Comments for The Radiant Barrier Guru http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com Saving You Money on Your Energy Bills Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:15:14 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on Why is duct sealing so important? by Duct Wrap http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/attic-insulation-why-is-duct-sealing-so-important/comment-page-1/#comment-323 Duct Wrap Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:15:14 +0000 http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/?p=202#comment-323 Ew, those pictures are horrifying Just serves as a reminder to properly insulate our air ducts Ew, those pictures are horrifying

Just serves as a reminder to properly insulate our air ducts

]]> Comment on New Video=>Attic Insulation and Radiant Barrier Work Together in Cold Weather To Keep Homes Warm and Energy Efficient by Ed Fritz http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/attic-insulation-and-radiant-barrier-work-together-in-cold-weather-to-keep-homes-warm-and-energy-efficient/comment-page-1/#comment-321 Ed Fritz Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:58:53 +0000 http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/?p=166#comment-321 Kevin, with decent attic ventilation moisture in an attic in Houston is not a big concern. You can add a layer over the floor if you want. I've had many customers do both with excellent results. Just keep in mind the first layer provides the biggest bang for the buck. If you can do it yourself and only have the material cost then go for it. If you have to pay someone then the second layer is probably not worth it. Kevin, with decent attic ventilation moisture in an attic in Houston is not a big concern. You can add a layer over the floor if you want. I’ve had many customers do both with excellent results. Just keep in mind the first layer provides the biggest bang for the buck. If you can do it yourself and only have the material cost then go for it. If you have to pay someone then the second layer is probably not worth it.

]]> Comment on Attic Ventilation – Don’t Mess It Up by Kevin http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/attic-ventilation-basic-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-312 Kevin Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:36:41 +0000 http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/?p=34#comment-312 Okay, after reading this, I'm canceling my ridge vent project. I have four exhaust vents a few feet from the top of my roof and my soffits are not clogged, so I'm fine. I cut holes in the radiant barrier by the exhaust vents just as your website instructed. Thanks for the help. Kevin in Sugar Land Okay, after reading this, I’m canceling my ridge vent project. I have four exhaust vents a few feet from the top of my roof and my soffits are not clogged, so I’m fine. I cut holes in the radiant barrier by the exhaust vents just as your website instructed. Thanks for the help.
Kevin in Sugar Land

]]> Comment on New Video=>Attic Insulation and Radiant Barrier Work Together in Cold Weather To Keep Homes Warm and Energy Efficient by Kevin http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/attic-insulation-and-radiant-barrier-work-together-in-cold-weather-to-keep-homes-warm-and-energy-efficient/comment-page-1/#comment-311 Kevin Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:30:57 +0000 http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/?p=166#comment-311 Ed- Thanks for the video. I have installed the radiant barrier on my rafters, but would it also be helpful to install it on the floor of my attic. I seem to lose a lot of heat. I seem to have enough insulation in my attic, but with as much space as there is up there it seems like I'm heating my attic in the winter. Will a barrier on the floor create moisture in the summer? Is the barrier on the floor better for the winter and the rafters better for the summer? Thanks for your help. Kevin in Sugar Land (Houston) Ed- Thanks for the video. I have installed the radiant barrier on my rafters, but would it also be helpful to install it on the floor of my attic. I seem to lose a lot of heat. I seem to have enough insulation in my attic, but with as much space as there is up there it seems like I’m heating my attic in the winter. Will a barrier on the floor create moisture in the summer? Is the barrier on the floor better for the winter and the rafters better for the summer? Thanks for your help.
Kevin in Sugar Land (Houston)

]]> Comment on The Effect of Radiant Barriers on Shingle Temperatures. Am I going to BAKE my shingles? by Don Leiter http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/the-effect-of-radiant-barriers-on-shingle-temperatures-am-i-going-to-bake-my-shingles/comment-page-1/#comment-307 Don Leiter Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:18:36 +0000 http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/?p=155#comment-307 Thanks for reference to your article. Very helpful! Don Thanks for reference to your article. Very helpful! Don

]]> Comment on Why Install Radiant Barriers in Cold Climates? – The Aha Moment. by Frank N. http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/why-install-radiant-barriers-in-cold-climates-the-aha-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-132 Frank N. Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:29:44 +0000 http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/?p=16#comment-132 Very helpful, Ed, thank you! Just for clarification, I stapled the barrier to the underside of the attic/roof joists - works great for the warm weather and still waiting to see what will be yielded for the winter. Since I had a lot of barrier material left over, I thought this might be a good way to amplify the R value of the existing fiberglas insulation. Thanks again! Very helpful, Ed, thank you!

Just for clarification, I stapled the barrier to the underside of the attic/roof joists – works great for the warm weather and still waiting to see what will be yielded for the winter. Since I had a lot of barrier material left over, I thought this might be a good way to amplify the R value of the existing fiberglas insulation.

Thanks again!

]]> Comment on Why Install Radiant Barriers in Cold Climates? – The Aha Moment. by Ed Fritz http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/why-install-radiant-barriers-in-cold-climates-the-aha-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-125 Ed Fritz Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:33:12 +0000 http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/?p=16#comment-125 Frank, Thanks for the comment. I'm a little unclear. You mentioned "under side of my attic rafters" - did you staple it up or lay it out over the insulation? As for putting foil below the insulation, it will work. By using a solid product (non-perforated) you would have both a vapor barrier (stop moisture and air) AND a radiant barrier as long as you can get an air space on one side of the foil. Typically this is done by running radiant barrier across the studs (walls) or bottom of joists (ceilings), THEN running furring strips (usually 1"x2"s) perpendicular to the studs or joists. Then, you would attach sheetrock to the furring strips. The end result coming from the inside out would be: Sheetrock => Air Space due to furring strips => Radiant Barrier Foil => Insulation Does this help? Ed Frank,

Thanks for the comment. I’m a little unclear. You mentioned “under side of my attic rafters” – did you staple it up or lay it out over the insulation? As for putting foil below the insulation, it will work. By using a solid product (non-perforated) you would have both a vapor barrier (stop moisture and air) AND a radiant barrier as long as you can get an air space on one side of the foil. Typically this is done by running radiant barrier across the studs (walls) or bottom of joists (ceilings), THEN running furring strips (usually 1″x2″s) perpendicular to the studs or joists. Then, you would attach sheetrock to the furring strips.

The end result coming from the inside out would be: Sheetrock => Air Space due to furring strips => Radiant Barrier Foil => Insulation

Does this help?

Ed

]]> Comment on Why Install Radiant Barriers in Cold Climates? – The Aha Moment. by Frank N. http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/why-install-radiant-barriers-in-cold-climates-the-aha-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Frank N. Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:18:00 +0000 http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/?p=16#comment-124 I live in the NorthEast and have installed a radiant barrier on the under side of my attic rafters, as instructed. I am extremely pleased with the performance during the summer months. My question is, would I also benefit from installing a non-perforated barrier BELOW my attic floor insulation, to deflect radiant heat back towards the living space (if the barrier isn't coming in direct contact with cold air, would moisture ever develop?)? I believe the top layer has already reduced the cold air looping effect you describe so well, so this seemed a reasonable approach to me. Thank you! I live in the NorthEast and have installed a radiant barrier on the under side of my attic rafters, as instructed. I am extremely pleased with the performance during the summer months.

My question is, would I also benefit from installing a non-perforated barrier BELOW my attic floor insulation, to deflect radiant heat back towards the living space (if the barrier isn’t coming in direct contact with cold air, would moisture ever develop?)? I believe the top layer has already reduced the cold air looping effect you describe so well, so this seemed a reasonable approach to me.

Thank you!

]]> Comment on How a Radiant Barrier works to save you money – in simple terms by Mr. Hunt http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/how-a-radiant-barrier-work-to-save-you-money/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Mr. Hunt Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:29:09 +0000 http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/?p=3#comment-9 Ed, I purchased your radiant barrier about 3 years ago. I wanted to give you a update. We spoke on the phone a couple of times and I appreciate your suggestions regarding my home. I have lived in the home for 30 years and have utility records going back 20 years. It's an typical 1 story ranch style home on pier & beam still with single pane windows (more on that later). I had averaged about 14,000 kwh per year for the last 16 years prior to 2006. I installed your radiant barrier in December 2006. For 2007 & 2008 my bills went down to about 11,500 kwh. This is about an 18% savings from the foil alone with nothing else done. Then, this Spring I replaced the AC unit that was 19 years old. This year my energy usage will come in at about 10,000 kwh for the whole year. So, combining the radiant barrier & a new AC unit, my bill has dropped about 30% with the largest part from the radiant barrier. After doing more research, I decided not to spend 7-10k on new replacement windows. Since probably half my bill now is from appliances, lights, etc. I just don't think the payback is there for the windows. Thanks again for the info you provided me and I constantly recommend your product to anyone who is trying to save some money on their utility bills. Ed, I purchased your radiant barrier about 3 years ago. I wanted to give you a update. We spoke on the phone a couple of times and I appreciate your suggestions regarding my home. I have lived in the home for 30 years and have utility records going back 20 years. It’s an typical 1 story ranch style home on pier & beam still with single pane windows (more on that later). I had averaged about 14,000 kwh per year for the last 16 years prior to 2006. I installed your radiant barrier in December 2006. For 2007 & 2008 my bills went down to about 11,500 kwh. This is about an 18% savings from the foil alone with nothing else done. Then, this Spring I replaced the AC unit that was 19 years old. This year my energy usage will come in at about 10,000 kwh for the whole year. So, combining the radiant barrier & a new AC unit, my bill has dropped about 30% with the largest part from the radiant barrier.

After doing more research, I decided not to spend 7-10k on new replacement windows. Since probably half my bill now is from appliances, lights, etc. I just don’t think the payback is there for the windows. Thanks again for the info you provided me and I constantly recommend your product to anyone who is trying to save some money on their utility bills.

]]> Comment on Attic Ventilation – Don’t Mess It Up by Toff http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/attic-ventilation-basic-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Toff Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:44:46 +0000 http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/?p=34#comment-8 I agree completely!!! Ventilate, ventilate, ventilate! when I crawl up into the attic of an older home, I notice that there is never enough air flow. usually there is one or two roof vents and a very few soffit vents. One of the more successful experiments I have done, is to take an AC booster fan (~25watt) and secure it into the existing roof vents while adding more soffit vents. In the middle of summer, there is a difference between passive and active air flow. I prefer passive, but some homes just need a little extra help. If you figure out the basic air-in, air-out flow, then adding a little fan (with a thermostat) can help get rid of the heat faster than waiting for the heat to rise. I don't like the huge 175 watt roof fans due to the amount of electricity they use and the fact that you can never get enough air into the attic through the soffits to keep the fans from pulling your good AC from the house into the attic. I usually stick with my passive vents and occasionally use a booster fan when really needed. <strong>Toff I agree completely!!! Ventilate, ventilate, ventilate! when I crawl up into the attic of an older home, I notice that there is never enough air flow. usually there is one or two roof vents and a very few soffit vents. One of the more successful experiments I have done, is to take an AC booster fan (~25watt) and secure it into the existing roof vents while adding more soffit vents. In the middle of summer, there is a difference between passive and active air flow. I prefer passive, but some homes just need a little extra help. If you figure out the basic air-in, air-out flow, then adding a little fan (with a thermostat) can help get rid of the heat faster than waiting for the heat to rise. I don’t like the huge 175 watt roof fans due to the amount of electricity they use and the fact that you can never get enough air into the attic through the soffits to keep the fans from pulling your good AC from the house into the attic.

I usually stick with my passive vents and occasionally use a booster fan when really needed.

Toff

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