Stay Cool in the Summer

Wow, that was a long winter! While most people in Western New York think of insulation as a product that helps us in the winter, but it’s also very effective in the summer to help keep us cool.

Some people think that it’s hot on their second floor because it’s hot outside and heat rises to the second floor. Not true. Almost every roof in the area is very dark (brown, black, charcoal). Dark colors absorb light/heat instead of reflect it. This is why we try not to wear a black shirt on a 90 degree day unless we want to sweat off a few pounds. When the sun hits a roof like this, even on a 60 degree day, the surface of the roof will get very hot and radiate that heat into your home. In the summer the roof temperature will get well over 100 degrees. This is like putting your furnace on high in the middle of the summer! Some home designs, like cape cods, lend themselves to a lot of discomfort because the roofline of the home is right on top of the living space and there are usually only one or two windows on the entire second floor to provide cross ventilation.

So how do you remedy the problem? There are really two ways. First, you could use air conditioning. Second, you could insulate the roofline with foam insulation. Air conditioning is great. I have it and I’m glad. The problem is that if your insulation is bad the A/C will run all summer long and your electric bill will be insanely high. By insulating the roofline with foam you’ll reduce radiant heat from the sun down to a trickle, which will make your A/C run less and keep your electric bill low.

An added benefit to foam is that it will drop your energy usage in the winter as well. We often measure the air infiltration of the homes we insulate with a blower door kit. On average we cut air infiltration in half just by insulating the attic! That means cold winter air is less likely to get into your home.

So what are you waiting for? Give us a call at 716-775-8035. And remember, Spring is the least expensive time to insulate your home.