If you’re replacing your old radiators with a more modern system, don’t discard the radiators or sell them for scrap. They’ll fetch a fancy price on the restoration market. Ironically, it sometimes seems that the older and less efficient the radiator, the better the price.
When selecting or building an enclosure for a radiator, be sure to provide two things: circulation and reflection. Cold air should come in at the bottom of the enclosure and be reflected off the back to the open grillwork at the top or front of the enclosure. You can design and build a radiator cover yourself; just fashion the grillwork out of any material that’s open enough to allow the heat to escape into the room. But it’s easier to buy prefabricated metal radiator covers from a mail-order company that specializes in their construction.
When choosing radiator enclosures, always select covers with angles that deflect heat toward the middle of the room.
To improve heating efficiency and prevent heat loss through the wall, place a heat shield behind each radiator. Ask at your hardware or heating supply store for a fire-safety-approved heat shield. Mounting instructions come with the shield.
If you want to spend a little more time and less money, you can create your own heat shield. Just fasten aluminum foil or aluminum-faced insulation board to the wall behind the radiator.

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