methinx an experiment would relieve the methinx. dont think i felt the foil which has no dead airspace behind it though cant remember feeling the foil other than the back of my hand when i felt the block under itBeGreen said:~*~vvv~*~ said:al foil reflects radiant heat. it works well for the sides of the stove, not very well above the stove because then more convective heat is involved. my stove currently sits 6" from block chimney which got really hot be4 i put al foil behind it & made quite a diff. so its still there though its uglybtuser said:I cook in metal pans. Sometimes I cover the top with aluminium foil and gosh, the food still cooks. Don't confuse radiant/convective/conduction heating with each other. I can see insulating the firebox but what the heck is aluminium foil going to do?
Methinks the foil is just acting as a wall shield. The same effect will happen if you use cement board. That is not the same as reducing heat loss to the masonry in a firebox. The difference being you are just keeping the wall cooler by the convection of air behind the shield. In the fireplace you are trying to prevent heat loss in a closed cavity.