Summer is the season of heat and humidity. The temperatures in your home can get very hot due to the lack of ventilation, especially if you live in certain cities in Texas where it can get scorching hot. This leads to increased energy bills during hot and dry seasons and it makes it harder for you to keep your home cool and comfortable. However, there are ways that you can beat the heat by having a radiant barrier installed between your attic floor joists.
What are radiant barriers?
A radiant barrier is a reflective foil material made from metal, plastic film, or aluminum. It is often used in conjunction with other materials to provide even better insulation. For example, it can be combined with foam or fiberglass insulation to help keep heat from moving through walls in a house or other building. It was first developed by NASA in the 1960s to protect astronauts from extreme heat and cold. The technology was later adapted for residential use.
A radiant barrier is sometimes called “radiant barrier decking,” “radiant barrier sheathing,” “radiant barrier panel”, or “radiant roof decking.”
How do they work?
It’s important to understand how the radiant barrier works. It is a thin sheet of material that is installed between the roof and ceiling. The primary function of a radiant barrier is to reflect heat back toward its source.
It is most effective when installed on the underside of the roof, but some systems can also be placed on top of your attic space. The benefit of placing the radiant barrier on top is that it will also help reduce heat transfer through air leaks between your attic and living spaces.
A radiant barrier does not provide any insulation (R-value) but significantly reduces the heat flow through a building envelope by reflecting it back toward the source. An R-value is a measure of thermal resistance. It measures how well a material prevents heat transfer across its surface and through its thickness. The higher the R-value, the more effective it is at insulating your home or office space.
It saves you money in the long run
When you install a radiant barrier in your attic, you’ll save money on your utility bills and reduce the wear and tear of your air conditioner. The result is that you’ll be able to keep the thermostat at a reasonable temperature without having to worry about overworking your AC unit.
The hottest day recorded in Texas was in 1994 (according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,) when temperatures reached 120 degrees in the Monahans. Imagine experiencing heat like that and blasting your AC just to feel comfortable and crying over your electric bills afterward.
A radiant barrier can be applied inside or outside a home or building to help lower cooling costs. It’s an effective way to insulate your attic, basement, crawl space, and other areas of your home. In most cases, it will pay for itself in energy savings over time.
The cost of radiant barrier installation
The cost of radiant barrier installation will depend on the size of your attic. The smaller the area, the less you’ll pay. For example, if you have a 1,500-square-foot attic with a ceiling height of 10 feet, the average price per square foot will be around $1-$2.
However, there is a minimum charge for installing a radiant barrier in an attic and that’s $0.50 per square foot (about $450). So if your home has an unfinished basement that needs some insulation installed and it’s only 200 square feet with 8-foot ceilings, then it would cost around $600 to complete this project.
Other factors, such as where you live, can affect how much you spend on radiant barrier installations. You can contact your local attic experts for a price estimate.
Benefits of radiant barriers
The main benefit of a radiant barrier is that it reflects heat back to the source, rather than allowing it to radiate into your home through the attic floor. This means that during hot summer months, an attic with a radiant barrier installed will reflect up to 97% of the sun’s heat away from your home instead of allowing it to radiate into your home through the attic floor.
A radiant barrier is particularly useful for new homes or homes that have been re-roofed recently. It reduces moisture damage in attics as well. A radiant barrier also adds value to your home by protecting against moisture damage (which will eventually lead to hazardous mold formation and damage to your house and belongings) and increasing usable space for storage or other purposes.
It reduces infrared radiation than it allows through. type of electromagnetic radiation that can be harmful to your health. Too much exposure to this can cause damage to the collagen and elastin in your skin. This makes your skin less elastic and more prone to wrinkling. Infrared radiation also kills off cells, which can lead to cancerous growth later on.
It can help you get a good night’s sleep as well. Radiant barriers are especially effective at night when the sun’s rays are less intense, contributing to a more comfortable sleeping temperature.
It can also help keep your home warm during the winter. A radiant barrier reduces the amount of energy required to keep your home at your desired temperature. When installed properly, it will also reduce the cold in the winter. During the winter months, a radiant barrier reflects your home’s internal heat back into your living space instead of allowing it to escape through your attic floor. This can help reduce energy costs during winter and keep your home warmer in the summer by reducing cooling costs.
Difference between radiant barriers and attic insulation
Radiant barriers are often confused with attic insulation. While they both help reduce heat loss, they work in very different ways.
Attic insulation comes in batts that you install between the attic floor and ceiling, while a radiant barrier is a thin sheet of material (usually aluminum foil) that’s installed on the underside of your roof rafters. It’s essentially an upside-down version of insulating your basement walls—it reflects heat back down into your home instead of trapping it inside as insulation does. It’s not as effective at reducing temperature fluctuations as more traditional methods like installing insulated windows or adding more thick layers to your walls, but if you’re looking for quick fixes to keep cool during hot summer months without having to replace all of your windows then having radiant barriers installed can be the better option.
Call American Air Duct cleaning services
If you’re planning on installing one in a commercial space, it’s important to consult with American Air Duct Cleaning Services first. We can help determine whether it’s necessary and where best to position it within your building.
More homeowners are discovering that a radiant barrier can increase energy efficiency and keep their home cooler with less energy. If you’re thinking about installing one of these materials, our experts can help you decide whether it’s right for your needs or not. You’ll need professional installation from someone who knows what they’re doing so that everything stays safe for everyone who lives there.
For high-quality air duct cleaning services and attic-related services in and around San Antonio, TX, Texas, call American Air Duct Cleaning Services at (512) 960 3631. Visit our website for more information about what we do and how we can help you.
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