Get A Jump On Summer With Radiant Barrier
It may be winter now, but Punxsutawney Phil has helped us reach another seasonal milestone.
For those of us stuck in mounds of snow and bracing ourselves against the bitter winds, we need our little glimmers of hope.
While some of us may still be working on creating bikini-ready bodies, we can all get ready for the glorious sun if we first give some thought to our attics.
Sure, you may have had marigolds, hummingbirds, hammocks and the pool in mind.
But rest and play will be much more enjoyable when you tap into the comfort and savings radiant barrier can offer.
Your attic may not sound nearly as interesting or fun as choosing the best-looking seasonal flowers, but that's where your thoughts should head first if you'd like to stay cooler this summer while saving money off your energy bills.
Ever notice how, in the middle of the summer, your house feels somewhat warm despite the low thermostat setting? That's because while you're AC unit is shooting for that cool 71 degrees, radiant heat from the sun penetrating your attic is un-doing all its great work.
The sun gives us light and warmth through radiant heat.
Radiant heat penetrates your home through the roof and walls, although the roof is the primary culprit due to angle, surface area and dark-colored shingles.
Once radiant heat enters the attic, it creeps down through all the building materials until it reaches the cool areas of your living spaces.
There, the warm air mixes with the cool air and ends up raising the temperature enough to keep the AC in constant cycle, just to keep up.
However, if you plan ahead, you can get a jump on those hot rays by installing radiant barrier along your roof rafters.
The reflective properties of radiant barrier deflect the inbound heat right back out into the atmosphere, before it has a chance to make your home toasty.
For those of us stuck in mounds of snow and bracing ourselves against the bitter winds, we need our little glimmers of hope.
While some of us may still be working on creating bikini-ready bodies, we can all get ready for the glorious sun if we first give some thought to our attics.
Sure, you may have had marigolds, hummingbirds, hammocks and the pool in mind.
But rest and play will be much more enjoyable when you tap into the comfort and savings radiant barrier can offer.
Your attic may not sound nearly as interesting or fun as choosing the best-looking seasonal flowers, but that's where your thoughts should head first if you'd like to stay cooler this summer while saving money off your energy bills.
Ever notice how, in the middle of the summer, your house feels somewhat warm despite the low thermostat setting? That's because while you're AC unit is shooting for that cool 71 degrees, radiant heat from the sun penetrating your attic is un-doing all its great work.
The sun gives us light and warmth through radiant heat.
Radiant heat penetrates your home through the roof and walls, although the roof is the primary culprit due to angle, surface area and dark-colored shingles.
Once radiant heat enters the attic, it creeps down through all the building materials until it reaches the cool areas of your living spaces.
There, the warm air mixes with the cool air and ends up raising the temperature enough to keep the AC in constant cycle, just to keep up.
However, if you plan ahead, you can get a jump on those hot rays by installing radiant barrier along your roof rafters.
The reflective properties of radiant barrier deflect the inbound heat right back out into the atmosphere, before it has a chance to make your home toasty.
