Maintaining a warm and comfortable house means keeping heated air inside, as well as blocking cold outdoor air from seeping in. Home insulation is crucial to achieving this. However, even when you have enough material lining the attic and exterior walls, you could still spend more than you want on energy bills or struggle to keep indoor temperatures comfortable. It's possible that heat may escape through the floor into the crawl space underneath your home, especially if it's open to the earth below. In this case, a radiant barrier may be the perfect solution. Here's what you should know about this option.

What Is a Radiant Barrier?

Radiant barriers are most commonly found in attics. They're made from aluminum, and the foil-like sheets reflect the heat from the sun, keeping your home cool and comfortable during the summer. 

When the sun beats down on your house, the heat transfers into the attic and the home insulation materials. This warmth extends to everything the insulation touches—including the drywall ceilings directly under the attic. It also transfers into the ductwork and HVAC equipment in this upper room, which forces them to work harder to keep your home temperate. A radiant heat barrier reflects up to 95% of the heat from the sun, which helps boost indoor comfort.

How Do Radiant Barriers Help Insulate Crawl Spaces? 

Given that radiant barriers are designed to reflect solar energy, you may be wondering how they can help in a crawl space that doesn't receive any sunlight. Installing a radiant barrier over a layer of home insulation underneath your house can block up to 97% of heat loss that occurs through the flooring. Heat can escape from the floor into the air gap, forcing your HVAC system to use more energy to maintain the indoor temperature. The radiant barrier blocks this transfer, keeping the temperature comfortable and consistent.

Radiant barriers can also protect the property from moisture exposure. This solution is especially useful if the crawl space is directly above the earth and doesn't have a vapor barrier. When moisture from the soil gets into this area, it can lead to rusted plumbing and electrical shortages in any wiring under the home. Installing these sheets is an affordable alternative to sealing a ventilated crawl space, which can be a labor-intensive and expensive project.

If you want to keep your house comfortable and prevent heat loss into the crawl space, turn to Koala Insulation of Chester County for effective home insulation solutions. Their team of trained and experienced technicians serves homeowners throughout Exton, PA, as well as Chester and Montgomery counties. They can help you select the best products for your needs, from batt or spray foam to blown-in home insulation. They're dedicated to providing efficient, quality installation. Learn more about the company and its services online, or call (484) 727-8403 to request an estimate.