How to heat homes without foil behind radiators

The winter continuously brings along grey and miserable weather with it, as well as an unpleasant drop in temperatures. Finding a method to heat your home consistently without breaking the bank can be a constant challenge, which is why a number of people have turned to viral social media videos for inspiration.

However, experts recently spoke to Ideal Home about some of the dangers and issues surrounding some of the popular heating hacks that have made the rounds on social media. They emphasised that these hacks could actually be doing more harm than good when it comes to heating your home safely. One popular hack claims that placing tin foil behind radiators is one of the best way to heat homes. 

The idea is that the foil is supposed to radiate the heat back into the room and stop the warmth escaping through walls.

It acts as a thermal barrier, bouncing radiant heat out into the living space instead, claiming to reduce heat loss through uninsulated external walls by a significant amount, and potentially lowering energy bills in the process. However, experts have warned that just because a home hack goes viral, it doesn’t mean that what it’s presenting is true. 

Scott Byrom, Energy Expert and Chief Executive at The Energy Shop, told Ideal Home: “Ordinary foil isn’t designed to sit behind a heat source. Over time, it can degrade or oxidise at higher temperatures, increasing the risk of smouldering or even fire. And without proper insulation backing, the heat-saving benefits are minimal at best.”

Andrew Topping, a firefighter with 26 years experience, warned of dangers of placing tin foil behind radiators. He said: “Kitchen foil can oxidize and degrade over time and will lead to smouldering or burning at high temperatures if not replaced.”

The firefighter continued: “These hacks gain traction because they seem simple and cheap, but what social media doesn’t show is the danger behind them.”

Scott said: “Instead, if your radiators are on external walls, use purpose-made radiator reflector panels that are fire-safe and designed to improve efficiency, or focus on draught-proofing, which delivers far more reliable savings.”

Instead, it’s recommended to swap tin foil for radiator reflectors. These are thin panels or sheets that have been specially designed to stop heat escaping from the backs of radiators. 

They’re typically made with foil or another reflective material, and sometimes padded with a thin layer of insulation. These purpose-made reflectors can be found at DIY stores.

According to Energy Saving Trust, radiator reflectors can reduce your carbon footprint foil or other reflective material, and save up to £25 and £20 on your energy bills, respectively.

You can find radiator reflector foil and panels at ScrewFix, B&Q, and Amazon.