The Art and Science of Winter Warmth: Understanding How Insulation Works in the Winter
Why Insulation is Important
Winter is when you can really FEEL the insulation, or lack thereof, in your home. So, ensuring that your walls and attic are adequately insulated is vital in making your home not only more comfortable, but also energy efficient. When you have heating systems working overtime trying to warm the space, energy bills increase. Makes sense right? A fully insulated home can save homeowners an average of $200-$400 annually. Additionally, a cause and effect of increased energy bills is also a larger carbon footprint. Carbon footprint is the measurement of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere as a result of human actions. By reducing the amount of energy needed to heat homes, less carbon dioxide is released into the air. On top of all of this, a home’s resale value can either improve or diminish because of insulation. Energy efficient features like HVAC systems, lighting and insulation are sought out by potential buyers.
Understanding why insulation is important is the first step in recognizing if your home may need to be insulated. Now, here’s the science behind effective insulation in the winter.
The Science Behind Insulation
Heater transfer
The entire purpose of insulation is to resist the flow of heat. In the colder months, heat escapes outside, replacing the air with the cold. Insulation is the barrier that hinders this from happening. R-Value is insulation’s ability to resist the heat flow and measures how thermal resistant the insulation is. The higher the R-Value, the more insulating power to resist heat flow.
Conduction
Conduction, in terms of insulation, is the process of heat transfer through direct contact between two materials. When these two materials are in contact, heat energy moves from the hotter one to the cooler one through touch. A common example of conduction is when you touch a hot pan and the heat transfers to your hand through conduction. Effective insulation has low thermal conductivity, meaning it repels the heat transfer and stops unwanted air flow. If you have low-quality or sparse insulation, air will pass through and seep into your home. High-quality and densely packed insulation will stop conduction from making your home cold in the winter.
Convection
Convection is the transfer of heat through air within an insulated area. Heat transfers through air circulating within insulation materials. Convection can be lowered by insulating walls and attics with high R-Value and dense material that naturally seals the air. By insulating your home with the best insulation, air pockets are trapped and limit heat loss.
Radiation
Radiation is the transfer of heat energy through electromagnetic waves. A good example is when you stand in the sun on a cold winter day. The radiant heat is gained from the sun, even though the air is cold. Reflective surfaces can be used in insulation materials in order to bounce radiant heat back into your attic or crawl space. Reflective insulation prevents heat from escaping through the walls or roof.
Find the Best Insulation for your Home
Learn more about the various types of insulation that can help you create an energy-efficient home by contacting us today! Primary Home Improvements offers comprehensive, detailed and free written quotes. Give us a call to kick-start your home insulation project.