Have you ever order out for a pizza on a crackling-cold, Massachusetts winter evening? And, when it arrived, it was still nice and warm; so much so that the cheese was still stringy. The secret was the pizza container. It is a padded, insulated and sealed way to keep the heat of the pizza trapped inside so that it doesn't leak out.
Your home's insulation works much in the same way. The outer area of your home is an "envelope" or "shell," sealed with insulation, that keeps your warmth inside on cold winter days – and cool air inside on sweltering summer days. Though your heating and cooling equipment are important, the insulation is what makes retaining the temperature (like the pizza container) possible. Without it, your energy bills would be astronomical.
R-Values
R-values are a standardized measurement of the insulation's effectiveness. The "R" means resistance to heat flow or penetration through the insulation. The number indicates the resistance measurement. The higher the number, the better the heat-flow barrier. Since heat rises, higher R-values are needed in the attic than in the walls or floor. Cool air tends to fall, so the next highest R-value should be in your floors, crawl space or basement. Hot and cold air can penetrate walls, but at a lesser rate, so wall insulation requires slightly lower R-values.
Enhanced Effectiveness
To see just how much energy is saved in a typical home with proper insulating techniques, go to this Energy Star website. In addition to proper insulation, cracks and gaps in a home should be sealed, as drafts can reduce the effectiveness of insulation upgrades. Hot or cold air drafts bypass or penetrate insulated areas and reduce their ability to retain your indoor temperatures. Therefore, R-values are more effective in a sealed environment.
If you're not sure about your home's insulating values, contact Rodenhiser. We can determine if your R-values are right for our area, and, if not, we'll recommend options. If it's good, we'll tell you, and you'll know you're prepared for the winter ahead. Call us with any questions you may have; we're here to help.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.
Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning serves the Route 495/128 area of Massachusetts. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!
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