FAQ

WHAT IS A HEAT SHIELD?
  • Put simply, a heat shield is any kind of barrier that stops or limits heat from getting through. For example, if you have a television near your fireplace, the heat from the fire can be absorbed by the television case and damage both the case and the internal components. By placing a heat shield barrier between the heat source and the television, you can protect the television from the heat while still enjoying a warm fire and your favorite TV shows.

  • There is another type of heat shield called an “insulator” that has the job of keeping heat in rather than keeping it out. What is an insulator heat shield used for? This kind of heat shield is used in automotive and industrial settings to make the system more efficient by keeping underhood heat trapped at the source.
HOW DO HEAT SHIELDS WORK?
  • Before you can choose which heat shield works best for you, you need to first find out whether your heat issue is a conductive, convective, or radiant heat issue.

  • Conductive heat transmits heat from one object to another by direct contact.
  • Convective heat occurs when heat is transferred between a solid and a moving fluid and/or gas.
  • Radiant heat is heat that radiates from a heat source to a component that is not in direct contact with the heat source.

  • The tyf insulation and heat barrier you need will ultimately depend on the type of heat you are dealing with. There are three different “solutions” or ways a heat shield product can mitigate these varying types of heat problems.

  • Dissipation: Dissipators are special fabrics or coatings that are extremely efficient at displacing thermal energy. Heat solutions that use dissipation help protect the object on the other side of the shield by reducing the amount of heat that passes through the shield or barrier. Dissipators are a specialty category and are generally more rare in their availability and usage.
  • Reflection: What is a reflective heat shield then? Reflective heat shields are the most common products utilized in heat mitigation. These types of products act as barriers by causing the heat to bounce off the shield’s surface away from the protected area or object.
  • Insulators: Finally, products like our exhaust heat shields use heat shield insulation to help trap heat at its source. Trapping heat at the source is the most efficient way to improve performance and protect components.
HOW DOES HEATSHIELD PROTECT MY VEHICLE?
  • It all comes down to the construction and quality of the fabric company use. The idea is to provide a layer of "insulation" between your vehicle and the sun and that's exactly what they have created. Not to mention, their precise patterning techniques, computer-aided cutting equipment, and the best production team a company can ask for!
WHAT CAN I EXPECT WHEN I USE A HEATSHIELD?
  • Company measured a temperature difference of as much as 40? F (25? C.), but you will feel an average temperature reduction in your car of about 25? F. To maximize the cooling effect check out our side and rear window Heatshields.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SILVER AND GOLD HEATSHIELDS?
  • Their Silver and Gold Series Heatshields are made of the same material and perform equally well. The difference is purely cosmetic. The Silver Series features a silver reflective side with a white interior while the Gold Series features a gold reflective side with a black interior.
WILL BENDING THE HEATSHIELD AROUND THE REARVIEW MIRROR DAMAGE MY HEATSHIELD?
  • Bending your HeatShield to fit around your mirror is all a part of the simple installation process and will not damage your Heatshield. They design the HeatShield to fit around the rearview mirror in order to block out as much sunlight as possible.
WHERE ARE HEATSHIELDS MADE?
  • All of their HeatShields are made in the USA at their manufacturing plant located in Morgan Hill, California.
WHAT ARE INTERMITTENT AND SERVICE TEMPERATURES?
  • When you’re trying to figure out what a heat shield is and how it works for you, it is important to remember that advertised intermittent temperatures and service temperatures are two very different things. Intermittent temperatures are the max temperatures an exhaust wrap or other insulation can handle for 30 seconds or less before being compromised. Service temperature, on the other hand, is how much heat the product can withstand for long, routine periods of time.

  • Many companies will advertise the intermittent temperatures and not the service temperatures to make their products seem more sturdy and reliable than they are. Do your homework -- ask for the service temperature and intermittent temperature of a competitors product. Heatshield Products will always show both temperatures to ensure you get the best product the first time around.
WHAT IS A HEAT SHIELD MADE OF?
  • The materials we use to make our heat barriers and insulators vary but generally include:

  • Fiberglass and fiberglass yarn

  • Aluminum

  • Stainless Steel

  • Basalt (volcanic rock)

  • Silica


  • Making effective heat shields requires heavy-duty materials. At Heatshield Products, we make sure that all of our materials are top quality and asbestos free for your health and safety.
WHAT IS A HEAT SHIELD USED FOR?

  • Heat shields can be used for a variety of beneficial reasons in/on vehicles, motorcycles, boats, and in various industrial and military settings, and in the home.

Vehicles


  • Heat shields have multiple uses in (and on!) automobiles, motorcycles, and water vehicles like motorboats. In fact, it was the heat issues they ran into on the racetrack that inspired us to make heavy-duty heat shields in the first place!

  • The most popular kinds of heat shields for vehicles are exhaust-pipe wraps. These wraps reduce the amount of heat escaping from the exhaust system which helps to make your vehicle more efficient, responsive, and powerful.

  • What is a heat shield used for under the hood? For the hoses and lines under the hood of your vehicle, they sell special insulator sleeves to protect these delicate connections from heat damage and reduce evaporation.

Industrial


  • Most factory and power-plant machines produce large amounts of heat that can damage sensitive electronic components and increase worker fatigue. Their heat-shield covers, curtains, sleeves, shields, and tape can help to protect electronics and workers from excessive radiant heat by keeping energy trapped at the source which can help increase power and plant efficiency. Their line of personal heat shield protective wear can also protect workers against heat sources at close contact.

Military


  • What is a heat shield used for in the military? Firearms used in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard generate a lot of heat, which can injure military personnel and damage accessories. Their heat shield covers isolate the heat generated by automatic weapons—protecting those operating the weapons and reducing downtime.

  • Military heat barriers can also serve a strategic purpose by reducing the thermal signature of tanks and other weaponized deployments effectively hiding and securing your location.

Home


  • Ovens and fireplaces in the home create radiant heat that can damage other furniture and appliances, such as refrigerators, cabinets, mantels, and televisions. By placing effective heat barriers over these delicate surfaces, you can increase the life of your products and prevent unnecessary damage. Their stick-on barrier sheets also work well in commercial hospitality environments.
WHAT’S THE PERFECT HEAT SHIELD FOR YOUR SITUATION?
  • To select the right heat shields for your needs, first work out whether the heat problem you’re dealing with is conductive (a direct transfer), convective (passing form a solid to a fluid or gas), or radiant (affecting objects at a distance). Then measure the temperature of the heat. With this information, you will be able to work out which kind of heat shield solution will be the most effective for your heat issues.
WHAT IS HEAT SHIELD INSTALLATION LIKE?
  • Installation techniques largely depend on the size and nature of the area to be protected. For home ovens and fireplaces, they have designed their adhesive shields for easy, DIY installation. Their heat shield products for cars, moto sleeves, and tape can also be installed easily by the customer.
HOW TO INSTALL EXHAUST WRAP?
  • Typical exhaust wrap installations call for pre-soaking the wrap in water. With Heatshield Products exhaust wrap, you only need to spray the wrap with water during installation to reduce the amount of loose fibers and chances for skin irritation. Once you’ve finished wrapping the header pipe, use a light application of clear coat spray to prevent fraying of the end of the wrap, then fold the end under the last complete coil of wrap around the pipe to keep it secure.