What's the point of radiator covers?

What are the benefits of radiator covers? A well-designed radiator cover can help you reclaim lost space, protect your family from the dangers of hot radiators, reduce noise and is a low-cost way to spruce up a room. Plus some well-designed radiator covers can even improve heat efficiency.
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Do radiators need covers?

Some radiators, like copper finned modern rads, come with integral covers, often with dampers to adjust the convection; they, like steam rads, need covers because they are too hot to touch. But for a traditional cast iron rad that one finds in old houses, connected to a hydronic system, a cover isn't needed for safety.
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Do radiator covers make them less efficient?

If designed well with plenty of space for the warm air to travel through, a radiator cover shouldn't reduce the efficiency of a radiator and could even improve it if the cover has a reflective backing. However, a poorly designed radiator cover will trap heat and increase your energy bills.
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Should you cover radiators with clothes?

If you absolutely must dry your clothes indoors, make sure to do so in a well-ventilated room and avoid covering up radiators. You should never use an electric radiator heater to dry clothes as this poses a significant fire hazard.
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Can you put stuff on top of radiator cover?

Because most covers have elevated tops, the covers' tops are significantly cooler, and this allows select items to be placed there. Even heat-sensitive items like plants can be placed on a well-insulated radiator cover.
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Should you Build or Buy A Radiator Cover?



Are radiator covers a fire hazard?

Safety: If not appropriately placed within your home, radiators can pose a dangerous fire hazard and a significant risk to both pets and children. Radiator covers reduce the likelihood of fires and physical burns because they act as a layer of protection between the radiator and everything it may touch.
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Is a radiator shelf a good idea?

Fitting a shelf above your radiators not only looks nice but also helps to direct heat from the radiator into the room. This technique is particularly useful if you have any radiators that are positioned directly below a window.
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Do radiator covers restrict the heat?

Of course, putting a solid object around your heat source will have an effect on the heat output as it acts as a barrier. However, a radiator cover will not block too much heat as long as your cover has gaps and slots for heat to escape, and warm the air up through convection.
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Can a towel catch fire on a radiator?

Can You Put Fabric and Textiles on a Radiator? Electric baseboard radiators can cause fabric items to become burned or scorched. Placing fabric over an electric radiator can also cause a fire, so you should avoid draping anything over such units.
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Is it safe to put a wet towel on a radiator?

Aside from any other issues, draping wet clothes or towels over a radiator insulates heat and prevents it from circulating properly. This will affect any heaters but certain types, such as convector radiators, function by creating hot air currents and will be far less effective when covered by wet material.
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Will a couch block heat from a radiator?

The problem in terms of heat efficiency is that the back of the couch gets nice and warm but it blocks heat from circulating in the rest of the room. Ideally, you don't want a sofa of other furniture blocking a radiator a t all, but if this is not possible then pull the sofa a few inches away from the rad.
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Should radiator covers cover the valves?

Any type of Radiator Cover your choose needs to cover the heater and pipes and valves, therefore we recommend to measure take measurements of your Radiator and add a minimum of 5 centimetres either side (10cm in total) to ensure good fit.
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Can I cover my radiator with a blanket?

Cover up your radiator

A steam heat expert, Dan Holohan, told City Lab that radiators only ever reach about 215 degrees, meaning it's safe to cover them with a sheet, towel, or blanket to keep heat from escaping. Just avoid synthetics (think: polyester) which can melt.
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How can I make my radiator more efficient?

That being said, Great Rads have put together a list of the top 4 ways to help you improve the efficiency of your radiator.
  1. Use reflectors and stop heating the streets. ...
  2. Regularly clean your radiator. ...
  3. Bring into play radiator additives. ...
  4. Check if there are any cold spots.
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Are Rad wraps any good?

The design allows heat to travel through the wrap, so you don't lose any heat from your radiator. In fact, they say that this unique radiator cover system is more efficient than a traditional wooden radiator cover. It's good isn't it? I can honestly say that the Radwraps radiator cover was so easy to install.
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How do I reduce the heat in my radiator?

Block Your Radiator's Heat

The hotter a steam radiator gets, the more warmth it radiates. So covering it up with a blanket or sheet is a simple solution for limiting the amount of heat the radiator puts out into the room. Radiators use natural air convection to heat a room.
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Can I put a couch in front of a radiator?

It's not a good idea to place a sofa, or any other large furniture, in front of a radiator. A sofa would block heat from travelling freely around the room, and could suffer potential long-term damage from a close level of heat exposure.
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Can my curtains touch my radiator?

Curtains. Curtains should be long enough to cover your window, but not long enough that they hang over your radiators. While it's very unlikely that a curtain will catch alight from being heated up to a high temperature, do you really want to take the risk.
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Should you dry washing on radiators?

The simple answer is – YES! Using your radiators or a towel rail to dry clothes will make your boiler work harder than it really needs to, adding to the overall running costs of the system.
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Is it worth putting foil behind radiators?

Putting kitchen foil behind the radiator is a false economy, as its effectiveness will be severely limited by these effects over time. Homemade foil radiator reflectors crinkle easily and oxidise, losing their reflective qualities.
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Are fabric radiator covers safe?

It would be a very poor company who sold a dangerous product and a well designed radiator cover should not cause any concerns about home safety. It is important that the cover is the correct size for the radiator. If it is too snug, it will certainly affect the efficiency of the central heating.
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How much bigger does a radiator cover need to be?

For your radiator to be efficient with a cover you should ensure there is enough space between the radiator and the cover. The radiator cover should, if possible, be wider than the radiator by at least: 5cm in width.
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Do radiator shelves deflect heat?

Add a finishing touch around your home with these Easy Fit Radiator Shelves. They will help deflect the heat back into the room rather than escape up the wall. Also reduces heat staining above the radiators.
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Can you put a TV above a radiator with a cover?

It is definitely possible to put a TV on a wall above a radiator, but it may not always be advisable. Your TV may not work if it overheats and your radiator may be so efficient at pumping out heat that it makes your TV too hot.
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Can I put a table over a radiator?

Although you can put a table over a radiator, it's not recommended unless there is enough clearance for the air to flow naturally and prevent the table from heating up too much. The heat generated by radiators can damage wood, warp it or potentially ruin the table's finish which can lead to an expensive fix.
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