, flexible foil is a bit of a pain.  Great news - there are ready made products out there for you to fit without hassle.  The ones I use are called HeatKeeper and these panels have been designed for maximum effectiveness and they are dead easy to fit. 

With a reflective saw-tooth panel in place the hot air naturally rising behind a radiator is caused to spin by the profile of the panel creating a series of vortices, rising at higher speed and continuing to spin out into the room. 

The wall behind the panel stays cool.  Energy is saved and the fuel bills substantially cut giving payback well within 1 year as a rule.

The panels have recently undergone a wee redesign to make them even more user friendly and now come in a standard 580mm x 450mm size with lots of flat bits so you can cut them to suit any radiator size whatsoever or join them together very easily to cater for larger radiators.  The panels are 8mm deep.

Fitting the first one is a bit fiddly but once you have done one then the rest go very smoothly - trust me I know.       I have fitted them in my own home and I am renowned for my DIY expertise - not!

The panels are easily fitted  and there is no need to remove the radiators, although we do recommend that you clean behind the radiators with a feather duster or similar to remove dust to aid adhesion of the panels. 

The value of this simple measure has been tested and proven over and over.

The UKAEA labs in Harwell tested the panels and observed "a heat saving, and a beneficial effect on flow pattern, due to the presence of the panel, especially when radiation is taken into account.  Overall savings in the range of 22% to 27% can be expected".

BSRIA stated "the variation in output and hence reduction in losses is 15% to 13% based upon mean water minus room air temperatures from 10^oC to 60^oC.  This figure relates to the losses through all surfaces and not just external wall"

It is all a fancy way of saying that they like them and found them to save fuel! 

HeatKeeper panels simply stop heat loss through the wall - the circulating water therefore returns to the boiler hotter, reducing energy wasted in unnecessarily heating colder water.   The air curtain created by the panels rises 2-3 metres above each radiator reducing the energy lost through windows and walls above radiators as well as just behind them.  

These are UK-manufactured and comply with all required BS Fire and Safety requirements applicable within the EU.  HeatKeeper panels are easily fitted using double sided tape or on uneven surfaces, using a standard readily available elastomeric adhesive.  On average 2 panels per radiator are used in domestic use. 

 Simple and easy fitting instructions are supplied with every order

Because I am very keen on these and want everyone to benefit from them I have negotiated with the manufacturers to make HeatKeeper panels available direct from this office for the domestic market - call me on 01466 751411 (UK) or +44 1466 751411 (International) and discuss your requirements - why pay more?

I can supply 10 or 20-panel "Heatkeeper" Packs which include fixing tape and comprehensive instructions as priced below.  I only accept cheques - sorry - or you can buy them from me on eBay (in the interests of commerce I have bowed to pressure and now accept PayPal through eBay) but if you are willing to send me a cheque I will send out your pack upon receipt.  Cheques made payable to Stewart King please.

If you do some research you will find that you cannot get these panels from any other source at a better price.  I have seen them for £49 but also as high as £65 - in fact I saw some last week - in a two panel pack for £38!!!!!  But hey - I am not in business to sell panels and I do not want to make a fortune out of them.  The prices below cover my costs and no more - I am an Energy Consultant and I have found something that can help you save energy and money so I want to pass it on to you as cheaply as possible.

Requiring no specialist tools or skills to fit these low cost energy saving panels are one of the most cost effective ways to reduce your heating fuel bills.  They are so good that for example, the Canadian Government gives them away free of charge to home-owners who qualify under their fuel poverty scheme - any thoughts Mr. Brown?

Mr. Salmond?????? 

Hey look - Scottish business - proud to be British - any thoughts on that one Mr. Salmond?