Heat is expensive, and while hot water/steam radiators are great heating systems, they are less efficient when left exposed. Heat gets lost to the wall behind your radiator, especially when located on an exterior wall. Radiator covers maximize efficiency by creating a tighter cycle where cold air enters below the cover and hot air exits out the front and into the room. They also help keep the radiator warm for longer once your furnace turns off.

Did you know: during the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918-1920, people thought that the air in their homes was dangerous. Because of this, they often kept their windows open even in the winter! To compensate, radiators built at this time tended to be very oversized to heat the home with open windows. In modern times, even old houses tend to be far better sealed than when they were built, and radiators (especially these oversized ones) can make your house warmer than you’d like. Installing radiator covers can help mitigate this problem, giving you a more consistent temperature with higher efficiency.

The efficiency of your radiator cover is dramatically increased by using reflective foil insulation, particularly on the back side. I offer this option both as a closed back—if you have the space to lower the cover straight down over the radiator—or as a removable back that can be slipped behind the radiator. I also line the inside of the cover to mitigate the heat being soaked up by the wood.

Safety is another reason to cover your radiator. As a parent of a toddler, I know small children love to explore and touch everything they can reach. Exposed radiators pose a safety risk, as kids can easily get burned on the hot metal. Metal radiator covers can still be uncomfortably warm and sometimes even sharp! My wood covers provide adequate insulation to avoid getting hot, while the sanded, painted surface is smooth to the touch. The metal grids have holes small enough that toddler fingers cannot reach inside. Furthermore, the thick top of the cover provides an additional usable surface in your room!