ᐅ Radiator recess with polystyrene insulation

Good evening everyone,

While passing through the local home improvement store, I spontaneously decided to line the radiator recess with aluminum-coated polystyrene insulation boards. Naively, and with the intention of doing something beneficial in terms of cost savings, I didn’t look into the topic further. After all, you can’t go wrong with “insulating,” right? Or can you?

It’s generally agreed that installing this type of insulation has an effect. However, I have read several posts and articles warning about mold growth if the insulation is not installed properly.

Now I’m a bit confused and would appreciate some advice.

Can I cause more harm than good? Was the work I put in wasted?

Looking forward to your help.

Best regards

mEA, the aluminum-coated side must face the heating ;-) If the panel is then installed close to the exterior wall WITHOUT any cavities behind it, nothing can go wrong – right? At least, that’s how I always did it in the old building without any mold issues.

i_b_n_a_n schrieb:

The aluminum foil side must face the heating ;-)

Really? Thanks for the tip :P

But thanks for your answer. Yes, the cavities could indeed be a problem.
Since my heating system is not simply mounted on the wall with four bolts but rather attached to the wall via a rail (Google calls it a spring bracket), I hardly have any options to ensure it is "cavity-free."

So, should I be worried? =/

Tschitschi schrieb:

Since my heating system is not just mounted on the wall with 4 bolts but has a rail (Google calls it a spring clip bracket) attached directly to the wall, I hardly have any options to achieve a "cavity-free" installation.

With a bracket, you can usually remove the radiators quite easily—isn’t that an option?

but only if the appropriate shut-off valves have been installed. This is often not the case in older houses, where insulation is beneficial (speaking from personal experience). In such cases, a plumber can still freeze the pipes, install shut-off valves, and dismantle the heating system, but doing it yourself is usually not feasible.