Most of the houses build before 1990s, are bad insulated, and if you live in a house that was build in 1980s for example, you probably don’t have more than 10-15 cm wall insulation. The thicker the layer on insulation, the lower the heat losses will be. Or at least this was the most well-known fact about house insulation, for a long time. However, in these days, there are new and more diversified insulating materials, which higher thermal conductivity, which, although used in a thinner layer, may be able to provide better insulation for your house. So, it is not only the thickness of the insulating layer, but also the quality of the materials used, and their thermal properties.
There are 4 zones in a house, where the heat is mostly lost, and those are:
- The roof
- Outside walls
- Door and windows
- Ground floors
When you heat up a house, you notice that the indoor air is warmer at a higher level, because as the air is warmed up, its density is lower, and it goes up. This phenomenon makes that a lot of the heat of a house is lost through the roof. In fact, 25% of the heat losses are due to a bad insulated roof. 35% of the heat loss, is mainly due to bad insulated exterior walls, 25% due to badly insulated or badly built-in windows and door, and 15% of the heat is lost through ground floors.
There are 3 possible ways to transfer heat from one place to another, and those are:
- Conduction – where heat is transferred through the walls, roof, walls, and windows.
- Convection – where heat is transferred through the air. Here, if cold air manages to enter the house via a bad insulated window, or door, and through convection, the heat is transferred to the roof, windows, etc.
- Radiation – where heat is transferred to the outside via the outdoor walls, windows, doors, and roof.
What percentage of heat is lost through the floor?
As previously said, up to 15% of the heat can be lost through the floor. However, the percentage varies depending on the level on insulation your house has. If your house has a basement, then insulating it might be a good start to save energy. There are different materials that can be used to do so, however, you have to keep in mind that if you have a basement that is normally exposed to water and humidity, you have to make sure you have a proper drainage system in place, before starting to add an extra layer on insulation.
How can heat loss be reduced through windows and doors?
25% of the heat loss is done via windows and doors. The most efficient way of reducing the losses here is to change both the windows and the doors with ones of a better quality, that have insulation properties. There are 3-layers windows now that provide better insulation, through the air trapped between the layers. Air can be a very good insulation media if used properly. If you don’t have enough money to buy new windows, or doors, then there are several tips and tricks you could try to make your house more air-tight, and reduce the heat losses:
- Add extra insulated curtains
- Seal out any spots where air might get in for both your windows and doors.
- Door snakes to prevent the air coming through the lower part of the door.
- Door sweeps
- Foam tape
- Window film
How can heat loss be reduced through the roof?
25% of the heat is lost through the roof. So, spending a little extra bucks to insulate your attic, might turn out to be a really good and wise investment. There are very easy to use insulated materials that can be applied even by non-professionals. Always check for the thermal conductivity of a material before buying any type of insulation. By applying a 10 cm layer of insulation with Glava, for example, you will be able to see a reduction in your electricity bills during the first winter months.
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