What is a Radiant Barrier and How Will It Keep My Home Cool?
There are some days it’s so hot that you wish you could just send the heat back to where it came from. What if we told you this is actually possible? It is with a radiant barrier! This simple technology is a natural way to keep your home cool and comfortable. The radiant barrier is a heavy duty reflective material that reverses any heatwaves that are trying to invade your home. If you want to learn how radiant barriers work and how they can benefit your family, keep reading.
What is a Radiant Barrier?
A radiant barrier is essentially industrial aluminum foil that blocks the transfer of radiant heat. During the summer, your attic absorbs a vast majority of the sun’s rays. Oftentimes, your attic can reach triple digits, and eventually those triple digits will radiate from your attic into your home; forcing your AC to work harder and less efficiently. A radiant barrier is exactly that, it stops the heat from radiating into your attic. Instead, it sends that heat back into the environment, away from your home. Also, when used in a sunny climate, like the one we have here in SoCal, radiant barriers can save users between 5% and 10% on cooling costs.
How Does it Work?
Heat travels in a very specific way. With a combination of radiation, convection, and conduction, heat can move via conduction from an area that’s already warm to a cooler area. Similar to the way a metal spoon gets hot when you put it in a warm cup of coffee. This radiant heat travels in a straight line, and targets things that are cooler in temperature. For example, your roof and roofing materials are easy targets. A radiant barrier steps in and sends those rays in the other direction, keeping your attic, and your home, cooler.
Why Should I Consider One?
A radiant barrier is something all Southern California homeowners should look into—especially if there is ductwork is in the attic. When heat from the sun is transferred into an attic, it has an effect on everything in the space, including your HVAC system. As we mentioned before, your attic can reach triple digits on a warm summer day. This means your ductwork is being cooked, along with your HVAC system. This heat causes your entire system to run inefficiently and work harder. Also, that triple digit heat will move through your attic and into your main home. A radiant barrier will stop this heat in its tracks and help your HVAC system run more efficiently.
Interested in Your Own Radiant Barrier? Call Service Champions Today!
Now that we’ve answered the question of “what is a radiant barrier,” if you want to learn more about how it can benefit your home, call us! Our friendly call center representatives are here to speak with you and schedule an appointment. If you prefer to book online, click here. Service Champions is the only Diamond Certified HVAC and plumbing provider in SoCal. We proudly serve parts of Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties.