NEWARK Blog

What You Should Know About Radiant Barrier Insulation

Your home keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. However, some houses are more efficient than others in this process. No matter how great your HVAC system is, if your home isn't adequately insulated, it won't feel as comfortable throughout the seasons. Luckily, installing radiant barrier insulation prevents the heat buildup and loss that leaves interiors uncomfortable. The following guide explores how the material works and its associated benefits.

What Is Radiant Barrier Insulation?

The sun produces energy that gives off heat. This solar radiant heat builds up in objects, including your roof, radiating it in various directions.

The heat energy stored in the shingles, decking, and other roofing materials continues to build until it radiates to the trusses, insulation, and rafters in the attic. The heat energy stored in these objects then radiates to other parts of the house, including drywall and flooring. During winter, radiant heat from the furnace travels to objects throughout the house, eventually seeping out of the roof if it's not properly insulated.

Radiant barrier insulation is a reflective film mounted to cardboard, plastic, or special paper and installed on an attic ceiling. In warm months, the material reflects solar radiant heat, preventing heat transfer from the roof to other parts of the house. In colder seasons, it prevents heat loss by reflecting a home's radiant heat into its interior instead of letting it escape through the roof.

Benefits of Radiant Barrier Insulation

The less your HVAC system has to work, the more energy efficient your home will be. Radiant barrier insulation prevents solar radiation, lowering attic temperatures by nearly 30 degrees in the summer. When the attic is cooler, the HVAC system can cool a home with less cycling, reducing wear and tear on the system and the likelihood of repairs. Likewise, a radiant barrier helps a home retain heat in the winter, keeping you warmer with your furnace working less. The less your HVAC system runs, the lower your energy bills will be.

Radiant barrier insulation can even be used to help your hot water tank run more efficiently. Technicians can wrap the radiant barrier film around a hot water tank, reducing heat loss and helping the appliance not work as hard to warm the water.

Additionally, the barrier can be placed over air ducts to stop heat gain through the channels during the summer and prevent heat loss during the colder months. This will help your HVAC system keep your home comfortable year-round with less cost.

For help regulating temperatures inside your home, contact the professionals at Koala Insulation of Newark. Serving clients in New Castle County, DE, the trained technicians will provide an energy evaluation to determine the best approach for stopping heat gain and loss through your home's infrastructure. Visit the home-efficiency consultants online to learn more about the company, or call (302) 273-8476 to request a quote.