Perhaps you know that your attic or other areas in your home are insulated—but do you know what insulation does? Insulation’s job is to stop the transfer of heat. If your home is well insulated, it stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
But what if your home doesn’t have enough insulation? It’s probably more uncomfortable, maybe even drafty with uneven temperatures from room to room. Other signs you may need more insulation include:
- Higher than normal energy bills
- Floors that are unusually cold
- Ice dams on the roof
- Unusually warm, stuffy second story
- Air conditioner running more than normal
Where Your Home Is Losing Heat
Where do homes lose heat? Two of the biggest sources of energy loss in homes are the walls and the attic. This is why it’s so important to insulate these areas! Other common air leak sites in homes include:
- Crawl spaces
- Windows and doors
- Ducts
- Electrical outlets
- And more
It also may help you understand how insulation works a little better if you know the three methods of heat transfer (which you may have learned back in grade school!):
Conductive heat transfer: Conductive heat transfer refers to the flow of energy through solid materials, like wood framing or other building components. Insulation helps increase the R-value (resistance to heat flow) of these materials, making it much more difficult for heat to move to cooler areas (into air conditioned homes in the summer and cooler air outside in the winter). Cellulose and fiberglass are often used to stop this kind of heat transfer.
Convective heat transfer: This is heat transfer through a gas or liquid. In your home, this means air leaks. As we mentioned, heat is lost through the attic, tiny gaps and cracks behind the walls and around windows, etc. Spray foam can be an effective solution.
Radiant heat transfer: Radiant heat travels in waves or rays. Your roof absorbs the radiant heat from the sun, which can make your home much hotter. Radiant barrier insulation helps prevent that heat from entering the cooler living spaces of your home. Radiant barrier, however, is typically used in warmer climates—here in Chicago and cooler regions, thermal insulation (like fiberglass) can be a more cost-effective solution.
Insulation Services in the Chicago Area
Is your home drafty and uncomfortable? Have your energy bills been higher than normal for the time of year? Your home may need more insulation. If you live in Illinois’ Chicagoland area, look to the team at ThermaSeal / Lakeside Insulation to fix your situation.
Contact us today so we can help you start saving money and living more comfortably!