Radiant Heat In Attic

Many radiant barrier manufacturers aren t telling the truth.

Radiant heat in attic.

Some studies show that radiant barriers can reduce cooling costs 5 to 10 when used in a warm sunny climate. 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. In the right situation a radiant barrier system is a cost effective solution to reducing attic heat and consequently energy costs.

A cooler attic space means less heat moving to the cooler space below the attic. The following ad is completely fallacious. 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. I m going to share everything that i have learned in my research.

Those items then continue to build up and radiate their own heat in all directions. The reduced heat gain may even allow for a smaller air conditioning system. The key to its effectiveness is in its ability to reduce the transfer of radiant heat. Unlike traditional thick layers of insulation radiant barrier is a thin reflective material.

Roof radiated heat also warms ductwork or mechanical equipment air handler found in your attic. Radiant barrier is a home insulation type that is focused on reducing summer heat gain. While half of that heat may go back outside the other half continues right on into the attic space. It heats up the shingles plywood decking trusses etc.

Here radiant heat from the sun hits the attic roof heating it up. Radiant barriers are more effective in hot climates than in cool climates especially when cooling air ducts are located in the attic. A properly installed radiant barrier can block 95 percent of the heat radiated down by the roof so it can t reach the insulation. Benefits of radiant barrier sheathing when utilizing osb radiant barrier sheathing you can reflect up to 97 of solar radiation which translates into an.

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. Energy savings vary from 17 to 25. 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.