Again, a professional can tell you all about those things, suggest the proper insulation type and assist you in finding ways to help your facility run better, while saving you energy and money.
Maintaining a strong background in the science of insulation can ensure that customers continue to receive the best in insulation solutions. Most of us know how to drive a car, but do we really understand how it works? Well, the same questions could be asked about insulation. People think they have a general knowledge of how it works, but how much do they really know?
Why the need to know, anyway? Gary Whittaker has an answer to that question. Beck, who works in technical sales for Pacor, Inc. Learning about insulation science, he says, "Gave me a scientific explanation to the mystery of why and how insulation works.
The three basic means of heat transfer [conduction, convection and radiation] were discussed, as well as the interrelationships of R, K, C and U factors. It actually gives somebody a leg up as far as giving them an idea before they get started about where they need to go, and what type of insulation works best for a particular purpose. Jeff Byers, national specifications manager for Owens Corning, is another industry veteran, with 17 years experience. In your home, this means that in winter, heat flows directly from all heated living spaces to adjacent unheated attics, garages, basements, and especially to the outdoors.
Heat flow can also move indirectly through interior ceilings, walls, and floors--wherever there is a difference in temperature. During the cooling season, heat flows from the outdoors to the interior of a house. To maintain comfort, the heat lost in the winter must be replaced by your heating system and the heat gained in the summer must be removed by your cooling system.
Properly insulating your home will decrease this heat flow by providing an effective resistance to the flow of heat. The R-value depends on the type of insulation, its thickness, and its density. The R-value of most insulations also depends on temperature, aging, and moisture accumulation. When calculating the R-value of a multilayered installation, add the R-values of the individual layers.
Installing more insulation in your home increases the R-value and the resistance to heat flow. In general, increased insulation thickness will proportionally increase the R-value. However, as the installed thickness increases for loose-fill insulation, the settled density of the product increases due to compression of the insulation under its own weight. Because of this compression, loose-fill insulation R-value does not change proportionately with thickness.
To determine how much insulation you need for your climate, consult a local insulation contractor. For example, insulation that is compressed will not provide its full rated R-value. The overall R-value of a wall or ceiling will be somewhat different from the R-value of the insulation itself because heat flows more readily through studs, joists, and other building materials, in a phenomenon known as thermal bridging.
So even though the down jacket example focuses on insulation's role in keeping a house warm in winter, the same principles apply when it's hot outside and you want to save money on air conditioning. All insulation shares a common measuring unit known as R-value. The "R" stands for resistance to heat flow.
A high R-value means greater resistance to heat flow and thus, greater insulating value. R-value is described both in R-value per inch and in total R-value. For example, fiberglass batt insulation provides between R By comparison, spray foam insulation has a higher insulation value -- around R-6 per in. The same stud cavity filled with spray foam insulation would have an R-value of R Energy Saver can help you be sure you're getting the best insulation for your needs.
Learn more about the different types of insulation that can be used to improve home energy savings by contacting your local Dr. Energy Saver today! We will evaluate your home and recommend the right solutions for your needs to ensure you get the results you want. Call us today to get started with an evaluation and estimate!
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