At major renovation premises, you can, of course, hide the battery in the wall using a niche made of plasterboard, chipboard or plastic. Ventilation of heat and removal of it from the battery, in in this case, is carried out through a grate, which must be installed in such a niche. As a rule, such niches are decorated with a grating made of chipboard or wood. It is possible to select both the grille itself and its frame according to the required color scheme. These grates are sold in a wide range, they are durable and transmit heat well.
Reading bench above the radiator
In addition, the issue of converting heating radiators can be solved by covering them with special decorative screens. Such devices can be installed directly in front of the heating radiators or in a hinged form.
Hanging screen made of thin wooden slats
Simple wooden grate, painted to match the wall decoration
A hanging metal screen slightly reduces heat transfer, is inexpensive and easy to install
These solutions cannot always be called optimal, since a very large part of the heat generated by the battery is wasted in this case. The effect is close to what would be achieved by hiding the battery behind the curtains.
Metal screen with openwork design
Any screen design must provide access to the radiator
At the same time, closing heating radiators serves the function of protecting small children from burns. Screens, boxes and niches are beautiful and can be matched to any interior. This type decor is used, as a rule, in living rooms and is ideal for them stylistic decision. Covering radiators in children's rooms with boxes and screens is the optimal solution for both safety and decorative purposes. A panel made of wood or chipboard can be decorated with bright patterns and used as a play element.
Screen idea for high battery
An old wooden bench used as a battery box in the hallway of a village house
There should be a gap of at least 8 cm at the bottom for cold air circulation
Before hiding the battery, you need to take into account that there should be no obstacles to the circulation of heated air from above, below and on the sides. Therefore, boxes and shield screens are usually equipped with gratings.
The distance from the floor to the edge of the decorative element is important. It must be at least 8 cm. Through this gap, it rises up along the radiator section cold air, heating up along the way. If the gap is blocked, heat transfer will be disrupted.
It is worth considering the formation of dust on screens and boxes during the convection process. For this reason, you need to select a product from a material that is easy to wet clean.
The decorative covering must be resistant to long-term exposure high temperatures.
Open way masking pipes
Sometimes it is necessary to hide not only the radiator itself, but also the pipe sections connected to it. Different methods are used for this:
A good option is to use false walls. You can hide anything you want behind a decorative partition, including heating elements. But the false wall must be quickly dismantled to ensure easy access in the event of an accident. The easiest way is to create a frame bulkhead from timber or metal profiles and cover it with plasterboard, plastic or plywood. It is useful to place hatches with flaps at the places where pipes are connected to heating device and where the couplings and tees are located. It’s good if the area of the room allows you to install decorative coating not close to the battery so that it does not heat up too much and does not release potentially dangerous substances.
Knowing how to decorate pipes or heating radiators in an apartment or private house, you can easily solve the problem of masking a utility junction. Decorative ceilings will improve the appearance without reducing the efficiency of heating the premises. Also, a beautiful screen will allow you to get rid of long, dust-collecting curtains in favor of modern roller or Roman curtains.
The screen for the battery must match the design of the room and allow heat to pass through well
To cover heating radiators in a house or apartment, you can use decorative screens. Choose the one that suits you based on two parameters - design and material of manufacture.
Masking shields are classified according to the method of fastening to the batteries. According to this principle, screen boxes and hanging products are distinguished.
The decorative box consists of a frame with a large-mesh lattice on front side. Similar products used when you need to hide the unaesthetic appearance of the battery, and sometimes even the heating circuit pipes. The boxes are installed along the window sill or cover only the radiator. They can be equipped with opening doors, which makes cleaning and temperature control of the coolant easier.
There are two types of hanging grid screens:
The first option is used to hide radiators located in niches or not covered by a window sill on top, and is installed directly on the radiator.
Flat screens mounted to the wall are often placed on radiators under the window, not covered by the window sill. They are also used to hide batteries installed in niches.
Plastic screen
To choose a decorative element according to this indicator, you need to take into account characteristics material.
To mask batteries, screens made of the following materials are used:
To cover unsightly radiators, apartment owners most often prefer simple metal boxes white. Such options cannot be called sophisticated, but they are inexpensive and give off heat well. If strength and appearance are important, and cost does not matter, it is better to opt for a stainless steel product, which is characterized by a long service life and aesthetic design. Typically, such decors are used to hide cast iron radiators.
MDF is the most practical and inexpensive material, which has all the advantages of wood and at the same time is not afraid of moisture and temperature changes. Screens made of such material are less susceptible to deformation and bending. There are openwork options made from MDF on sale.
Glass panels for heating devices are distinguished by maximum design variability. They are made entirely from glass or with the addition of other decorative materials. The location of the corners must be such that it is impossible to get hurt or caught on clothing. Usually, drawings and patterns are applied to the surface of the product. To prevent glass from breaking or scratches, it is covered with a laminate. In addition to laminated glass, triplex or acrylic is often used.
Plastic screens are the cheapest, but at the same time dangerous option. The shield is subject to deformation from the heat of a hot radiator and releases harmful components into the air. It is not advisable to use such screens where people stay for a long time.
Screens come in a variety of shapes and are made from several basic materials. The most popular are metal, wood and glass. Screens made from each of these materials have their own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. If we talk about metal screens, their use has a very good effect on heat transfer from the battery.
In the photo above you can see an example of the placement of such a mesh-type hanging screen
It is very important when closing a heating battery to always understand that this reduces the efficiency of its operation, and accordingly increases energy costs during the heating season. And metal structures made from such meshes prevent the spread of warm air according to the room, and therefore are recommended for installation if heating costs become a significant figure in the family budget
If a grid on the wall instead of a radiator doesn't seem like a good idea, then you can look for screens made of solid metal sheets with designs made into them. These images are cut into the surfaces of the screen and make it permeable to warm air flows. Variations of drawings can be very different and choosing a picture that suits your interior will not be difficult.
Second after metal in terms of heat transfer efficiency is the glass screen for the radiator. It is installed on special mounts, which are closed with metal tubes.
The most important advantage of this option for hiding the battery is that absolutely any pictures can be depicted on the glass. Manufacturers actively take advantage of this feature of the material and place the most incredible images on glass screens.
Here we are not just talking about covering up an unsightly element in the interior of a room. Such a screen will be a great addition to the design of a room in almost any style and can even create a separate unique accent in one place or another of the room.
The next way to decorate batteries is to install a wooden box in the place where they are placed. Such a box can be completely different forms and colors, and his functional purpose may even hide the very fact of the presence of a battery on the wall.
After viewing these examples, it becomes clear how successful the idea of disguising a heating radiator as a piece of furniture can be. Below are several more options for boxes made in the natural color of wood, which look great in the interior and, in addition to the task of closing the radiator, perform a certain function.
Another good way to keep batteries out of sight is to use a wooden screen with a window sill. With proper space planning, this combination can be used to place several house plants, or to create an additional resting place on the windowsill.
And finally, ideas for decorating a heating radiator without closing it. It is not necessary to completely hide the battery; you can include it in the interior elements if you correctly use the shape of the radiator in the process of decorating it.
When choosing a design for closing the battery, try to ensure that there is always access to air from below, and the top cover is equipped with ventilation holes. The air in the room moves along the radiator from bottom to top and this process ensures effective heat exchange in the room. Cooled air approaches the battery from below and, during the heating process, rises upward along its body. Therefore, when installing a decorative box or screen, always remember that in addition to the aesthetic component, its shape must take into account the peculiarities of heat exchange processes in the room.
The design of kitchens, not as strict as is customary for living rooms, gives free rein to imagination. In addition to the above-described ways to hide heating radiators, in the rooms where culinary masterpieces are created, designer delights are also created to decorate heating radiators. The radiator and the pipe connecting it to the heat source can be painted in the same color as the walls, decorated using the decoupage technique, or these two methods can be combined.
A battery painted to match the walls will be less conspicuous
An even greater effect can be achieved if you paint the battery to match the wallpaper
The battery can be displayed as part of an artistic composition
Many ideas are available on the Internet. Taking them as a basis, you can create a masterpiece on your own and without much labor or time, decorating the external elements of the heating system with an elegant or cheerful design. Battery decoupage involves transferring a design from a carrier onto the metal surface of a radiator. When decorated using the decoupage technique, batteries can be decorated using ready-made designs made on thin paper (both rice paper and ordinary decorative napkins are suitable). There are a lot of design options: flowers, wood decoration, geometric designs.
Khokhloma painting on a heating radiator
If you have artistic abilities, you can do without ready-made solutions and paint images directly onto the surface. For such work you will need heat-resistant paints and varnish. The latter is necessary for those who decide to decoupage the battery themselves. For decoupage you will also need glue; regular PVA will do.
The presence of any problem always leads to its solution, and masking heating radiators in apartments is no exception. Designers and builders have developed several solutions to this problem. Let's look at the most popular of them:
One of the most common ways to solve the problem of closing a heating radiator is to install a metal screen. These screens are usually mass produced, but are made for specific types of radiators. Their advantage is high heat transfer, durability, absence of the slightest deformation under temperature influences, as well as low price. But the minus probably outweighs all the advantages of this type of disguise, since this screen can hardly be called beautiful.
Metal screen for radiator
You can solve the issue of the aesthetic component after purchasing such a screen: decorating or painting a metal screen yourself is quite feasible for creative people.
Another method to disguise a battery indoors is to install a wooden screen. A custom wood craftsman can make such a model, masking a radiator in the house. Ideal option There will be a screen made in style and shape reminiscent of the furniture in the room.
Wooden screen for a radiator in the interior
Most often, lattice screens or mesh screens are made from wood, which cover the battery from view but allow heat to pass through well. Such screens are not cheap, especially if they are made to order, but they look very impressive, and they also provide additional space for sitting or placing certain items: toys, decorative elements, vases, etc. The disadvantage of wooden screens is that they can become deformed when exposed to high temperatures. You can create a screen model from wood yourself by first measuring the area of the radiator and its thickness.
Screen-grid for heating radiator
The next option for covering the battery is a plastic screen. It is relatively cheap, but it is sometimes noted that when exposed to high temperatures, some types of plastic can release toxic substances, so it is better not to risk it and choose another way to hide the radiator.
Decorative screen made of plastic
Another common method for covering a radiator is custom-made furniture or built-in furniture. This could be a chest of drawers that hides the heating system, a long bench or a console table that hides the radiator. The only thing is when you plan with the master similar furniture, it is necessary to ensure that heat can penetrate into the room. To do this, you can make carved cabinet doors or carved vertical surfaces.
The heating radiator is built into the furniture
As an option, you can consider making decorative fireplace in place of the battery, which will be not only decorative, but also a real warm cozy place - a kind of hearth in the room.
Usually the meaning of veranda is additional area home or cottage, which often plays the role of a balcony or open area.
Quite often this is something like a greenhouse or winter garden. Often the veranda is an additional extension of the cottage.
Today there are few standard projects provide for the construction of a veranda simultaneously with the construction of a particular house. For this reason, many people build verandas on their own.
Most often, such a structure is already a closed roof or canopy, since enjoy fresh air and the landscape is much more comfortable when the hot rays of the sun are not shining from above and the rain is not dripping.
Sometimes it all starts with creating such a site or simply trying to expand the living space. Open verandas look extremely tempting summer period, allow you to have a good rest and enjoy the freshness of nature.
However, with the onset of colder evenings, its use becomes extremely difficult and inconvenient.
That is why many resort to solutions such as closing verandas from unfavorable factors and even insulation, which provides this building with the actual status of part of the house.
Today there is a large number of methods that allow you to close the veranda from a wide variety of unfavorable natural phenomena.
In addition, it is better to think about the possibility of insulating the veranda at the initial construction stage. Subsequent reworking of the basic design into an insulated one may require additional costs and be much more labor-intensive than the initial design.
A popular solution for masking batteries
The most common way to hide a battery is to cover the wall with plasterboard. This method has its advantages (quick, easy and inexpensive) and disadvantages (reducing the area of the room)
It is also necessary to pay attention to the fact that, without practical knowledge and experience in working with drywall, masking batteries can become a real pain. It should be remembered that it is not recommended to completely cover heating appliances with plasterboard.
To ensure proper air circulation, slits are made in the material, which are subsequently closed with special decorative screens. The use of such screens also helps to maintain radiators.
Another advantage of drywall is the ability to hide not only radiators, but also the pipes leading to it. Along with this, it is more expedient to cover the entire wall with material when renovating the entire room.
How to hide a battery - easy and simple!
An easier and less expensive way is to cover the batteries with a hanging screen. Today there are a huge number of different models:
Hanging screens will help hide radiators when renovations in the room have long been completed. Installation of such models does not require special knowledge and effort, they are installed by hanging on the battery. The hanging screen does not interfere with air circulation and heat exchange, performs a decorative function and greatly facilitates the process of maintaining the heating device. Such screens are produced with two options for pipe connections - one-sided and two-sided.
Box screens are most often used to mask batteries installed in hallways and along blank walls. Such models not only perform a decorative function, but also serve as an excellent piece of furniture. They can be used as small shelves on which you can put your favorite trinkets, and if you have a cat in your house, believe me, the surface of such a box will become its favorite resting place during cold weather. The boxes differ in size, so if you have fairly low radiators, do not use the products large sizes, which can easily be turned into cozy and comfortable benches. Their finishing can also be done in various techniques, this is both openwork carving and decorative overlays, and the possibility of applying any image to the front of the box, the main thing is that such a screen does not disturb your interior, but becomes a real addition to it.
Metal, wood and MDF screens for batteries can also be made in the form of a box or have flat shape, which is ideal for masking batteries built into niches or hidden by drywall. The screens offered today have original design- these are carvings, drawings and forged decorations, thanks to which you will not only hide radiators, but also preserve the interior of the room.
How to hide a battery - an original approach
Don't want to install screens and deal with drywall? Show your creative qualities - visually dissolve the battery in the interior. Paint the radiator in the color of the walls or, conversely, make the radiator the main highlight of your room. Today you can use the services of a printing company that will print the image you choose on self-adhesive paper - later you can easily place it on the radiator and make your interior unique. You can paint the batteries yourself - some draw with colored pencils, some give the batteries the color of their favorite animal, and some prefer to imprint their favorite flowers and patterns on it.
Crafters can experiment with different textures and shapes, giving the batteries original look. Today you can easily find master classes on decorating heating devices with various covers in the shape of animals; you can also use the remaining yarn and wrap it around the radiator (it is not at all necessary that the yarn be of only one shade).
If you know how to work with beads and beads, prepare a frame according to the size of your battery and create an original bead curtain or curtain of woven beads, which you attach to the frame.
Everything is in your hands and depends entirely on your capabilities!
Before closing the radiator, you need to take into account several technical nuances:
When closing the battery, it is very important not to block convective air flows, otherwise it will blow in the room and the windows will begin to fog up, which will ultimately lead to the appearance of mold on the walls. Ideally, the window sill visor should protrude no more than 30 mm above the radiator; the top and bottom of the radiator should be as open as possible.
There must be a distance of at least 35-50 mm between the battery and the screen
There should be a gap of about 60-70 mm from the radiator to the floor and to the window sill.
For solutions emergency situations It is necessary to provide free access to the radiator. For example, the box grille can be removable, folding (see photo), opening on hinges or sliding out on profiles.
Not every bathroom has separate radiators, except for the one that serves as a heated towel rail. Modern products are quite aesthetic. The need for decoration arises if the battery has not been replaced for a long time, as a result of which it has lost its appearance. The easiest way to give a heating device a presentable appearance is to paint it. The paint color is selected according to the color of the room. Of course, the product to be painted is thoroughly cleaned. However, decoupage in the bathroom is just as appropriate.
An example of successful use of a battery as a bright accent
In addition, it is possible to cover the battery in the bathroom with a mesh, which can act as a storage system.
Protective screen with storage shelves
The battery can be hidden in a stylish cabinet
Or leave it in plain sight, covering it with a shelf on top
To summarize, it should be noted that decorating a radiator is a creative process. When choosing a method for transforming heating radiators, the main thing is not to overdo it with decorative elements, keeping general style room decoration
It is also important to take into account that the main functional purpose of the radiator should not be affected - heating the room in the cold season
They decorate both old cast iron batteries and modern products made of aluminum and bimetal. The latter are especially amenable to drawing, since the external design consists of flat plates on which it is convenient to apply a design.
When choosing paint, you should remember that special paints are produced for heating radiators that can withstand high temperatures.
On frosty winter days like now, heating saves our houses and apartments. Therefore the presence heating radiators in homes this is undoubtedly a plus. But often batteries become a stumbling block when you want to decorate a room beautifully.
So where should we put the hated batteries? After all, no matter how modern they are, the appearance of the rooms, alas, is still spoiled because of them...
The problem with the design of heating radiators is especially relevant in children's rooms and rooms where children often play, not only for aesthetic reasons, but also because kids run around a lot and can hit the radiator.
If modern radiators have such an appearance that they can easily fit into a room in a high-tech or minimalist style, then Soviet cast-iron radiators look completely depressing. That's why it needs to be like this disguise the battery, so that it was not visible, but it did not stop warming us in the cold.
Editorial "So simple!" I have prepared 14 practical ways for you to hide nondescript radiator and at the same time transform the interior. Now, looking at the radiators in the house, I get aesthetic pleasure!
But if you decorate them with various designs, that’s a completely different matter! This is especially true in a children's room or kitchen. If artistic skills are completely absent, you can use special stencils.
You can attach the curtain to the window sill using Velcro; the fabric should match the color of the wallpaper. As an alternative, blinds can be used.
However, glass screens only cover outside batteries. They are secured using screw holders with elastic protective pads.
It is enough to choose napkins to match, cut out the necessary elements and cover the radiator with them. You can apply a special heat-resistant varnish on top.
Heating saves our apartments and cottages on frosty winter days. Therefore, the presence of heating radiators in homes is undoubtedly a plus. But often batteries become a stumbling block when you want to decorate a room beautifully.
The radiators and heating pipes themselves in houses are located either under the windows or along one of the walls, that is, they stand out strongly. These massive elements spoil the overall appearance of the room, so both designers and ordinary people They often think about how to close the radiator.
The problem with the design of heating radiators is especially relevant in children's rooms and rooms where children often play, and not only for aesthetic reasons, since they can run and hit the radiator.
If modern radiators have an appearance that can easily fit into a room in a high-tech or minimalist style, then old Soviet cast-iron radiators look completely depressing. Therefore, we need to take care of how to disguise the battery, and in such a way that it does not stop warming us in the cold.
The presence of any problem always leads to its solution, and masking heating radiators in apartments is no exception. Designers and builders have developed several solutions to this problem. Let's look at the most popular of them:
– One of the most common ways to solve the problem of closing a heating radiator is to install a metal screen. These screens are usually mass produced, but are made for specific types of radiators. Their advantage is high heat transfer, durability, absence of the slightest deformation under temperature influences, as well as low price. But the minus probably outweighs all the advantages of this type of disguise, since this one can hardly be called beautiful.
You can solve the issue of the aesthetic component after purchasing such a screen: decorating or painting a metal screen yourself is quite feasible for creative people.
– Another method to disguise a battery indoors is to install a wooden screen. A custom wood craftsman can make such a model, masking a radiator in the house. The ideal option would be to make a screen that is similar in style and shape to the furniture in the room.
Wooden screen for a radiator in the interior
Most often, lattice screens or mesh screens are made from wood, which cover the battery from view but allow heat to pass through well. Such screens are not cheap, especially if they are made to order, but they look very impressive, and they also provide additional space for sitting or placing certain items: toys, decorative elements, vases, etc. The disadvantage of wooden screens is that they can become deformed when exposed to high temperatures. You can create a screen model from wood yourself by first measuring the area of the radiator and its thickness.
– The next option for covering the battery is a plastic screen. It is relatively cheap, but it is sometimes noted that when exposed to high temperatures, some types of plastic can release toxic substances, so it is better not to risk it and choose another way to hide the radiator.
Decorative plastic screen
– Another common method for covering a radiator is custom-made furniture or built-in furniture. This could be a chest of drawers that hides the heating system, a long bench or a console table that hides. The only thing, when you are planning such furniture with a craftsman, you need to ensure that heat can penetrate into the room. To do this, you can make carved cabinet doors or carved vertical surfaces.
The heating radiator is built into the furniture
As an option, you can consider making a decorative fireplace in place of the radiator, which will not only be decorative, but also a real warm, cozy place - a kind of hearth in the room.
– Now designers are offering new models that are not embarrassing to show to others. These are beautiful carved models, often made to order, with three-dimensional images or patterns. Of course, this is not a cheap pleasure, but for rooms classic style These models are irreplaceable.
Decorative screen for the battery in the interior
– Disguising radiators in the bathroom can be done behind a children’s playpen net or clothes dryer (this will also be a rational way). The mesh is attached between two shelf boards above and below the radiator so that it itself remains behind the mesh. Then you can hang washcloths and towels on hooks on the mesh, which will hide the massive radiator.
– One of the most extensive options for masking a battery is a special heating installation system. In this case, the radiators are installed not in front of the wall, but inside it. This will significantly reduce the area of the room and make it difficult to repair the heating system if necessary, but the batteries will not be visible at all, although the thermal effect will not disappear anywhere.
– Another way to disguise batteries is to dismantle and install them heated floors or certain invisible convectors that can be mounted in window sills, furniture, floors, plinths, etc. This method is considered the most expensive, but is beginning to gain popularity among those who want to have a beautiful apartment without sacrificing warmth in it. The heating battery can be hidden in a bench under the windowsill. It will be the warmest and cozy place in the apartment!
The heating battery is built into the window sill
– The most in a simple way What can be used to cover the radiator are curtains or drapes. Since childhood, many remember how they did not notice long curtains, who carefully hung mothers, radiators and filled a lot of cones.
Heating radiators can be hidden by curtains
This method is still popular today, although it has been somewhat modified. It is now customary to hang thick curtains directly under the windowsill using Velcro or fishing line. In this case, the curtains always hide the battery, and not just in the evening when they are drawn blackout curtains. Curtains for masking the radiator are matched to the main curtains or furniture upholstery.
– Another option for solving the problem of how to cover a heating radiator is to install low decorative screens that you can make yourself. If you decorate the screen with photographs, magazine clippings or drawings, you can get an original art object in the house.
– One of the less traditional ideas on how to decorate a heating radiator is painting it. This method has several options: the battery can “merge” with the wall or can become the object of attention in the room. In the first case, it needs to be painted the same color that is intended for the walls in the room.
The second option is more creative: if the walls are bright, the battery can be painted in pastel colors; if the walls pastel shades, we make the battery contrasting and bright.
The original way would be to paint the radiator different shades one color: from the lightest on top to the darkest on the bottom. Gold and silver paint are also popular, however, in any case, you will have to paint the heating pipes in the same color, and not just the radiator itself.
Disguising radiators opens up scope for creativity for those who like to invent all sorts of useful and beautiful things for the home. Perhaps some of the creative ideas proposed here will awaken the creative person and dreamer in you.
You also need to close the radiators correctly. Aesthetics are, of course, important, but cold room you will have no time for beauty. Therefore, all options must also be considered from a technical point of view. This will be discussed below: how to close a heating radiator without significantly reducing its efficiency. The task is not easy, but doable.
Radiators, like heating pipes, require periodic maintenance. They sometimes start to leak, become clogged, require bleeding from time to time, etc. And all because a far from ideal coolant flows in our networks. In addition, the quality of some modern heating devices is far from standard. All this leads to leaks appearing sooner or later.
More often they appear in places where sections of radiators are joined, or where pipes are connected. To ensure the tightness of the joints, there are gaskets; over time, they lose elasticity or collapse. All these places must be freely accessible.
From all that has been said, it follows that you need to close the battery in such a way that you can quickly access it. The best option- an attached structure that is not “tightly” fixed to the wall. If you are concerned about safety, make a locking mount: you can install a bracket on the wall on which the heating screen will be hung. Any other fastening that will ensure quick dismantling will do.
The purpose of the batteries is to transfer heat to the air. And this happens in two ways:
Heat transfer by convection occurs when air passing by a heated section heats itself up. To improve air movement on modern heating devices, special fins-air ducts are made. But their presence is not a guarantee of good heat transfer. We also need free access and outflow of air. This is the only way air will flow normally and spread heat throughout the room. This means that you need to close the radiator in the room so that nothing interferes with the outflow of air from above. Ideally, there should be no obstruction from above. There is already a window sill there. The second obstacle will immediately reduce heat transfer. But if there is still some kind of horizontal cover, it should be with big amount holes. And the holes should occupy at least 40% of the surface, and preferably 50-60%.
But that's not all. There should also be enough below long distance from floor to screen. Cold air should pass through this gap and rise up along the battery section, heating up along the way. The size from the floor to the top edge of the screen is 8-12 cm. The best option is to have legs. Worst, but acceptable - holes big size or significant perforation (many small holes).
Thermal radiation occurs in the infrared range. For him, any obstacle is already a loss: the rays are reflected and scattered, never reaching the middle of the room. Therefore, it is advisable to install the screen in front of the radiator again with a large number of holes.
Even if all these requirements are met, the heat transfer from the batteries will decrease. And you need to be prepared for this. If you are just planning a system, take this into account and take a couple of extra sections. They will make up for the losses.
Using all the same properties of thermal radiation, heat transfer can be increased. The first remedy is to attach a layer of foil, or better yet, a foil foam insulator, behind the radiator. If you hang only foil on the wall, the amount of heat going into the wall will decrease by a factor of 5. It will be reflected towards the room, where it will actually become warmer. But if you attach a thin heat insulator to the wall, on which foil is applied (the surface should be smooth and shiny), then heat loss will be reduced by 20 times. And this is just from a piece of thermal insulation. But just one caveat: just putting it down won’t do any good. Needs to be attached to the wall. And at the same time between the wall and back wall The distance between the radiator and the radiator should be at least 2-3 cm. Then the reflection of thermal radiation will be effective.
The second remedy is also simple, but effective. We know that dark matte surfaces absorb heat well. And this can be used. Paint the back of the screen onto the battery in dark color. Part of the thermal radiation will be absorbed by it and then transmitted to the air in the room. If you still cover the battery with a screen, then you need to do it correctly with minimal heat loss.
And there are also design features that will help during installation to increase heat transfer rather than reduce it. To do this you need to position it correctly. How, look at the diagram.
From all that has been said above, it follows that a plastic material with a good heat transfer coefficient is needed. Metal immediately comes to mind. And indeed it is. If done correctly, it may not lower the temperature in the room, but increase it: the heat transfer area increases. But copper (silver doesn’t count) and aluminum have the best heat transfer. If you cover the radiators with perforated screens made of these materials, you will definitely not freeze. Metal screens fits best into kitchen interiors, can also be suitable for rooms, but decorated in high-tech style.
Metal screen - not the most attractive, perhaps, but with the best heat transfer
If forging fits into the style of the room, then you can make a forged grille, and use the battery itself as a contrasting background. Cast iron standard sections are not an option, but modern ones, which are almost flat, are an excellent background. In this design, the heating device will become a decorative element. This option is suitable for rooms or hallways. Such decor will look much more harmonious if there is at least one more item, also decorated with forging.
Very attractive and... But not from the point of view of heat transfer - it is very poor, but from the point of view of plasticity. You can make beautiful patterns from wood. Even a completely ordinary grille or slats already look good. In this case, there is no hope for an increase in heat transfer - it will certainly decrease, but if the holes are large enough, then only a little.
Wood radiator grille - timeless classic
Screens for radiators made of MDF, fiberboard, and OSB are also attractive. But already because of the relatively low price. You can also use them to beautifully close the battery. There are some good ones ready-made options, but if you are comfortable with a jigsaw and know how to use it well, you can get a spectacular screen. If you make large enough holes, then heat transfer will be normal. You just need to use materials with an emission class of at least E1, and better yet, E0. They are more expensive, but when heated they will not emit harmful substances (and will remain warm throughout the heating season).
A very good option could be a combination of two materials. For example, on a perforated sheet of metal (at best, aluminum) decorative panel made of wood or the same MDF. The option is very good. Both from the point of view of thermal engineering and from the point of view of design. The metal transfers heat well, and the decorative panel distracts attention from the battery.
It’s not a good idea to hide radiators under drywall. This material is an excellent heat insulator. Good property, but not for this case. In addition, when it dries out, it begins to crumble and become dusty. The situation can be improved a little. To do this, you will need to pre-treat the drywall with an aqueous solution of PVA glue. First, go over the surface with a special spiked roller and make holes. Then coat the sheet with the aqueous polymer solution several times. After drying, its thermal conductivity will increase, and it will not generate dust even when it dries out.
But even with such drywall, it is not worth covering the battery completely with drywall. If you really need a niche, make it from a processed sheet, and a grate, for example, from wood or steel. But it must be removable. This will ensure at least some access to the radiator. In general, it is better to make a structure that can be disassembled and assembled. For example, do not putty the corners, but cover them with corners that are fastened with self-tapping screws. It can be disassembled, although not very quickly, but it is not a monolith, which, if something happens, you will simply have to break.
Even less successful ideas are to close the battery in PVC room or other plastics. Their thermal conductivity is no better than that of drywall, but nothing can help the matter. This option is most suitable in the bathroom or kitchen. Here both wood and metal will not feel the best. Therefore, if you cover the battery with plastic, then only there. The requirements are the same: there are as few obstacles as possible at the top and bottom, the plane is heavily perforated, and there is maximum free access for repairs and maintenance.
There is another very modern and non-standard approach - a glass screen with photo printing. From a heat transfer point of view, this is a very bad option. Unless you make it from glass lamellas.
When wondering what and how to close a heating radiator, do not forget about the technical requirements and heat transfer. Firstly, you need to ensure free convection, and secondly, good heat transfer. And it is necessary to have access to service the battery in case of leakage or emergency situations. To do this, all surfaces must be perforated to the maximum, and the screen itself should not be tightly attached to the wall.
Before you start masking, you need to know a few important nuances:
There are several ways to hide batteries; in this section we will look at the most popular and effective ones.
It is by far the most practical and popular method; most often this design is made of metal and has its advantages:
A screen made of glass will become interesting and stylish solution, especially for those who choose minimalism or modern style in interior design. Photo printing or various patterns can be applied to the glass, but this method is not budget option. Installation is carried out on a screw holder, but you will have to drill holes in the wall. However, the heating radiator will be stylishly protected. This option will fit into any interior.
Box screens are great option for decorating radiators.
The photo shows an original green wooden box in the children's interior.
Let’s not forget about the most popular way to hide batteries - simply hang them with opaque or translucent curtains. Using this method, over time you will even forget that there are pipes and a radiator behind the curtains. The main thing is to choose curtains that will look harmonious and not show everyone that there is something behind them.
How to hide a heating radiator on the wall if other designs are “prohibited”. There is only one way to paint it the same color as the wall.
Wood will create coziness and warmth in the apartment, and the camouflage of the battery will be elegant and beautiful. This option is for those who are furnishing their home in eco-style using natural materials. These ways to hide batteries can be used as a stand for home decor.
In the photo they are normal wooden blocks stylishly hide the battery in the kitchen.
Another common way to cover a radiator is custom-made furniture or built-in furniture (shelves, cabinets, folding tables, seating).
Arrange furniture, such as an armchair or desk, so that it covers the radiator. A cast iron radiator is not attractive to many, but pieces of furniture can hide it.
For those who don’t want to invent anything, unique design ways have been developed to hide batteries that already initially have a beautiful appearance and you simply don’t want to hide them.
There are many creative ideas that can turn batteries into a decorative element:
In the photo using beautiful painting The battery has merged with the wall.
Separately, I would like to talk about how you can hide batteries using drywall. It is immediately worth noting that the material has its disadvantages, however plasterboard construction still very popular for renovations.
The downside is that drywall is afraid external influence, with careless actions, it is quite easy to break or pierce it. And if a breakdown or leak occurs, the entire finish will have to be replaced again, but this material is cheap.
In order to close the battery, you need to try it on and then buy it metal profiles and other additional products.
Attention, for the construction of a plasterboard box there is an important requirement: the window sill must extend beyond the radiator by at least 3 centimeters.
Work order:
It doesn’t matter whether it’s an apartment or a house, a bedroom or a kitchen, I would like to have it everywhere good repair. Questions immediately arise: how to beautifully hide heating pipes and how can this be done with minimal costs and maximum efficiency? At the same time, the method of disguise should be truly invisible and unnoticeable, fitting into the room.
The pipe can be hidden inside the wall, or it can also be closed into the floor. Remember that the old heating system should not be hidden in this way; this option is possible after complete update all elements.
It is best made from wood, plastic or plasterboard. Do not place the heating pipes close together; there should be at least three centimeters between the box and the pipe.
Pipe decoration various options, for example, wrap it with jute rope. But remember that this reduces heat transfer. Many owners decorate pipes with flowers; this can be done using bamboo with leaves. Only imagination should work here, even old pipe may look completely different.
The easiest and most practical method is to paint the radiators or riser in the same color as the walls, but the heat generation will not be reduced.
In the photo in the kitchen interior, the pipes are painted to match the blue walls.
It was a good invention floor plinth, in which you can easily hide batteries located horizontally and low to the floor.
Kitchen is perfect room, in which all ways to hide batteries will become practical and convenient. If the room is small, then you can hide the battery using beautiful table top or make a folding table, which will fold out when convenient.
Factories of metal-plastic structures offer big choice beautiful large window sills that imitate stone, wood and other materials. A modern window sill does not break under the weight, is not afraid external factors, it is easy to care for, wipe clean, it is not afraid of scratches, and so on. You can hide any type of battery in this way, including cast iron.
In the photo, wooden boxes are used to disguise the radiators.
If the radiator is in a niche, then wide window sill will help create a work area.
You can place souvenirs, vases or potted flowers on the constructed wooden box. You can also cover unsightly radiators in the living room with thick curtains.
The photo shows a modern living room. In order to hide the radiators mounted wooden structure, which also serves as a place for relaxation, storage and decoration.
In the interior of a bedroom and children's room, batteries can be used as another place to relax, a tabletop for decorative elements or a workplace.
We hide heating radiators using wooden, glass or plastic screens.
On the picture
For radiators in hallways, glass screens or wooden boxes are suitable. IN small room Covering the battery is only necessary from a practicality point of view. This could be a locker for storing shoes, or the battery will become a small coffee table where keys and other necessary items will be stored.
For modern style or high-tech and minimalist style, any material made of wood, glass (glass panels) or metal is suitable.
In the loft style, old radiators and pipes are most often not covered; they are left on display or replaced with interesting design options.
Below are photo examples of masking batteries in rooms for various functional purposes.
