Many people assume insulation is something that only keeps your home warm during the colder months. Yes, this is true, insulation works by slowing the movement of heat between two spaces – it doesn’t ‘keep the cold out’ which is what people often assume!
In an insulated house, the insulation slows the rate at which heat moves across the walls, roof and floors. How well-insulated your home is will determine how comfortable it is and how much you will spend on energy for heating and cooling, and in some respects, how durable it will be.
The transfer of heat (or heat loss) occurs in three ways: conduction, convection and radiation. Within a home, those three factors can impact each other and in effect work in conjunction, most often against you in our changing climate in London Ontario and surrounding area.
Convection refers to the transfer of heat due to the movement of air. It can be caused by warm air rising near heating devices and cool air dropping close to cold surfaces, especially windows.
Thermal Barrier
In the warm months, heat is constantly seeking cooler places, drawn to your comfortably air-conditioned home. Without sufficient insulation, the heat will simply move through the walls and drive down your indoor comfort.
Have your attic insulated, especially if you have bedrooms under the eaves. Consider that the average attic exceeds a gruelling 54 degrees Celsius on a hot summer afternoon in London Ontario. Without insulation to create a thermal barrier, this heat seeps down into the house, raising the indoor temperature by an average of 10 degrees. The extra heat transfer will quickly cause the air conditioner to work double time to cool.
Insulating wall cavities will help to provide a thermal barrier which slows the flow of heat in and out of a room considerably. By slowing down the rate of airflow escaping from the home, less energy is needed to keep the house at the required temperature. Therefore, in both summer and winter months having the proper wall cavity insulation can make a big difference to your energy bills. The process is quick and is indeed worth considering. Well-insulated walls will protect you against the heat as well as against the cold.
On the positive side, once the underlying reasons for the uncomfortable conditions in your home are determined, a solution can be identified that dramatically improves comfort while saving energy.
For any homeowner considering adding or reviewing their insulation, keep in mind that its cost is often paid for through energy savings in less than a year! Right now, is the perfect time to take advantage of the GreenON Rebate program to help cover the cost of upgrading your insulation. Chase Insulation is proud to be a certified contractor under this program and will handle all the paperwork getting you the savings you deserve