Home Insulation

A drapery’s ability to reduce heat loss and gain depends on several factors, including fabric type (closed or open weave) and color. With such a wide variety of draperies available, it’s difficult to generalize about their energy performance.

In the summer during the day, you should close draperies on windows receiving direct sunlight to prevent heat gain. According to the University of Florida, medium-colored draperies with white-plastic backings have been found to reduce heat gains by 33%. Draperies also stay cooler in the summer than some other window treatments because their pleats and folds lose heat through convection.

When drawn during cold weather, most conventional draperies can reduce heat loss from a warm room up to 10%. Therefore, in winter, you should close all draperies at night, as well as draperies that don’t receive sunlight during the day.

To reduce heat exchange or convection, draperies should be hung as close to windows as possible. Also let them fall onto a windowsill or floor. For maximum effectiveness, you should install a cornice at the top of a drapery or place the drapery against the ceiling. Then seal the drapery at both sides and overlap it in the center. You can use Velcro or magnetic tape to attach drapes to the wall at the sides and bottom. If you do these things, you may reduce heat loss up to 25%.

Two draperies hung together will create a tighter air space than just one drapery. One advantage is that the room-side drapery will maintain around the same temperature as the interior space, adding to a room’s comfort.

Shop at homedepot.ca!

• Awnings

• Blinds

• Draperies

• Solar Films

• Solar Screens

• Overhangs

• Shades

• Shutters

• Storm Panels

• Home

Cut energy costs by making sure your attic is properly insulated and vented. Because heat rises, the attic is the first place that you should check to make sure that it’s adequately insulated. There should be at least 12 inches ( preferably 15 inches ) of insulation in the attic.

Insulation is given an R value to indicate how good it is. For every 1 inch of insulation there is an R value of 3. Therefore 15 inches of insulation is R 45. That is the minimum you should have to keep the heat from escaping. The temperature in the attic should be about the same as the temperature outside.

A properly vented attic will decrease the possibility of condensation moisture to collect on the rafters or on the inside of the roof. One or more whirlybirds and a  few vents should do the trick. Blown insulation is widely used as attic insulation for several reasons. A professional home insulation contractor can quickly blow in one continuous blanket at the proper depth to achieve the recommended R45 insulation for attics. Many contractors offer pricing that includes the insulation itself and installation: usually less than the retail price homeowners would have to pay for the insulation alone. In addition, a properly installed continuous blanket of blown insulation does a better job at at stopping air leaks and subsequent heat loss.

Blanket or batt insulation meticulously installed will be better than a continuous blanket of blown insulation. However, any flaws or errors during installation will decrease the performance. If you have a trap door in the ceiling to get into the attic, make sure it also is properly insulated. Build a cardboard box 15 inches high around the inside edge of the door and fill it with insulation. Make sure there is a good seal where the door meets the ceiling.

• • Attic
  • Basement
  • Garage and Garage Doors
  • Older Homes
  • Windows and Doors
  • Home
  
  
  

Shop at homedepot.ca!