Thermal curtains, or blackout curtains, work to insulate your house from the sun. Install them to cover windows that are regularly exposed to direct sunlight. As the curtains block out sun and heat, your air conditioner won't have to work as hard, so you will simultaneously cool your house and lower your energy costs.
This is possible because insulation is a thermal barrier, meaning it slows the transfer of heat through convection (movement through the air) and conduction (movement through physical contact). That's how insulation can perform the double duty of keeping your home warmer in winter as well as cooler in summer.
Get strategic with your windows
Close windows, blinds, shades and curtains to keep heat outside. Light-colored window coverings also help reflect heat away. Close windows and window coverings in hot weather during the day to keep hot air out. Open windows at night or early morning to let cool air in.
It is possible to over-insulate your house so much that it can't breathe. The whole point of home insulation is to tightly seal your home's interior. But if it becomes too tightly sealed with too many layers of insulation, moisture can get trapped inside those layers. That's when mold starts to grow.
Increase Cooling Efficiency
Attic insulation directly affects an air conditioner by increasing the cooling efficiency of the unit. The insulation helps to isolate the living areas of the home from the attic. Cool air cannot escape into the attic where it dissipates.
Roof and ceiling insulation. Installing roof and ceiling insulation can save up to 45% (or more) on heating and cooling costs.
You can simply use a foil for insulation as a cost-effective alternative. By stapling the foil sheets to your attic, the heat reflects down into your living space. Hence, it lowers your heating costs. Attic Insulation Installation Services in Lincolnwood provide satisfactory assistance and properly insulates your home.
You can absolutely new insulation over old insulation… as long as it isn't wet. Energy Star advises as follows: “If it… appears that the insulation [is wet or] has previously been wet, you should look for the cause and repair the problem to prevent a reoccurrence. Remove any wet insulation.
If you can use the foam board and fiberglass - without compressing the fiberglass batts, then I say go for it. However, if you end up compressing the fiberglass then you will greatly lose the rated R-Value with an improper installation and almost certainly negate any possible benefits from the foam board.
Yes, you can mix fiberglass and cellulose insulations. Installing cellulose insulation over fiberglass insulation is known as capping and can save you money and time instead of removing and replacing the former material.
The final thing to consider is that any old insulation on the floor of the attic has to be removed before the spray foam can be applied. The spray foam cannot work efficiently if any other material is on the floor of the attic. If you spray foam on top of old insulation, you won't be able to get an air seal.
Plaster is a Better Insulator Than Drywall
Yes, your plaster walls likely have little to no insulation behind them, but the wall covering itself has an R-value twice that of drywall.
Areas of the home, like existing walls, can be insulated by a professional without tearing down drywall. DIY spray foam insulation is extremely difficult, especially for large jobs. Hiring a specialized foam insulation contractor may be the only way to receive the benefits of foam insulation.
Fiberglass is the cheaper option and you can install it yourself, but spray foam creates the air seal you will want in the space. The Building Science Corporation recommends a foam-based insulation material for crawl spaces because of this.
DIY Spray Foam Pros
The small areas around doors and windows are great small projects for DIY foam insulation. The experienced homeowner could avoid a contractor's minimum charge by doing these small spaces themselves. You can buy the kit at your local home improvement store and get the job done on your own time.
Insulation is technically a solid with a lot of air in it therefore, it is NOT an air gap. You literally must have a VOID, nothing in the air gap except air itself. So if you are installing under a roof or in a wall, you must create an air gap.
However, multi foil insulation is reflective, meaning when heat hits areas such as your roof or walls, it bounces away from the house, keeping it cool inside. Insulation also slows the movement of heat, which will stop your home overheating.