Quick question

If a radiator within a house is painted blue will it still emit the same heat as if it were White?

Gut feeling is it won't, but does anybody know for sure or has anybody tried it?

Painted a feature wall in the lounge Blue and the White rad doesn't look right against it


Thanks

Dark, matt colours emit more heat than bright shiny ones.
However, the coat of paint will insultae the rad more than the increase (probably) but in al honesty, I doubt you will notice....

A radiator emits heat by convection, I. E. Heating air around it, not by radiation.

So as ^^^^^ said, colour does not apply for convection, only more layers of paint add to the insulation but a couple of coats won't make noticeable difference.

The heat leaves the radiator by radiation, but the heat moves around the room via convection. Its never as straightforward as it sounds.....
After all, the radiator itself has to conduct the heat from the inner face of the steel to the outer face. And that is where it meets the poor conductor (insulator) paint layer.

Thanks for the quick replies lads

The heat reduction from painting it is far less than the constant moaning from not painting it.

Technically if you are worried about temperature, strip it back to bare metal. You'll then get the best radiation and the hot air from your partner constant complaining will also raise the temperature. However be aware, this may make you colder as you may choose to hide in another room to get away from the nagging.