Does Insulation Keep A House Cool During Summer?
Written by: Energy Efficient You
Published: 18th July 2024
Does Insulation Keep A House Cool During Summer?
As a homeowner, having a house that can keep you comfortable year-round is important. Insulation is common in houses, known for keeping heat in during winter and regulating temperatures throughout the house.
However, it’s a very common question as to whether insulation helps to keep houses cooler during the summer.
In this article, we will be discussing the benefits of home insulation in summer, helping you understand how and why it helps, for both comfort and your wallet.
What Is Insulation?
First, it’s important to understand what insulation is, and the role it plays in your household to help regulate temperatures.
Insulation is a material that is used to slow the transfer of heat between the inside and outside of your house. It acts as a barrier, keeping the heat out during the summer and retaining warmth during the winter. There are a variety of different types of insulation and many different areas it can be installed.
It works by trapping air inside of it, significantly reducing the amount of heat that passes through. This helps to keep your home at a stable, comfortable temperature, regardless of the weather outside.
Types Of Insulation
There are various types of insulation materials that can be used to help keep your home cool in the summer. These commonly include:
1. Fiberglass Insulation
2. Cellulose Insulation
This type of insulation is made from either a wood or paper-based product and is often recycled from other materials. This makes it one of the most eco-friendly and effective types of insulation. Unfortunately, though, because of the materials it is made from, it tends to degrade over time and requires periodic replacements. It can also become dense with moisture, promoting the growth of mould, much like fiberglass.
3. Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation is a liquid foam that is sprayed into hard-to-reach gaps and otherwise difficult areas, before setting into a solid, insulating layer. It is one of the more expensive types of insulation and comes with a surprising amount of downsides, despite its benefits.
The main drawback is that it’s difficult to remove once it has been installed, and it suffers from the same issue of mould growth due to decreased ventilation. There is also a risk that it might actually decrease the value of a property due to these reasons, so it should be a decision made carefully.
4. Rigid Foam Insulation
Rigid foam is exactly as the name describes, thick panels of a strong foam. Not only does it act as an insulation, but also as an air and moisture barrier, as well. It is one of the most effective kinds of insulation, which unfortunately makes it more expensive, though. Fortunately, unlike the other kinds of insulation, when sealed correctly, it helps to prevent mould growth and rot due to its ability to control moisture.
Where Can Summer House Insulation Be Installed?
There are a number of places that insulation can be installed to help keep the heat out in summer, and in during the winter. The most common places for insulation installation are:
- External walls
- Internal walls
- Cavity walls
- Lofts
- Attic Rooms
- Flat Roofs
- Floors
The most important areas to insulate are the walls and roof, as they suffer from the most sun exposure, as well as heat rising to escape. Insulating additional areas helps to provide additional insulation and further slow down the transfer of heat, though it isn’t always necessary.
If you are interested in checking if you qualify for a free insulation grant, then click on the button below to check your eligibility!
Does Insulation Make Your House Hotter In Summer?
Insulation only slows down the transfer of heat from the outside to the inside, or vice versa, and doesn’t directly heat things up or cool things down. If the inside of your house is cooler than it is outside, it will take much longer for your house to warm up because insulation is slowing down how quickly heat can get inside.
To get the best results from your insulation in the summer, you should keep doors and windows closed during the day to stop heat from getting in easily. The only place it is worth opening a window is upstairs, where possible, to let heat escape as it rises. If you can, lower blinds and close curtains to stop the sun from getting in as well.
On a night, as things cool down, open windows if it is cooler outside to help bring the temperature down in your house again in preparation for the morning. This should help to make a noticeable difference, and greatly regulate the temperature in your home, making it comfortable during the summer.
Which Insulation Helps The Best In Summer?
Fiberglass insulation is one of the most popular and effective choices for keeping your home cool in the summer. Due to its structure, it commonly traps heat and stops it from getting into the cooler areas of your house, helping you to hold up against the heat.
It is commonly one of the better insulation choices for arid climates in general, as it is both fire and water-resistant, protecting it from fire-prone areas and much more humid climates. Unlike other insulation, it also doesn’t settle over time, retaining its heat-resistant qualities and providing you with consistent defence against the summer sun.
Other Benefits To Summer House Insulation
In addition to the heat protection summer house insulation can provide, there are also several other benefits that can make it well worth the investment, such as:
1. Energy Efficiency
When you invest in summer house insulation to keep your home cool in the summer, you reduce the need for constant cooling. As a result, insulation can have a significant impact on your energy consumption, lowering it, since you no longer need to have AC units or other electrical appliances running to cool your home.
2. Better Comfort
As well as helping to keep your home cool during hotter weather, it also helps to maintain a generally more consistent temperature throughout the house as a whole. This reduces hotspots and provides a much more pleasant and uniform indoor temperature.
3. Environmental Impact
Reducing your energy usage through effective insulation helps to decrease your home’s carbon footprint. This is a significant step towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle. If you combine this with getting cellulose insulation, which is often made from recycled paper and wood products, improving carbon footprint further.
Summary
To summarise, proper insulation is a smart investment for any homeowner. It keeps your home cool during the summer, reduces energy bills, and enhances comfort. Thought even with as many benefits as it brings, it is important to be aware of the potential downsides that are associated with the different types of insulation. In this article, we have covered the different types of insulation, where they can be installed, and the different pros and cons of them.
It goes without saying that insulation is an effective solution for regulating home temperatures and helping to keep your house cool. However, that is providing it has been installed properly, and maintained correctly. Certain types of insulation aren’t as effective as others, and some can downright bring the property value down. This is why it’s important to understand what options are available to you, and how effective they will be on your home.
It is possible to receive grants for new insulation, or insulation in various parts of your home. To see if you qualify for our insulation grants, complete our eligibility form today.
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