How Do Radiant Barriers Work?
You may have heard about radiant barriers, but understanding how they work and what they do for your home can be a little bit confusing. A radiant barrier is essentially a type of building material that is designed to reduce the transfer of heat within a home, and it does this by reflecting radiant heat, hence the name of the material. Generally, it is installed within the attic of a home or on the underside of a roof to help with controlling the flow of heat and is an especially great choice for use in hot climates. This is why you may want to consider a radiant barrier in Fort Worth, TX or the surrounding area.
What Do Radiant Barriers Help With?
Radiant barriers are especially effective in hot and sunny climates. They help reduce cooling costs by reflecting a significant portion of the sun’s radiant heat away from the building’s interior. This prevents the heat from entering the living spaces, keeping them cooler and reducing the need for air conditioning. As a result, homeowners can experience lower energy bills during the summer months. This also makes them an especially eco-friendly option, as they can help to significantly lower your energy usage.
By reducing the amount of radiant heat entering your indoor spaces, radiant barriers can also help you to maintain a more comfortable indoor temperature. This can lead to a more pleasant living environment, especially in rooms or areas that are prone to overheating due to direct exposure to the sun. Suffice it to say, if you have found yourself dealing with problems keeping your home cool enough, even when using your air conditioning system, a radiant barrier can be a good choice.
Also important to remember is that while radiant barriers are most commonly used for their cooling abilities, they can also provide some help with insulation during the cool winter months. By reflecting heat back into the living spaces, they can help maintain indoor warmth and reduce heating costs to a certain extent.
What is a Radiant Barrier Made From?
A radiant barrier can be made from a few different types of materials. Radiant barriers are typically made from a highly reflective material that is designed to reflect radiant heat. The most common material used for radiant barriers is aluminum foil, which is often laminated onto a substrate material for added strength and durability. Bearing that in mind, here is a look at some of the different types of substrate materials that are used for radiant barriers:
- Cardboard: Radiant barriers may have an aluminum foil layer laminated to cardboard, making them lightweight and ensuring an easy application process during installation. Cardboard-backed radiant barriers are often used in residential applications.
- Plastic Film: Some radiant barriers use a plastic film as the substrate. This plastic film can provide additional resistance to moisture, which can be important in certain situations.
- Kraft Paper: Radiant barriers may also use kraft paper as the substrate material. Kraft paper-backed radiant barriers are often used in commercial and industrial settings, though they can also be used in homes.
- Plywood: Plywood radiant barriers are also available – this is an option called radiant barrier sheathing. It is constructed of aluminum layers that are bonded to sheets of engineered wood.
Another option that has seen more use in recent years is crafted from silver, which is the primary type of reflective component that is used in radiant barrier chips. This is a unique option that is typically used in smaller spaces that larger types of radiant barriers will not fit into.
Because there are a variety of options available, the heating and cooling technician that you work with for the installation of a radiant barrier can help in determining which type of radiant barrier will be right for your individual needs.
Can You Use Radiant Barriers Instead of Insulation?
It is important to remember that a radiant barrier is not an alternative to insulation. While a radiant barrier can provide you with important protection from the elements, it will still not do all the work that insulation does in preventing heat and cool air from escaping your home. Because of this, even if you are using a radiant barrier you still need to be certain that you have high-quality insulation installed throughout your home. A technician can determine where in your home or building you may want to consider the installation of materials such as a radiant barrier to help with protection from the heat.
If you are interested in a radiant barrier in Fort Worth, TX or the surrounding area, you can reach out to our team. Give us a call at 817-781-8781 to learn more about the options available to you.