Reviewed and Revised on 10/10/2013
Knee walls are found in houses with finished attics and multiple ceiling heights. The knee wall is the short wall that reaches from the sloped ceiling to the floor, or connects the upper ceiling to the lower ceiling inside the attic. Not only are air leaks common in these areas, but they are frequently not insulated properly.
Insulation itself does not stop air flow. For wall insulation to do its job, …
Reviewed and Revised on 11/12/2013
Proper Installation of Home Insulation is very critical to ensure that the desired Home Energy Efficiency gets achieved.
Installation: Compressing (squeezing) of insulation erodes its R-value and should be always avoided. Batt and roll insulation should be slit and trimmed to fit around wiring, electrical boxes, etc. If using paper-faced batts, staple the paper on the ends, not inside, the studs. Insulation should be trimmed to fit into voids around rough openings, chimneys, etc. Even …
Reviewed and Revised on 10/31/2013
A radiant barrier (sometimes called radiant heat barrier) is a layer of metallic foil, reflective paint or any other reflective material which can effectively block the “radiation” form of heat. Aluminium foil is the most commonly used radiant barrier in attics in homes. The purpose of installing a radiant barrier is to reduce heat gain for a home especially during hot weather, and cut down on energy bills while increasing the home comfort.
What is …
Reviewed and Revised on 11/13/2013
Properly insulating your home will not only help reduce your heating and cooling costs, but also make your home more comfortable.
How does insulation reduce heat transfer?
Insulation is rated in terms of thermal resistance, called R-value, which indicates the resistance to heat flow per square foot of cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of heat transfer. Heat transfer is accomplished by conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction is the …
