Knowing How Your Energy Efficient Insulation Works in Your Syracuse Home
In order to keep costs down and to keep the temperatures in your Syracuse home from being too hot or too cold, it is important to have adequate energy efficient insulation. Four components contribute to your household’s energy efficiency and they are:
1) The amount of ventilation that is present, 2) the moisture control that is evident, 3) the insulation, and 4) air sealing. Make certain that yours is in proper balance to have the most comfortable and cost effective system.
The term ventilation refers to the movement of air through the home. While it is not a good idea to have cracks which allow cold air to seep in during the winter or heat in the summer, there needs to be adequate air movement in order to eliminate the accumulation of pollutants or stale air. This can be achieved by using exhaust fans, as are often present in bathrooms or kitchen areas. Vents and duct-work can also aid in proper ventilation.
Moisture control can be achieved by ventilation systems, as well. While some moisture is necessary in an environment, too much moisture, as in damp basements, attics or crawl spaces can lead to mold problems and other health challenges.
Insulation provides resistance to heat and energy loss in your Syracuse home. The less heat you lose in the winter, the lower your bills will be. It will also keep the coolness provided by your summertime air conditioning system better contained.
Their energy efficiency is rated by R-values. The R-values refer to resistance to heat flow. This can be determined by the material that it’s made out of, the thickness, the number of layers and its density. A new home that is being constructed or an older home can be made more efficient by adding insulation.
There are different types of insulation that may be used including 1) blankets, which can be made of rock wool or fiberglass, and must be carefully installed for optimum efficiency, 2) spray, which is made from a polyurethane product and is injected into spaces where it expands to fit the area, 3) loose fill type, which can be made up of pellets or fiber and is also blown into the spaces, and 4) Rigid formed sheets which are often used in basements and walls.
Air sealing refers to the tightening up of the structure in terms of leaks and cracks. Inclement weather can slip into your home via ill fitting doors, windows, and cracks around every room’s light and electrical switch-plates. Sealing all with weather-stripping or silicone caulking can keep the outside weather out of doors where it belongs.
Keep your energy costs lower this year by upgrading with energy efficient insulation. You’ll be glad you did as the temperatures continue to drop with winter’s approach.
Understanding Energy-Efficiency in Replacement Windows
Syracuse window replacement for improved energy efficiency is one of the most popular remodeling projects undertaken by homeowners today. Replacing your windows could result in energy savings of 30% or more in any region of the U.S. Your choices for replacement windows will consider the style of the window as well as the efficiency and safety of the window. To help you understand the energy-efficiency qualities of various replacement windows, here are some facts to help you make decisions.
Some window materials conduct heat and cold. The result is some energy loss through the window materials. The material that loses the most heat or cold is Aluminum. Steel conducts about one-third the amount of heat and cold. Stainless steel conducts about one-third the amount of heat and cold lost with steel. The most efficient material for windows is wood, conducting 1/1000 the amount lost through aluminum. And just a fraction behind wood is vinyl. The bottom line is that the most energy-efficient window materials are wood and vinyl. Vinyl, of course, requires less maintenance.
The next consideration is about the glass in the windows. Heat and cooling loss through glass can be reduced by adding a second pane of glass and leaving space between the panes to trap the outside air which is at a different temperature from the inside air. These double-paned or double-glazed windows are more efficient than single panes. Double-paned windows can also have a fill of gas between the panes to further reduce heat exchange. Filling the space between panes of a double-paned window with Argon gas will make it twice as effective. Filling the space between the panes with Krypton gas increases the R-value of the window from 4.0 to 4.55. Triple-paned or triple-glazed windows filled with Argon gas have an R-value of 6.25, and choosing a triple-paned window filled with Krypton gas provides an R-value of 10.0.
Windows can also be coated with screening finishes of various kinds to block UV (Ultraviolet) rays and IR (infrared) rays. These screening finishes protect window treatments and furniture and carpeting from fading and reflect back some of the heating effect of the sun.
Windows of any style, size and shape can be chosen in several colors of vinyl and can be painted any color if your choice of window material is wood. Windows can be purchased with various styles of dividers within the window and even with blinds attached in enclosed compartments or with blinds placed within the window itself.
No matter what style or type of window you need for an energy-efficient window replacement project, you will do well to look for the “Energy Star” seal first. These windows will meet minimum standards established by the Federal Government.