GREATER FORT WORTH Blog

Insulation FAQ Series: How Does Insulation Work?

The simple answer: insulation acts as a blanket that covers your home and prevents heat from getting in when the weather is hot, or getting out when the weather is cold. The technical answer: heat crosses into or out of your home by three processes:

• Conduction: Heat travels through the wood and sheetrock of your walls and ceiling. This is the heat you feel when you put your hand on a metal fence on a hot day.
• Convection: Air carries heat through gaps in your walls and ceiling. This is what is happening when warm air rises.
• Radiation: Heat travels directly from warmer areas to cooler areas, even without air or materials to carry it. You feel heat radiating when you sit near a fire.

If you’ve ever tried to grab a baking sheet out of your oven without a pot holder, you know conduction is the most efficient of these processes. Convection is second, with radiation a pretty distant third. Blown-in and batt insulation protect against conduction and radiation, while air sealing (another service we offer) protects against convection.

Insulation works by trapping tiny pockets of air within it. These air pockets keep heat from crossing the barrier. This is why you don’t want to compress insulation; the tighter you squeeze it, the fewer air pockets it contains, and the less protection it offers. If you have old blown-in insulation that has become compressed over time, it may not be working as efficiently as it did when first installed. If your insulation is more than a few years old, give us a call today to book your free in-home insulation inspection!