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How Radiant Barrier Works

How Radiant Barrier Works - Barrier Insulation Inc

If you are searching for “How Radiant Barrier Works“, this post should help!

Heat journeys from a warm area to a cool area by a combination of radiation, convection, and conduction. Heat flows by conduction from a more hot location within a material or assembly to a more cold location, similarly the way a spoon placed in a hot cup of tea conducts heat from its handle to your hand.

Heat transfer by convection occurs when a liquid or gas (a good example is air) is heated it becomes less dense, and rises. As the liquid or gas cools, it becomes more dense and falls. As radiant heat travels in a straight line away from any surface, it heats anything solid that can absorb its energy.

How Radiant Barrier Works

Most conventional insulation materials work by slowing the conductive heat flow and — to a lesser degree — convective heat flow. Reflective insulation systems and radiant barriers work by reducing that radiant heat gain. To be more effective, the reflective surface must face an air space. Because some dust will accumulate on the reflective surface, it will reduce its reflective capabilities. The radiant barrier should be installed in such a way as to minimize the dust accumulation on the reflective surface.

Cuts Down Radiant Heat Transfer

When the sun heats a roof, it is primarily the sun’s radiant energy that heats the roof and makes it hot. Enough of this heat travels by conduction through the roofing materials to the attic side of the roof. The heated roof material then radiates its increased heat energy onto the cooler attic surfaces, including the air ducts and the floor of the attic. A radiant barrier cuts down the radiant heat transfer from the underside of the roof to the additional surfaces in the attic.

A radiant barrier works its most optimum when it is perpendicular to the radiant energy hitting it. Additionally, the higher the temperature difference between the sides of the radiant barrier material, the greater the benefit a radiant barrier can present.

Radiant Barrier Works Best In Hotter Climates

Radiant barriers are more effective in hotter climates (like Arizona) than in cool climates, especially when cooling air ducts are installed in the attic. Some studies show that a radiant barrier can reduce cooling costs from 5% to 10% when used in a warm and sunny climate. This reduced heat gain may even allow for a smaller a/c unit. In cooler climates, however, it is usually more practical to install more thermal insulation than to add a radiant barrier.

RADIANT BARRIERS TYPES

Radiant barriers is made up of a highly reflective material, usually aluminum foil, that may be applied to one or both sides of a number of substrate materials such as plastic films, kraft paper, oriented strand board, cardboard, and an air infiltration barrier material. Some products are fiber-reinforced to increase strength and ease of handling.

Some radiant barriers can even be combined with many types of insulation materials in reflective insulation systems. In these combinations, radiant barriers can operate as the thermal insulation’s facing material.

NEW AND EXISTING HOME RADIANT BARRIER INSTALLATION

A radiant barrier’s performance depends on proper installation, so it’s usually a good idea to use a certified radiant barrier installer. If you prefer to do the install the radiant barrier yourself, make sure you study the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, fully understand the safety precautions and check your local fire and building codes. For installation tips, you can also look toward the reflective insulation trade association.

It is much easier to incorporate radiant barriers into a newer home, but you can also install them in a pre-existing home, especially if the attic is an open one. In a new house, the installer usually drapes a rolled-foil radiant barrier foil-face down between the roof rafters to reduce dust accumulation on the reflective faces (double-faced radiant barriers are available). In most cases this is done right before the roof sheathing is installed, but can also be done afterwards from the inside by stapling the barrier to the underside of the rafters.

Installing Foil-Type Barriers

When installing foil-type barriers, it’s important to for the material to “droop” between the attachment points to make at least a 1 in (2.5 cm) gap of air space between it and the bottom of the roof. Some manufacturers even offer Foil-faced plywood or oriented strand board sheathing.

Warning About Radiant Barrier Installation

Please note that reflective foil conducts electricity, so workers and homeowners must refrain from making contact with bare electrical wiring. If the radiant barrier is installed on top of attic floor insulation, the foil will be vulnerable to dust accumulation and may trap moisture in the fiber insulation, so it is strongly recommended that you DO NOT install radiant barriers directly on top of the attic floor insulation.

Barrier Insulation Is A Radiant Barrier Contractor In Phoenix

If you live in the Phoenix valley and would like to learn more about radiant barrier insulation and enjoy lower energy bills all year long, give Barrier Insulation a call and get the process started. We can help you evaluate the condition of your current insulation, help you get your traditional insulation up to par if necessary and add a radiant barrier to help lower your energy bills. Call us today at 602-499-2922.

What is Insulation R-Value?

When people search “What Is Insulation R-Value?” it is typically a new home owner or a business owner trying to understand how to insulate their property to save on utilities. Quality insulation which is installed by professionals simply saves on heating and cooling. This translates into lowered utilities and saving money.

What Does The Term “R-Value” Mean?

R-value is a measurement of the thermal resistance of materials. An easy way to understand it is a measurement of how well heat or cold transfers through a given material, such as wood, metal, or more importantly insulation. Insulation’s entire purpose is to restrict the transfer of heat or cold from or into our homes and businesses. Quality insulation options are graded with the R-Value system and the higher the number, the better the insulation is at stopping thermal transfer.

How Do People Use R-Value?

Generally R-Value is measured at a thickness of each individual type of insulation. This can be spray foam insulation, rolled batt insulation, blow in insulation, and many others. But each of them is assigned an R-Value performance rating, usually by the inch. This means that insulation contractors and homeowners can calculate the various insulation options performance given where the area that is having insulation installed. Attic insulation can vary based on the depth of the roof rafters or floor joists from 6 to 10 inches. Choosing a higher performance R-Value for areas where there is less space helps achieve thermally efficiently homes.

What About Air Leaks?

R-Value only will not create the energy efficient homes we all want. While to the casual observer homes and commercial properties look solid and air tight. The fact is that most building and homes have cracks, gaps, and lots of air leaks. Even when there is batt insulation in a regular wood stud wall wind can find its way through these air leaks and render it meaningless. Just a 20 mile per hour wind can take a R-19 wall and through air leaks turn it into an R-6.

Air Leak Solution

For home and business owners wanting to save money by lowering their utility bills, insulation can play a major role. Spray foam insulation is one of the best options due to a couple of key points. Firstly it helps seal up the cracks and gaps in your building or home. Secondly the performance of spray foam insulation in terms of R-Value is exceptional. When you are thinking about the best option for your properties which has excellent thermal resistance and helps shore up air leaks, Spray Foam Insulation is the way to go.

Valleywide Phoenix Insulation Contractors

If you live or operate a business in the Phoenix valley Barrier Insulation, Inc. has the experience, tools, and training to help you save money through improved insulation. Our insulation contractors work on both residential and commercial projects and offer every insulation variety to better serve our customers in Arizona.

We will install the spray foam insulation, batt insulation, or blown-in insulation you need to save money and live more comfortably anywhere in the Phoenix valley. Understanding “What R-Value Is” hopefully has made you more aware of how insulation works, and what your property might need. Give us a call for a free inspection and quote to improve your insulation and save money!

Call Barrier Insulation Today at 602-499-2922.

Overlooked Ways to Lower Your Power Bill

Are you searching the web for “Ways To Lower Your Power Bill” like most Arizona residents? When the temperatures start to go up, so do the electricity bills. Keeping your home comfortable costs more during the summer, but there are ways to help minimize that effect.

Ways To Save Energy & Money

Everyone loves saving money, especially on recurring bills. We are always looking for ‘life hacks’ that can help boost the efficiency of living our lives while lowering the cost it carries. In our search for methods to reduce our power bills many simple tactics are easily overlooked and never taken advantage of. We are going to briefly outline 3 of these tactics that can help you up the efficiency of your home while lowering the amount of money you are spending on it to keep all systems running, so to speak.

Inspect Your Home’s Insulation

Make sure that all of the insulation in your home was up to, or even exceeding standards. As time passes insulation breaks down and experiences a drop in efficiency. The speed of the deterioration depends on several things, including the climate and exposure to moisture.

Unplug Unused Electronics

Unplug appliances and devices that may leach power while on standby mode. While we are led to believe that these electronic devices and appliances turn off when we stop using them. This is rarely the case and the combination of all appliances that are ‘secretly’ consuming power adds up to needless money spent. That money can do a lot of good for you instead of just disappearing.

Get A Professional Energy Audit

Have an energy audit performed on your home by a professional. Having a trained eye assess your home will not only arm you with the information and tactics you need to increase the efficiency of your home, it will also provide you with peace of mind because you won’t wonder if you missed anything in your own untrained assessment.

Take Care Of Crawlspaces

Make sure our crawl spaces are well maintained and not left open and therefore exposed. If the openings to your crawl spaces are exposed cold air can enter in the winter and warm air in the summer. Some wonder if the answer is sealing off their crawl spaces completely from the outdoors and the answer is yes, if you do so with a crawl space encapsulation system. If you don’t have a crawl space encapsulation system, then sealing off your crawl spaces in the winter months is recommended.

Control Moisture in Crawlspaces

Make sure the moisture levels in your crawl space are at reasonable levels. This can be done by installing small moisture meters and checking them periodically. Not all crawl spaces are easily accessible and if that is the case a professional should be called in to inspect them. Ideally the moisture level within your crawl spaces should be below 50%.

Check Insulation in the Crawlspace

Check the condition of the insulation in your crawl space. Over time the buildup of moisture can cause the insulation to become saturated and, by extension, inefficient. Saturated insulation in your crawl space will cause your home to experience a definite drop in energy efficiency. Mold growth can also be a problem in crawl spaces that are overly saturated with moisture.

Invest In Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Increasing the energy efficiency of your home is never a bad thing and will almost always save you a significant amount of money over the long haul. Have your home put through an energy audit and see where you can afford to make improvements! If you would like more information or help inspecting and improving your home insulation in the Phoenix area, please contact Barrier Insulation today by calling either 602-499-2922 or .

Garage Insulation For Increased Energy Efficiency

If you are looking to enhance the energy efficiency of your home in Phoenix, AZ, one step you may want to consider that could render great saving on your energy bill is, insulating your garage. Typical garages are not insulated and can become extremely cold in the winter time and extremely hot in the summers. These extremes can damage and warp things you may have stored in your garage and ever add wear and tear to your vehicles that are experiencing the temperature fluctuations in your garage. The temperatures in your garage affect the temps in your home if your garage is attached to your house. The air can pass into your home, causing your central air system to work harder in order to sustain the interior temperature that you set it to maintain.

Having your garage properly insulated will help tremendously to keep your home and garage comfortable on top of enhancing your home’s energy efficiency. Aside from having your garage outfitted with an insulation system there are steps that can be taken to enhance the effect that the insulation system will have on your garage. One of these steps is to have a lightly colored garage door. Lighter shades and colors will reflect light and heat away from your garage whereas darker colors and shades will absorb heat and cause your garage to heat up tremendously.

Having a ventilated garage door is another option as the vents will allow air to constantly circulate throughout your garage instead of remaining static. Still air will remain hot and promote rising temperatures as it effectively compounds on itself instead of flowing freely. Air flow along with a garage door that reflects heat and light will help your chosen insulation system transform the energy efficiency traits and qualities as well as the comfort level of your homes attached garage.

Is Your Home Garage Properly Insulated?

Barrier Insulation, Inc is the leading insulation contractor in Glendale, AZ & Phoenix, AZ and can install insulation in your home’s garage to increase your homes energy efficiency and save you money. See why adding insulation to your home garage has the best return on your investment. Give us a call at (602)499-2922 or (623)931-0637 today!

Tips for Saving Energy

Energy efficiency is growing ever more important in a day and age when our resources are dwindling and our way of life is getting more in line with what is best for the planet. Scientific advancements are constantly being applied to various areas of our every day lives and our ability to utilize the energy that we generate is improving exponentially. This means there are opportunities to save money on energy that are greater than ever before. Not all of us have the means to utilize these scientific advancements right away, but there are steps you can take to save money in order to put it towards these improvements that can greatly improve your every day life. Here are some tips:

To Reduce Heat:

During the warmer months, prevent as much natural light from entering your home as possible. The more light that enters your home, the more heat it will carry along with it. Keeping blinds and shades closed is highly recommended
Extend any window awnings to provide more shade around your windows
Use light bulbs that are more energy efficient. Standard light bulbs operate at warm temperatures that can raise the temperature inside your home.
Close the doors and cooling vents in any rooms that are not being used regularly. Open the vents and doors as needed.
BBQ as much as possible instead of using the oven inside of your home. Ovens produce massive levels of heat by their very nature and avoiding that heat radiating throughout the interior of your home is impossible.

Thermostat Tips:

Pick a comfortable setting and leave your thermostat locked on that setting at all times. It is much easier to maintain a temperature than it is to use heat or cooling to achieve a new temp level. If need be, change it only when you wake up and before you lay down for bed in the evening.
Contrary to what most believe, setting your thermostat to lower or higher temperatures in order to heat or cool faster does not work. Your central air unit will heat and cool at a steady rate which means that all you are doing is prolonging the time it will be running on top of setting yourself up to be uncomfortable once the temp it was set for is reached. The only way to fix that would be to set a new comfortable temp and make your system work to achieve it.
Keep heat producing appliances away from the thermostat. The heat that radiates from them will cause the thermostat to get false reading which will cause it to activate or deactivate depending on if you are heating or cooling.

Utilizing these tips can help you save a lot of money over time on your energy bills giving you more financial liquidity and freedom. On top of that you can use the savings to pay for improvements that can further increase the energy efficiency of your home via upgrades to things like insulation and appliances related to your central air system. In this day and age, updating your home to modern standards in regard to appliances, electrical systems, insulation, ventilation, and the materials used in the home can skyrocket your home’s ability to use energy efficiently. These kinds of improvements pay for themselves over time, making them a no brainer. The toughest part may be figuring out how to make the initial investments, but making certain behavioral changes can give you your starting capital for your series of home improvements.

9 Ways to Increase Energy Efficiency Part 4

Back again with the conclusion of our 4 part series on ways that you can increase your home’s energy efficiency with tips seven through nine. If you haven’t read parts one –three, please do so in order to complete the picture of energy efficiency that we’re trying to paint. With that said, here we go.

Advanced Lighting Technology: Equipping your home with energy efficient LED and fluorescent bulbs throughout will go a long way in saving you money on you energy bill and because of the fact that you won’t need to replace light bulbs for years because of the longevity of the advanced bulbs. You can find one of these bulbs to fit any light fixture in your home.
Upgrading Appliances: Using modern versions of household appliances will have a major effect, especially when combined with the other tips in this series. New appliances will not only use less electricity to function, they use less water (applicable appliances only), dryers have sensors to tell them when to stop a dry cycle, and new power strips will put the icing on your energy efficiency cake.
Equip Your Home To Be Able to Produce Renewable Energy: Adding solor panels or a wind turbine to your property will increase the overall value of your home and property, it will save you money each month and may even MAKE you money! Some city and town governments offer incentives to those who choose to modify their home with renewable energy producing additions and some will even purchase excess electricity you contribute to the power grid.

This concludes our series on raising your home’s energy efficiency without interrupting your everyday lifestyle. Read parts one-three and watch your energy bill plummet as you install these changes into your home!

9 Ways to Increase Energy Efficiency Part 3

Here we go with part 3 of our series of tips for increasing your home’s energy efficiency. We have covered four tips so far in the series and will be hitting you with two more today! Energy efficiency has a direct correlation to your bank account because it heavily impacts your energy bill and how expensive or cheap it will routinely be. We highly recommend reading every part of this series in order to transform and maximize the energy efficiency of your home.

Heating and Cooling Upgrades

Upgrading your heating and cooling system to a more modern model will immediately upgrade the energy efficiency of your home as soon as it is powered on. Some older homes will see a major difference if they are using old and outdated appliances that are the electrical equivalent of gas guzzling vehicles. Having power bills in the neighborhood of $400 is absurd and should not be experienced with the advancements available in 2015. For instance, gas furnaces are roughly 25% more efficient now than they were in the 70’s. There are new versions of appliances and new methods of installation and insulating that have developed over the past ten years that can not only change the efficiency with which your home operates, they will increase the overall value of your property immensely. Modernizing your home is always a good idea, especially if you have owned it for a while or if you recently bought an older home.

Water Heater Adjustments

Water heaters can often get lost as part of the scenery in a home rather than an appliance you would actively interact with. Often times, they aren’t even in a location that is regularly visible so the old ‘out of sight, out of mind’ adage is definitely at play. For such an overlooked appliance, the water heater checks in as the second largest consumer of energy in any home. Making sure the heater is set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (the most efficient setting) and that it is well insulated to conserve energy will pay dividends whenever you power bill arrives.

Stay tuned for our next two tips in part four of our series in our next entry!

Best Type Of Insulation For Basement Walls

best insulation types for basement walls spray foam

The best type of insulation for basement walls is any type that stops moisture movement and prevents mold and mildew growth. Basements host the perfect location type for foam insulation products. Cellulose insulation is a great option for basements but for the sake of this article we will only be talking about foam insulation.

Spray Foam Insulation

Spray foam insulation is one of the most popular types of insulation on the market and is the best material for insulating basements and other damp areas like bathrooms or kitchens. Closed cell spray foam insulation is great for sealing out water vapor that tries to get inside your basement walls. Spray foam has many benefits including vapor barrier, covers wires, pipes and other utilities and also provides good R values. The only downfall to spray foam is that its more expensive than other types of insulation for now but in the future it will be come for cost effective. It’s also very messy, but the insulation company that will blow the insulation in your walls should provide clean up for it as well. If you are trying this as DIY insulation installation project, good luck!

Foam Board Insulation

The 2nd best insulation for basements is using foam board insulation. This is a common type of insulation used by insulation installers but is also a type of insulation DIYers are more likely able to handle. It’s also more affordable than spray foam insulation and a little more attractive but unless you plan on leaving your walls exposed, no one will know what type of insulation is inside of them.

The only problem with foam board is choosing the right thickness. Also, sealing to create a vapor barrier is something that should be left to the experts. However, 2 to 4 inches of foam board insulation should be an adequate thickness for nearly any type of basement. Also, using a spray foam to seal up all the cracks around the bottom of the foam board and around the utilities is recommended with this type of insulation. Only a small amount will be needed though.

Fiberglass & Hybrid Foam Insulation

The 3rd and final method of insulating your basement is using a hybrid system of fiberglass and foam board. The is the cheapest possible insulation method for your basement but should only be used if your basement doesn’t have any current signs of water damage or infiltration. This method should never be used if your basement has a history of water leaks, damage, issues etc… Also, this type of insulation does not create as tight of a vapor barrier as foam board or spray foam insulation.

Basement Insulation Conclusion

Not all basements can be turned into an acceptable finsihed space. Too many time have people tried to finish a basement with insulation when it really needs major foundational work or structural repairs. If your basement has history of water problems or flooding, you might want to get an inspection of your home before adding on insulation to walls just to make sure you are the perfect candidate for insulation. The main goal of adding foam insulation is to separate the block framing from the damp concrete or old insulation products that can create mold growth.

9 Ways to Increase Energy Efficiency Part 2

We are back this week with the next two steps in our continuing blog entry on ways you can increase your home’s energy efficiency. You can always look back to part one for the first two steps that we have covered thus far. Once you have taken in that information you’ll be ready to move along with us to steps 3 & 4!

Have your home put through an Energy Audit:

An energy audit will help you understand exactly how your home is using energy and what amount of energy it is consuming. Identifying areas where you may be wasting energy can prove to be incredibly valuable and save you a lot of money once you correct the wasteful behavior. You can run home energy audits online for free, so there really is no reason to pass up this option! There are several on line energy audits available online and your current power company may even have online tools for you to use.

Weatherization:

Weatherizing is the most cost effective way to raise your home’s energy efficiency and it is also one of the methods that will have the most immediate impact. Weatherization works equally well in both warmer and colder climates because it keeps the outside environment from influencing or outright changing the indoor environment within your home. Air sealing windows and doors will cover holes you had no idea even existed greatly increasing your home’s barrier against the elements. Another great way to weatherize your home is by adding insulation or upgrading your already existing insulation to a more modern and efficient type. Air sealing and upgrading insulation will provide a night and day difference in your homes comfort level and energy consumption.

Stay tuned as we will be back soon with the next two steps for increasing your homes energy efficiency!

Blown-In Insulation vs. Batt Insulation

When it comes to insulation, there are several types that are prominently used for various reasons. When you are considering which type of insulation you want to go with knowing the nuances of each type and how they compare to each other. In this blog entry we are going to compare Batt insulation to Blown-in insulation. These are two of the most commonly used insulation types and may very well be the style that you end up choosing.

Blown-In Insulation: This insulation type requires a professional technician with the necessary equipment to install it. The main advantage of blown-in insulation is the fact it can be blown into tight places that would be otherwise hard to insulate. Blown-in insulation is made from cellulose which is an affordable material that is safer to be exposed to than fiberglass. This insulation type can compact over time, which will cause it to lose overall efficiency, which is one of its few cons. Blown-in insulation should be strongly considered as it is both highly effective, more versatile in where it can be placed, as well as being affordable.

Batt Insulation: Batt is one of the most widely spread types of insulation available today. The reason for this is its low cost and how easy it is to install. Batt insulation comes in a foam roll that is meant to be cut into the shapes of the spaces you intend to insulate. This style does have its limitations as it is not suitable for crawl spaces and other hard to reach areas that should be insulated. Installation needs to be handled needs to be handled very carefully as any missteps can greatly affect the energy efficiency of the insulation in a negative way. Batt insulation is also prone to becoming compacted which can greatly harm its ability to effectively insulate.