Serving Greater Hudson Valley, Newburgh, Middletown, Poughkeepsie
Monday, July 25th, 2022 by Marco Campos
We think of our home insulation as something of a blanket, or extra padding keeping us from the cold air outside during the colder months--almost like the walls of our homes are something of a winter coat. This is a somewhat accurate comparison, but there is a difference here. Continuing to wear a heavy winter jacket in the summer would lead you to overheat, but insulation within your home will have the opposite effect, and actually work to keep the heat of the summer season out of your home.
How Insulation Works
Home insulation works to absorb the heat being produced by your heating systems during the winter months, and conversely, it keeps the hot air from spreading through your home from the attic, where you’ll notice the highest spike of heat in the day during the summer. This allows you to run your air conditioning more efficiently and for you to save money on your energy bills overall. There are three ways that heat travels, radiation, conduction, and convection. Thermal insulation helps trap this heat in the many ways it can travel. This can be explained quite simply:
Where Should The Home Be Insulated?
When we think of home insulation, many of us tend to think of dusty attics, packed full of pink fiberglass insulation, or perhaps insulated wall cavities. These are two very important areas to insulate, but with the interest of the highest possible level of energy efficiency, then everything from the attic to the foundation should be insulated.
Ideally, a properly insulated home would have insulation material in the walls, ceilings, floors, crawl spaces, basements, and around ducts and piping. All these areas should be properly insulated to prevent the hot, humid air of the outside world from seeping into and throwing off the temperature balance of the home. Through a process known as “The Stack Effect”, heat naturally rises to the highest reachable point within a structure. This is why attics are so hot, while the rest of the home sits at a comfortable temperature. Without proper home insulation, however, heat can fill up the whole house as there is no block to keep it out, allowing the whole home to become uncomfortable through the seasons. To see what it would take for your home to be the most energy efficient it could be, reach out to a professional for a home energy audit!
What Insulation is Best for My Home This Summer?
All insulation works on a level of energy efficiency, helping to slow the movement of airflow and retain heat. Some do so with more or less success, but ultimately, there are plenty of options on the market so that you can make the best choice for your home.
There are many types of insulation materials on the market, including:
A professional can help to break down the benefits and potential drawbacks of each insulation type based on your home’s specific home insulation needs. This way, you can ensure that your home operates at the highest level of energy efficiency possible! Call us at 1-845-361-1110, or visit us at foamcoinc.com to schedule your no-obligation consultation to learn more about making your home comfortable while reducing your operating costs today!
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