Adequately insulating your home keeps hot air outside and cold air inside during summer and vice versa in winter. As a result, it helps lower your cooling and heating costs while ensuring your living spaces remain comfortable. Read on to learn more about why home insulation matters to your comfort and energy efficiency in Santa Clarita, CA.
Understanding How Home Insulation Works
There are three processes of heat flow: conduction, convection and radiation. Conduction describes how heat moves through materials, while convection describes how it circulates through liquids and gases. Radiant heat travels in a straight line and heats solid objects in its path that adsorb its energy. Home insulation slows conductive and convective heat flow, while reflective insulation reduces radiant heat gain.
In all three processes, heat flows from warmer to cooler areas until there isn’t a temperature difference. During summer, hot air from outside flows inside. In winter, warm air from heated indoor spaces moves outside or to unheated areas. Your heater will work to replace the heat lost to maintain home comfort in winter. In summer, your air conditioner will remove any heat gained. Poor home insulation adds strain to both systems.
Understanding Your Insulation’s R-Value
Home insulation contains an R-value that measures its thermal resistance to conductive heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation. The more insulation you install, the higher the R-value. When calculating the R-value of a multilayered home insulation installation, add the R-values of the individual layers. Where you install the insulation also impacts its effectiveness, as does its type, density and thickness.
Santa Clarita, CA, falls into climate zone three. The recommended R-values for an uninsulated attic are R-49-R60 and R38–R49 for an attic with 3-4 inches of insulation. To learn more about home insulation and increasing your energy efficiency, contact Clemmer Services Heating & Air Conditioning. We offer all the attic insulation services you need to enhance comfort while minimizing heating and cooling costs.
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