During the summer months or in warm climates this page might be titled heat gain. We tend to focus more on winter because temperature differentials are more extreme and costs are higher. The simple way to begin this discussion is to always remember that heat is trying to move toward cold. This is especially true in the vertical where heat is rising (stack effect) and cool air will "weigh down". In the winter cold air is being drawn into the structure and rises as it is heated, creating pressure as it tries to force its way through the ceiling and walls. Meanwhile, the cold air outside is pushing down on the structure cooling the building mass and attempting to replace that nice warm air. If there is attic insulation heat and cold meet somewhere in that mass. Poor insulation allows the cold air to meet the warm air closer to the living space and requires more warm make-up air to maintain the house temperature. Comfort Sure Insulation can significantly reduce the movement of warm air through your attic regardless of the direction.
The same dynamic exists in walls. The same stack effect that is at work on the ceiling makes heat loss greater at the top of a wall where old insulation isn't sealed very well or is likely to have settled. Heat still wants to make its way to the cold. The main variable is forced infiltration or simply put, that bitter cold northwest wind blowing 30 mph on a winter night. Whether from forced infiltration or simple conduction, the exterior surface material and wall mass of the house is getting colder and colder as the night goes on and the heat from inside is being increasingly drawn to that cold mass. Comfort Sure's Tripolymer® injection foam substantially reduces conduction and practically eliminates infiltration due to its solid mass and superior insulating properties.
The Benefits of Quality Insulation
Quality insulation also benefits your home in the warm months. While temperature extremes between inside and outside are not as great in the summer, cooling is substantially less efficient and more expensive per degree of temperature differential than heating. You can spend almost as much money in the summer for a 10 degree difference as a 40 degree difference in the winter. The movement of heat works the same in both directions. Keep the warmth where it belongs.
The secret is to minimize the movement of warm air toward the cold no matter which direction and the most cost effective way to accomplish that is with the addition of insulation.
Injection Foam Insulation - Sealing up Old Walls
The movement of heat through the walls can best be minimized through the addition of Tripolymer® injection foam insulation. This product is very effective at completely filling the wall cavities and brings older homes very close to modern insulation standards. Even homes that have fiberglass in the walls can benefit substantially with the addition of the Tripolymer®, achieving a total wall R-rating of 15 or higher. Walls with no insulation will approach an R-rating of 20 with the addition of Tripolymer®. The foam eliminates any voids, fills completely to the top of the wall, and compresses any existing insulation down creating a total foam barrier to air movement.
Tripolymer® injection foam insulation can reduce air infiltration in most structures by 50% or more and achieve an R-value in excess of R-18 in existing walls.
It's all about keeping the warmth where it belongs!