Does Attic Radiant Barrier Work

If the radiant barrier was not there the sun would heat the roofing materials and the heat transfer would occur into the air of the attic.

Does attic radiant barrier work.

With new types of technology and approaches to keep homes comfortable it s natural to wonder if attic radiant barrier works. A radiant barrier is designed to increase the effectiveness of your thermal envelope. We only say radiant barrier doesn t work because we know of a product that works even better and can save you over twice as much as current radiant barrier technology. A radiant barrier can lower heat transfer from attics to the building below keep the attic space cooler and lower cooling costs by up to 17 in warmer climates.

But radiant barrier maybe but it s kind of hard to tell because there s a lot of claims of energy efficiency but it s very difficult to prove it out. It is meant to supplement insulation not replace it. Srx works better than radiant barrier. The radiant barrier creates a cooler attic which helps reduce cooling costs.

In short yes attic radiant barrier does work. It may be an easier way to install radiant barrier but it can trap moisture between itself and the attic floor and cause the insulation to become damp. A radiant barrier reduces the radiant heat transfer from the underside of the roof to the other surfaces in the attic. Don t install a radiant foil barrier on top of attic insulation since condensation can form under it even on perforated foil resulting in a buildup of moisture which can reduce the effectiveness of insulation and cause moisture damage.

Damp insulation may support mold growth and eventually will lose some of its r value. Ultimately a hotter attic means more work that your attic insulation and ductwork needs to put in. These thin highly reflective layers aren t designed to slow heat transfer they reflect it away before it radiates into your attic and home. Also the greater the temperature difference between the sides of the radiant barrier material the greater the benefits a radiant barrier can offer.

Radiant barriers can reduce attic temperatures 20 degrees to 35 degrees. It isn t the time tested fiberglass rolls of pink insulation. Now there is a newer better radiant barrier product called srx superreflex. In essence the foil barrier reduces convection into the attic from roofing materials that are heated by the sun.

By reducing the amount of radiant heat reaching the insulation in your attic the insulation remains cooler and is able to keep your home more comfortable. There are also some comfort improvements. Overall when installed properly radiant barriers can provide reduced energy costs and cooler attics. According to the department of energy installing radiant barrier on the floor of the attic can cause problems.

Foil radiant barriers can be applied on top of rafters in new construction before the roof sheathing is installed or on the underside of rafters on houses with an existing roof.