Unlike traditional thick layers of insulation radiant barrier is a thin reflective material.
Radiant heat in attic.
Radiantguard radiant barrier foil insulation installed in an attics can reduce attic temperatures by up to 30 degrees when stapled with a staple gun to the underside of roof rafters by reflecting up to 97 of the radiant heat that strikes its surface thereby reducing heat transfer from the attic to living spaces resulting in lower utility bills.
A cooler attic space means less heat moving to the cooler space below the attic.
Radiant barriers are more effective in hot climates than in cool climates especially when cooling air ducts are located in the attic.
Once the solar radiation is absorbed some of the heat still gets ejected to the outside but much of it conducts downward through the roofing materials and roof deck.
If the radiant barrier was not there the sun would heat the roofing materials and the heat transfer would occur into the air of the attic.
There it radiates down into the attic heating up the insulation the framing the ductwork and the boxes of christmas tree ornaments.
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Those items then continue to build up and radiate their own heat in all directions.
In the right situation a radiant barrier system is a cost effective solution to reducing attic heat and consequently energy costs.
In essence the foil barrier reduces convection into the attic from roofing materials that are heated by the sun.
Ultimately a hotter attic means more work that your attic insulation and ductwork needs to put in.
Benefits of radiant barrier sheathing when utilizing osb radiant barrier sheathing you can reflect up to 97 of solar radiation which translates into an.
The following ad is completely fallacious.
The key to its effectiveness is in its ability to reduce the transfer of radiant heat.
Here radiant heat from the sun hits the attic roof heating it up.
Energy savings vary from 17 to 25.
A properly installed radiant barrier can block 95 percent of the heat radiated down by the roof so it can t reach the insulation.
It heats up the shingles plywood decking trusses etc.
Many radiant barrier manufacturers aren t telling the truth.
The hotter it gets the better radiant barriers work.
Regardless of how much insulation you have in your attic adding radiant barrier will save on your heating and cooling expense and keep you more comfortable.
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Roof radiated heat also warms ductwork or mechanical equipment air handler found in your attic.
While half of that heat may go back outside the other half continues right on into the attic space.