Have you ever order out for a pizza on a crackling-cold, Norfolk MA winter evening? And, when it arrived, it was still nice and warm; so much so that the cheese was still stringy. The secret was the pizza container. It is a padded, insulated and sealed way to keep the heat of the pizza trapped inside so that it doesn't leak out.
Your home's insulation works much in the same way. The outer area of your home is an "envelope" or "shell," sealed with insulation, that keeps your warmth inside on cold winter days – and cool air inside on sweltering summer days. Though your heating and cooling equipment are important, the insulation is what makes retaining the temperature (like the pizza container) possible. Without it, your energy bills would be astronomical.
R-Values
R-values are a standardized measurement of the insulation's effectiveness. The "R" means resistance to heat flow or penetration through the insulation. The number indicates the resistance measurement. The higher the number, the better the heat-flow barrier. Since heat rises, higher R-values are needed in the attic than in the walls or floor. Cool air tends to fall, so the next highest R-value should be in your floors, crawl space or basement. Hot and cold air can penetrate walls, but at a lesser rate, so wall insulation requires slightly lower R-values.
Enhanced Effectiveness
To see just how much energy is saved in a typical home with proper insulating techniques, go to this Energy Star website. In addition to proper insulation, cracks and gaps in a home should be sealed, as drafts can reduce the effectiveness of insulation upgrades. Hot or cold air drafts bypass or penetrate insulated areas and reduce their ability to retain your indoor temperatures. Therefore, R-values are more effective in a sealed environment.
If you're not sure about your home's insulating values, contact Rodenhiser. We can determine if your R-values are right for our area, and, if not, we'll recommend options. If it's good, we'll tell you, and you'll know you're prepared for the winter ahead. Call us with any questions you may have; we're here to help.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.
Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning serves the Route 495/128 area of Norfolk MA. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.
Nice people.
Great service.
Since 1928Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
Read From Over 10000 Happy Customers
-
Both Alex and Patrick were knowledgeable, courteous, and professional. They made a change that might have solved the recent problem and have structured a more complete solution. We agreed to this...
-
Mike was thorough, thoughtful and considerate. Covered their shoes before entering, surveyed my issue and provided an explanation of the services and costs. Great Job!
-
Alex did a great job providing an explanation of the services provided and went out of his way to offer assistance/advice on other issues outside of our scheduled maintenance visit.
-
Brian did an excellent job inspecting our 18-year old boiler and replacing some of the accessory hardware that needed it, he also adjusted the outgoing hot water settings for our radiators and...
-
Rodenhiser is my one stop shop!!! They take care of my HVAC, electrical, and plumbing issues & are always helpful addressing any questions I may have about the systems in my house! Everyone...
-
Chris G. and Nick V. showed up bright and early at 8am to fix my water heater issue. They were on time, polite and were able to fix an issue that has been plaguing my house for a good year. They...
Call Rodenhiser at 508-321-3089
When you are looking for plumbing, electrical, heating or air conditioning in the Route 495 / 128 area, you will be delighted that you called Norfolk MA' trusted choice since 1928.
With a total dedication to professional workmanship and excellent service, discover why families and businesses continue to trust Rodenhiser after generations of service
