Radflek Product Information
RADFLEK REDIATOR REFLECTORS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Radflek?
Radflek is a revolutionary radiator reflector that is made from a laminated aluminium foil with a unique long lasting coating that keeps its high reflectivity. 

What does Radflek do?
Radflek will help you save energy, cut heating bills and reduce carbon emissions.

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 wasted in heating up the wall.A Radflek panel placed between the radiator and the wall will reduce this waste by reflecting at least 95% of that wasted heat from the back of the radiator 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 tested by the BBA (British Board of Agrément) and reported on by the BRE (Building Research Establishment). Ofgem has confirmed that Radflek is the most efficient radiator reflector on the market.  Radflek is in fact at least 23% more effective than any louvered or saw-toothed radiator reflector available on the market.

Why is Radflek better than putting tin foil behind my radiator?
Kitchen foil is far less efficient than 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). All aluminium exposed to the atmosphere has a thin layer of aluminium oxide on its surface. Aluminium oxide is porous and very quickly becomes contaminated by atmospheric pollution and water vapour. This contamination soon dulls the initial bright appearance of aluminium foil and, once it becomes dull from atmospheric contamination, that reflectivity is dramatically reduced. In contrast to kitchen foil, Radflek has a special coating 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).  As well as having no such coating, kitchen foil is considerably more flimsy as it is not laminated like Radflek (which has a 250kg burst strength).

What is Radflek made from?
Radflek is made from a laminated aluminium foil with a unique long lasting coating.

How long does it last?
Radflek has been given an installation life of 15 years but a materials life of at least 60 years.  i.e. while Radflek may be removed from behind a radiator after some 15 years due to property renovation and redecoration, the material it is made from will last for at least 60 years.

Will Radflek work as well in 5 years time as when it is first fitted?
Yes occasional cleaning with a damp cloth to remove the dust will keep Radflek working as good as new and reducing heating bills year after year.

How much will Radflek save me?
It depends on the wall and the heat type, but generally Radflek will pay for itself in under a year

Where does Radflek work best in the house?
Radflek is most effective on external uninsulated walls (the worse the insulation, the better the effect, as Radflek reduces the amount of heat being wasted by leaking through the wall into the outside environment). However, putting Radflek on internal walls is also beneficial, as the heat reflected back into the room will bring the room to operating temperature more quickly. This is particularly the case if the temperature of the space the other side of the internal wall is lower (e.g. a hallway which is not kept at the same higher temperature or the next door property in a terrace).

How is Radflek fitted?
Radflek is easy to install – anyone can do it and it takes only minutes. The standard installation method is for Radflek to be suspended from clips that hang between the radiator wall brackets – no need for radiator removal, use of sticky tape or pads and definitely no DIY know how required!

I have floor standing radiators.  Can I use Radflek on them?
Yes we advise that you put sticky back hooks on the wall – which we sell on our website, Radhooks but you can buy them from any DIY retailer.  Radflek can then be installed in the same way hung from the hooks rather than the wall brackets.  Please direct them to the stand where they can see an onsite installation model.

What do I do if the standard installation method does not cover the whole radiator – or if my brackets are much closer together than you demo-model?
The standard installation method is for Radflek to be suspended from clips that hang between the radiator wall brackets. We recognise that this means that the portion of the radiator outside the brackets will still be transferring heat into the section of the wall directly behind it but took the view that consumers would prefer a slightly less efficient installation if the Radflek sheet was not visible from the side of the radiator.
 
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.

What do I do if my radiators are bigger than your Radflek sheets?
For radiators with brackets wider than 1.2m you can either use more than one sheet with an intermediary support (such as a hook in the wall) or use, Radstik , which is a self-adhesive reflective foil tape (as reflective as Radflek) to join sheets together. Radstik is available on our website - pack of 5 strips.

Can I easily cut up and fix the Radflek to different sized radiators?
Yes Radflek is very easy to cut with scissors but will not tear, in fact cutting the Radflek will sharpen your scissors.

Radflek Radiator Reflectors are the most efficient radiator reflectors on the market.  They only take minutes to install and start saving straight away.  No fuss, no mess, no DIY knowledge required. Anyone can do it!
 
What is Radflek?

• Radflek is a revolutionary energy saving radiator reflector that reflects at least 95% of the heat energy emitted from the rear of a radiator. Radflek reduces heat loss through the wall behind the radiator (See thermal image attached separately). Less energy is needed to heat the room so your energy bills will be less.
• Radflek is 23% more efficient than louvered or saw-toothed radiator reflector panels.
• Installing Radflek could not be simpler - anyone can do it. It only takes minutes to fit and the benefits are immediate. Once fitted, no maintenance is required, other than occasional dusting to retain optimum reflectivity.
• Radflek will last for years, continuing to save you money on your energy bills and reducing CO² emissions.
• Radflek is made from a laminated aluminum foil with a long lasting coating that prevents oxidation and preserves its high reflectivity.

 
How Does Radflek Work?

• Radiators radiate heat in all directions. If positioned against a wall energy is wasted warming up the wall. Typically as much as 40% of the heat released by a radiator will be directed towards the wall. A Radflek sheet placed between the radiator and the wall minimises heat transferring into and through the wall by reflecting 95% of it back into the room. This means less energy is wasted and less energy is needed to heat the room to the required temperature. (See ‘How it works diagram’ attached separately)
• Because Radflek reflects heat back into the room (primarily into the radiator) the radiator will maintain its operating temperature using less energy with a lower load on the boiler.
• Unlike Radflek, other radiator reflectors are permanently mounted on the wall behind the radiator and so are difficult to install and to dust (essential for maintaining high reflectivity). Wall mounting also allows conductive heat transfer through the reflector into the wall. This means they are less efficient than Radflek.

 
Savings

• Tests carried out by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) and reported on by The Building Research Establishment (BRE), the leading research institution in the field of building technology in the UK; show that Radflek reduces heat transfer through walls by 45%.
• Radflek is the most efficient radiator reflector on the market - at least 23% more efficient at saving energy and reducing CO² emissions than louvered or saw toothed radiator reflector panels. 
• A sheet of Radflek will save 8.9 kg CO² per annum compared to 7.2 kg CO² per annum equivalent saving by any louvered or saw toothed radiator reflector.
• The BBA has also certified that Radflek’s laminate foil has a life of at least 60 years.
• Radflek can pay for itself in 6 months.

ASTRON PRODUCT INFORMATION

PLEASE CHARGE YOUR ASTRON SOLAR FLOODLIGHT FOR 3 FULL

DAYS PRIOR TO FIRST USE
PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CHARGE YOUR ASTRON WITH THE SOLAR PANEL BEHIND
GLASS - THIS CAN REDUCE CHARGING EFFICIENCY BY UP TO 90%
Before you begin

Please remember that the Astron Floodlight and Astron Solar Panel are quite heavy. Before you begin installing your Astron Floodlight and solar panel, please take great care to ensure the surfaces you
intend to mount them on are sturdy enough to take their weight. Failure to install your Astron and Solar Panel correctly could result in human or animal injury, damage to your property and damage to your Astron Solar Floodlight. If you are at all unsure please contact your retailer or The Solar Centre for advice.to get the most out of your Astron please consider the location of your solar panel before starting the installation process. It is crucial that your solar panel is located in an area where light is largely
unobstructed by buildings, fences, trees, sheds, bushes or the shadows that these create. Solar panels located in shaded areas will not perform anywhere near as well as those located in areas that get good light through out the day. Poorly sited solar panels will only allow the Astron to light for a few hours after dark and it will soon run out of charge. Please remember that there is 5 metres of cable between your
Astron Solar Floodlight and the solar panel so your panel must be mounted within 5 metres of your light.
If you are in any doubt please check this distance before beginning the installation process.
The Astron has 2 solar panel inputs which gives you the option to add an additional solar panel if required. This maybe useful if you plan to use your Astron intensively during winter, or if your solar panel location is not ideal. Please note that if you have one solar panel you can plug it into either socket.
Installing your Astron solar panel
The solar panel that comes with your Astron has 45 degree mounts which will enable you to mount the solar panel at 45 degrees on either a horizontal surface such as a shed or garage roof, or a vertical surface such as a wall. Please see Step 1 on the Quick Start Guide which shows you how the solar panel should be positioned depending on if you intend to mount it on a horizontal or vertical surface.
Once you have decided on your solar panel location, connect the solar panel brackets to the solar panel by using the screws and washers provided. With mounts attached, position your solar panel in your
desired location and mark the 4 holes. Depending on the surface, either drill or prepare the 4 holes for mounting before screwing your solar panel into place using screw plugs.
Installing your Astron Floodlight
Place the Astron face down on a steady surface. Using a spanner, Mole grips or pliers, remove the two nuts that secure the wall bracket to the light. Carefully put the 2 nuts, 4 washers and 2 locking washers to one side and remove bracket. Now position the bracket in your desired location and mark the 2 holes.
Drill your 2 screw marks and secure bracket using the supplied screws, washers and screw plugs. Now reattach your Astron to the bracket. Now your solar panel and Astron are installed, simply plug the solar panel cable into either of the 2 solar panel sockets on the Astron light unit.
Operating Your Astron
Please note that so long as the Astron is connected to the solar panel, it will charge up from the sun during the day whether it is turned on or off.
Your Astron can be operated by using the power switch on the light unit, or by using the supplied remote
control. Please remember that the Astron has a light sensor in the solar panel which enables it to turn itself on and off automatically. The light sensor determines when it gets dark enough for the Astron to turn on at night and when it is light enough for it to turn itself off at dawn and begin charging again. When the Astron is working automatically it will turn itself on each night at dusk and turn itself off at dawn or when the batteries get low (whichever comes sooner).
Power Switch On Light Unit
The Astron has an On / Off power switch on the light unit. If this is switched off, the Astron will not light until it is turned on by pressing the power switch.
• If you turn the Astron on during the day using the power switch, the Astron will not light up until after dark where it will turn on automatically. The Astron will then turn off automatically when the batteries get
low or when it becomes light again (whichever comes sooner).
• If you turn the Astron on at the power switch on the light after dark, the Astron will light up straight away and will turn off automatically when the batteries get low or when it becomes light again (whichever comes sooner).
Remote Control
The Astron must be turned on at the power switch on the light before you can use the remote control.
Please note the remote control has a range of up to 50 metres.
The remote control has 2 buttons, on and off. The top button is the on button, the bottom button is the off button.
Turning the Astron on using the remote control
• If you turn the Astron on using the remote control during the day, the Astron will blink 3 times to let you know it has received the signal. The Astron will then light up automatically after dark and turn off
automatically when the batteries get low or when it becomes light again (whichever comes sooner).
• If you turn the Astron on at the remote control after dark, the Astron will light up straight away andwill turn off automatically when the batteries get low or when it becomes light again (whichever comes sooner).
Turning the Astron off using the remote control
• If you turn the Astron off at the remote control during the day, the Astron will blink 5 times to let you know it has received the signal. The Astron will then be switched off and will not turn on automatically after dark. You can turn the Astron back on by pressing the on button on the remote control or by turning the Astron off and back on using the power switch on the light.
• If you turn the Astron off at the remote control after dark, the Astron will turn off immediately and will not come on again automatically. You can turn the Astron back on by pressing the on button on the remote control or by turning the Astron off and back on again using the power switch on the light.
Disabling the light sensor
Some users may want to disable the light sensor in the Astron so that it can be turned on and off manually regardless of how light it is outside. To do this simply unplug the solar panel from the Astron
Troubleshooting
The Astron has been designed to provide you with years of trouble-free use. If you encounter a problem
it will more than likely be because either the Astron has run flat or the battery in the remote control needs replacing.
Below are some troubleshooting tips. Please only attempt these troubleshooting tips during the day when it is still light.
I press the remote control buttons but the Astron won’t respond
Ensure that the Astron is switched on by checking the power button on the light unit.
The switch on the Astron is turned on but it still does not respond when I press the remote
control buttons
Check the Astron has sufficient charge to operate. To do this unplug the solar panel and turn the light off and on again at the switch. If the Astron has charge it will illuminate immediately when you turn it on.
If the Astron does not have charge, reconnect the solar panel, turn it off using the switch on the light unit and leave it to charge for 3 days before trying again. If your Astron still doesn’t appear to have charge after 3 days please contact your retailer or The Solar Centre.
The Astron has charge but it still does not respond to the remote control
Observe the small light on the remote control to ensure it flashes red when you press the buttons. If it doesn’t flash then the battery on the remote control needs replacing.
The red light flashes on the remote control but the Astron still does not respond
Ensure the aerial on the remote control is fully extended and that the remote control is within range ofthe Astron. To be sure get within 5 metres of the light and try the remote control again. Please note thatover time the battery in the remote control will begin to run flat. As this happens the range of the remotecontrol will begin to reduce.
My aerial is extended and I am within 5 metres of the light, the light is turned on and has charge,but the Astron still does not respond to the remote control.
Please contact your retailer or The Solar Centre