Energy Blog

Does Insulation Help in The Summer?

April 1, 2021

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It’s no secret that summers in Arkansas are hot and humid. Stepping outside feels similar to opening the door to an oven whenever the thick air hits your face. Going inside seems to be the only retreat from the humidity, so the last thing you want is to feel the same sticky and hot air while you are inside the comforts of your home.

That is where good insulation comes in and saves the day. Whenever people think of insulating their home, they typically think about keeping their home warm during the harsh winter months. However, the same rule applies to the summer with keeping hot air out and cool air in.

The cost of insulating your home may be daunting, but the reality is you will leave more down the road by not having to crank the air conditioning up high all summer long.

How Does Insulation work?

Like we said above, yes, your insulation does help keep your home toasty in the winter months but also cooled off in the summer months.

To break it down, we turned to the Department of Energy, “to understand how insulation works, it helps to understand heat flow, which involves three basic mechanisms — conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction is the way heat moves through materials, such as when a spoon placed in a hot cup of coffee conducts heat through its handle to your hand. Convection is the way heat circulates through liquids and gases, and is why lighter, warmer air rises, and cooler, denser air sinks in your home. Radiant heat travels in a straight line and heats anything solid in its path that absorbs its energy.

Most common insulation materials work by slowing conductive heat flow and–to a lesser extent–convective heat flow. Radiant barriers and reflective insulation systems work by reducing radiant heat gain. To be effective, the reflective surface must face an air space.” 

To make that as simple as possible to understand, if you want your home to be comfortable in the summer, the heat in your house must be removed by a cooling system, and if your house is insulated correctly, the heat flow in your home will decrease and allow your home to cool off. And the greatest thing about having a cooler, more comfortable home in the summer - you’ll save on your energy bills as well!

Why is my house so hot?

Whenever it is hot outside, it is easy for that hot air to take over the cool, comfortable air inside of our homes. We lose so much more air from our home in the summer than in the winter. Partially because we are in and out of our homes more often in the summer months. Whenever the cool air escapes from your home, the hot and humid air sneaks in and takes its place,causing your house to feel hot and the air to feel thick.

If you do not have proper insulation, the hot air will seep through your attic, walls, floors and ceiling. Luckily for you, the experts at Reeves Insulation can determine where the hot air is sneaking in from and help you come up with a plan to keep your house cooled off.

Types of Insulation

Whenever you are determining what type of insulation will work best to keep your home cool this summer, there are a few different types you can choose from.

Spray Foam Insulation

Spray foam insulation is a cellular plastic that, when sprayed, creates a foam (hence the name). This foam insulates, acts as an air sealant, and a moisture barrier, all in one! Spray foam insulation is really good at getting in those tight, precise spaces to create a continuous barrier on walls, in corners, seams, and more. Because of its ability to form tightly against the areas it gets sprayed on, it acts as a super effective insulator. Plus, spray foam doesn’t lose its shape over time, unlike some other insulation materials. It won’t sag or compress, meaning your home stays energy efficient and draft-free.

Cellulose Insulation

Cellulose insulation is a traditional form of home insulation that has been around for a long time. It is commonly used in enclosed walls, unfinished attic floors, the area around pipes or electrical wiring, and other small cavities where energy could potentially escape. The material conforms to most spaces and won’t disturb the existing structure; it can be used safely both in existing homes as well as entirely new construction. Cellulose insulation is unique in that it is often considered the more “green” solution to residential insulation because of how it is made.

Fiberglass Insulation

FIberglass insulation is what people commonly refer to as “the pink stuff” but it also comes in the color white. Fiberglass comes in batts (rolled) and loose-filled. The batts are typically used in exterior walls and the loose-filled ones are used in the attic.

We want you to save money on your energy bill and be comfortable this summer as well. Let us help you take back the comfort of your home with properly insulating wherever you may be in need. Give us a call today to set up your free quote.

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If you want all the benefits of spray foam insulation, call us today! (870) 307-2373

Reeves Insulation has been in business, in the Batesville area, for over 30 years offering insulation, replacement windows, air sealing, and weatherization. Owner, Marvin Reeves started in the general contracting industry and his background has transferred over to Insulation and Home Energy Conservation, providing homeowners and businesses energy efficiency services to lower energy bills. Our business is family owned and operated and our goal is to provide you the best job at an affordable cost.