During the cold winters on Lake Erie, the amount of insulation in your home will help determine how efficiently your heating system can keep your home comfortable. Insulation is rated by its R-value, a measurement of its resistance to heat flow. Though many people think that R-values are constant, the insulation R-value can actually change with the weather.
Four common types of insulation are fiberglass, expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS) and polyisocyanurate. Fiberglass insulation is commonly used in the walls, floors and ceiling of the typical home, and is sold in batts or rolls designed to fit between framing members. The other three are types of foam insulation often found in sheets. They are typically used on the exterior of a home, either around the foundation, beneath the siding or under the roof coating.
The R-value of each product is determined through a set of standardized tests. When used on an actual building, though, the results can vary. At a temperature of 60 degrees, for example, fiberglass insulation will match its rated value exactly. When the temperature drops to 10 degrees, however, an R-13 batt of insulation approaches an R-14 value. Similarly, EPS and XPS also perform better in colder weather.
Unfortunately, the opposite is true when the temperatures climb. If used in hot spaces, like an attic, these three types of insulation will lose R-value as the temperature climbs. At 110 degrees,the R-13 fiberglass batt will actually be closer to an R-12 rating.
Polyisocyanurate performs a bit differently from the first three. At 75 degrees, it reaches its peak performance and stated rating. As the temperature rises above or falls below that point, however, the insulation R-value declines by as much as 20 percent. When used in areas of extreme hot or cold, it may be necessary to increase the amount of polyisocyanurate used, or to supplement it with another type of insulation.
To understand how these variations may affect the overall insulation R-value of your home, contact our home-heating professionals at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We serve the counties of Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about R-Value and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area