Radflek Frequently Asked Questions

Radflek is the simple zero-waste way to reduce your heating bills.

Here is everything you need to know about Radflek.

What is Radflek?

Radflek is a revolutionary energy-saving radiator reflector that is made from a laminated aluminium foil with a unique long-lasting coating that preserves its high reflectivity.

What does Radflek do?

This simple product will help save energy, reduce your heating bills, and lower your carbon footprint.

How does Radflek work?

Radiators send out heat in all directions. When positioned against a wall, as much as 40% of the heat released by a radiator will be directed towards the wall and that heat is simply lost outside. A Radflek sheet placed between the radiator and the wall will reduce the amount of heat being wasted in heating the wall by reflecting at least 95% of that heat back into the room. This means less energy is needed to heat the room to the required temperature.

How good is Radflek?

Radflek has been independently tested by the BBA (British Board of Agrément) and the test data verified by the BRE (Building Research Establishment). Radflek is one of the most efficient radiator reflectors available on the market.

Why is Radflek better than putting kitchen foil behind a radiator?

Kitchen foil is far less efficient than the approved Radflek as a reflective surface. Aluminium foil is manufactured from rolled aluminium, which when unrolled has a high reflectivity (normally towards the high end of the 80% to 90% range). Foil can also oxidise over time as it is exposed to the environment, becoming dull which reduces its reflective properties, whereas Radflek are treated with a chemical to prevent oxidisation that maintains its initial greater than 95% reflectivity for a lifetime of at least 60 years, as certified by the BBA (British Board of Agrément). Putting kitchen foil behind the radiator is a false economy, as its effectiveness will be severely limited by these effects over time.

What is Radflek made from?

Radflek is made from a material used in the building industry, which is a laminated aluminium foil with a unique long-lasting coating. It is made from seven layers: a special coating, then a layer of aluminium foil, then an adhesive, then a polyethylene core, then another layer of adhesive, then an aluminised sheet of polyester and then a final special coating.

Will Radflek work as well in 5 years’ time as when it is first fitted?

Yes – occasional cleaning with a damp cloth to remove dust will keep Radflek working as good as new and reducing energy bills year after year.

How long does it last?

A Radflek sheet has been certified by the BBA (British Board of Agrément) to have a life of at least 60 years.

Where does Radflek work best?

The walls where Radflek will make the most difference is in exposed areas of the property where the radiator is situated on an exterior wall.  Putting Radflek on internal walls will have the same effect where the temperature of the space the other side of the internal wall is low (e.g., a hallway which is not kept at the same higher temperature or the next-door property in a terrace).

Radflek is more expensive than other foil options. Why should I pay the extra?

Radflek has been tested by the BBA (British Board of Agrément) and the findings verified by the BRE (Building Research Establishment). The findings show that Radflek is one of the most efficient radiator reflectors on the market. Its special laminate coating ensures that it will maintain a high level of reflectivity for up to 60 years.

How much will Radflek save me?

It depends on the wall insulation, the heating type and how often you run your heating, but Radflek can pay for itself in about a year.

How is Radflek fitted?

Super easy and fitted in minutes. The standard installation method is for Radflek to be suspended from clips that hang between the radiator wall brackets – no need to remove radiators or to use sticky pads or professional help.

I have floor standing radiators – can I use Radflek on them?

Yes – we advise that you put sticky back hooks on the wall. Radflek can then be installed using the standard installation method but hung from the hooks rather than the wall brackets.

I have curved radiators, will Radflek work?

Radflek is flexible enough to bend around the curve of the radiator. Measure the distance between each wall bracket and hang from the brackets as with standard installation. You may need to cut the clips to shorter lengths with scissors to make this easier.

I have a windowsill/shelf very close to the top of my radiator, will I still be able to fit Radflek?

Yes, even though a windowsill or shelf is closely fitted above a radiator, Radflek can still be installed as the foil is flexible enough to bend over the top of the radiator and then slide down behind it in the standard installation method.

Which side of the Radflek reflector should face the radiator?

Radflek should be installed with the matt side facing the radiator and the shiny side with printing and Radflek branding on facing the wall. Although the shiny side reflects light better the matt side reflects heat more effectively.

How do I install Radflek behind a radiator that is very close to the wall?

For Radflek to work at its most efficient, it needs to have an air gap both between it and the radiator (so that it can reflect heat) and between it and the wall (so that it does not conduct heat). If the installed sheet does touch the wall or the radiator in a few places, that will not make any material difference to its effectiveness. The optimum air gap is approximately 25mm. You may need to use the alternative method of installation for narrow air gaps (as the clips with Radflek rolled around them may be too wide for the gap) – see the answer to question “What do I do if the standard installation method means that Radflek doesn’t cover my entire radiator?”. If your brackets are close to the top of your radiator, leave material above the slits but roll this material so that it does not protrude above the top of the radiator.

What do I do if the standard installation method means that Radflek doesn’t cover my entire radiator?

The standard installation method is for Radflek to be suspended from clips that hang between the radiator wall brackets. If your brackets are unusually close together (and therefore far from the edges of the radiator) or low (and so not near the top of the radiator), you can modify the installation method by discarding the clips, cutting slits in the Radflek sheet and mounting it so that the radiator brackets sit in the slits. The sheet is stiff enough to bear its own weight, and you can leave sufficient material above the slits to ensure that any space above low brackets is also covered by Radflek. That way you can have Radflek behind the entire radiator.

I have radiators that are wider than Radflek sheets – what do I do?

Where your radiator has brackets wider than 120cm apart but with an intermediate support, you should hang an appropriately sized sheet on each side of such support. Where there is no intermediate support, you can either create an intermediate support (e.g., using a hook such as our Radhooks) and then hanging an appropriately sized sheet on each side of such support or use the self-adhesive reflective foil tape, Radstik, to join additional material to a standard sheet to create the required wider sheet.

How do I use Radstik?

Radstik can be used to enlarge a Radflek sheet or to combine off cuts. To fit, place two sheets side by side, with the printed side down. Stick Radstik onto the unprinted side over the join. Do not use to stick Radflek to the wall or radiators.

Can Radflek be used behind electric radiators or night storage heaters?

If there is a gap between the electric radiator or night storage heater and the wall and if the electric radiator or night storage heater radiates heat towards the wall as well as into the room, then Radflek can be installed behind the electric radiator or night storage heater in order to reduce heat loss though that wall. Sometimes wall mounted electric radiators have brackets which are level with or even higher than the top of the radiator. In these cases, neither the standard nor the slit installation method will work. A possible solution is put sticky backed Radhooks on the wall below the level of the high brackets. Radflek can then be installed using the standard installation method but suspended from the hooks rather than the wall brackets.

I can’t get the sheets perfectly like your instructions, what do I do?

Radflek does not need to be perfectly flat for it to be effective. All you need to do is unfold the sheet on a flat surface and run your thumb along each fold with moderate pressure and then turn the sheet over and repeat the process from the other side. The sheet should then be flat enough to be cut to size and installed.

How big is each sheet?

Each sheet of Radflek is 120cm x 60cm or about 4ft by 2ft which is sufficient for up to two radiators. The thickness of a Radflek sheet is 125 microns.

How much do I need for my radiators?

Pack sizes act as a guide only and the number of radiators covered will depend upon the size of your radiators. You will need to measure up prior to purchase to ensure that you order the correct pack size. To work out how much you need (assuming your radiators are a standard drop of about 60cm or 2ft), measure the distance between the brackets of all your radiators, add the measurements all together and then divide by 120cm or 48 inches. This will give you the number of sheets you require.

Is Radflek easy to cut?

Yes – Radflek is very easy to cut with scissors and will not tear.

Does Radflek ‘flutter’?

No – Radflek does not flutter because its laminated construction keeps it rigid.

Can Radflek offcuts be recycled?

Yes – Radflek can be recycled with other metal waste, please first check with your local authority.