The UK has been lucky enough to enjoy some really good weather recently and with the prospect of many more sunny days ahead, now is the time to plan to keep cool.
If you are wondering how to keep your home cool, one way is to improve your insulation which might sound a little crazy but it is definitely an effective way to ensure that the rooms in your home remain at a pleasant temperature during the summer and winter.
Cavity Wall Insulation and How It Can Keep You Cool
Insulation is a thick layer of material placed in the wall cavities, floors, ceiling and in the roof which moderates the temperatures inside, making them far easier to control all year round. Wool and fibreglass are the two most commonly used materials because they trap bubbles of air within their fibres. The trapped air is an excellent insulator as it prevents heat transfer so whether it is colder or hotter outside, the air simply cannot travel across the barrier created by the insulation material and the temperature of your home is ‘insulated’ from the effects of the outside temperature.
A third popular insulating material is foil as this is good at deflecting heat. Foil is often used in loft spaces and can be used to complement the use of fibreglass. If you are wondering whether your home needs extra insulation, there is an easy test to do – go up into your loft and see how it feels up there! If your roof is well insulated, the air in your loft will feel pleasantly cool. If you feel uncomfortably warm within moments, it is wise to plan to improve the insulation of your home.
Good insulation is a great cost saver as poor roof and ceiling insulation allows the loss of up to 40% of the heat or coolness of your home and another 25% is lost through the walls and floor. Paying for extra insulation is very cost effective as heating your home will cost less and you probably will not have to invest in fans or air conditioning during the summer months either – and you will not have to run up your electricity bill either.
Impact of Cavity Insulation on the Environment
The effects of effective insulation are definitely good for the environment as energy efficiency is dramatically increased and greenhouse gases are lowered. There is a dramatic reduction in the use of heating and cooling systems throughout the year and good insulation provides effective sound proofing too.
If you would like to improve the insulation in your home, it is a good idea to call in a qualified contractor. They will be able to assess how good the insulation is in your home and be able to advise what type of insulation is the best to use for your property.
Whilst you are sorting out some extra insulation for your home, there are extra measures you can adopt to help keep your home cool. Go Mediterranean and adopt some of the ways used by people living in hot countries. Keep the curtains and shutters closed throughout the day as this will definitely keep the rooms cooler or if you prefer to keep the curtains open, fit protective film to the windows as this will filter ultra violet rays. In the evening, once the sun has set, open windows in each room to let the cool evening breeze in which will improve the air circulation.
Cavitech can offer assistance with insulation questions – please feel free to get in touch.
Article kindly provided by Chris Stevens.