If your home includes an attic, you may not realize the impact this space has on your heating and cooling bills. However, passive attic heating occurs every day as the sun beats down on your roof, raising the temperature of the roof and the space below it up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. This effect can have significant repercussions for your HVAC system, which must combat the higher temperatures inside your home as this heat transfers from your attic into your living spaces. Although you can't control how often the sun shines on your roof, installing a radiant barrier can actively deflect the heat carried with the sun's rays, keeping your home cooler and reducing the load on your air conditioner throughout the summer months.How the Sun Heats Your HomeSunlight can increase the temperature inside your home in many ways. When the sun shines through windows, both light and heat penetrate the glass, causing the air inside your home to become warmer. Similarly, when the sun shines down on your roof, radiation transfers heat to the material of your roof and the attic space below. This heat can then affect the lower levels of your home as the hot air in your attic mixes with your home's air or transfers heat via conduction through the materials of your attic's floor. As a result, your HVAC system must work harder to offset this heat source, raising your energy bills and increasing wear and tear on the system. Especially if you use your attic to store items or as a hobby room, office, or bedroom, solar heating can significantly reduce the functionality of this space without added measures to control the radiative transfer of heat through your roof.How Radiant Barriers Reduce Solar HeatingThe key to preventing solar heating from affecting your home during the summer is blocking incident sunlight. This is why simply drawing the shades on your windows can help to reduce the temperature indoors. However, blocking the sunlight that penetrates your roof and attic from above is not as simple-this is where radiant barriers come into play, reflecting incident heat before it can pass through the barrier and into your home. Radiant barrier material is specifically designed to block heat that is transferred through radiation, which other types of insulating materials do not block effectively. Thus, radiant barriers work in tandem with your home's other insulation to resist heat transfer and maintain the indoor temperature you want. Radiant barriers offer several benefits, including a more comfortable attic for everyday activities and a safe space to store belongings without worry of heat damage. A radiant barrier keeps your entire home cooler as well, reducing HVAC bills and decreasing the risk of cooling breakdowns or premature system replacement. Once your radiant barrier is installed, it will continue working around the clock every day of the year to resist heat transfer with no maintenance requirements, helping to keep your home cool with no added upkeep or costs beyond its installation. All of these properties make radiant barrier installation a smart choice and an excellent investment in your future comfort and long-term energy savings.Are you ready to discover the benefits of radiant barrier installation in Manassas? We can help you save money and improve home comfort with radiant barriers and more, including HVAC maintenance, repair, and replacement for consistent temperature control in your home. Please take a look at our website or check out our blog to learn more about improving comfort and reducing costs with our HVAC solutions.
