A house is a system of interdependent parts which means that the operation of one part will affect the other. When one of the house parts is not functioning properly it will affect the other parts.
The law of heat flow dictates that heat will always flow towards a region of lower temperature. The greater the temperature difference the faster the movement. Heat travels by convection, conduction and radiation. Conduction is the most common and best known method of heat loss.
Natural convection occurs when the movement of liquid or gas is caused by density differences. For example, warm air rises because it has a lower density than the surrounding air, and cool air drops when it is denser that the surrounding air.
Approaching the house as a system of interactive parts, the savings mount and we avoid creating health and safety issues. Air sealing and insulating a home reduces the heating and cooling load. A replacement furnace in a sealed and insulated home can be smaller than the existing furnace. The initial price of the smaller unit is lower, and the long-term operating costs will be less. Air sealing and insulating reduce load on heating and cooling appliances, making it possible to downsize equipment. Smaller equipment costs less to purchase and operate.
Recessed lights are very popular, but they are usually the source of considerable heat loss or gain in a ceiling. The recessed lights when scanned with an infrared camera will show a lot of heat loss. The solution is to buy lights that allow you to cover them with insulation thus preventing heat loss.
Ice damming and roofing material damage can be caused by improper attic ventilation. This can be prevented by installing attic baffles at the eaves to maintain ventilation. Baffles also prevent wind from flowing through the insulation, which can reduce its R-value.
Insulating sheathings are rigid insulation boards, typically to 2 inches thick, that have beneficial thermal properties. They provide a way to increase the overall R-value of the wall system, especially in colder climates. Products that are available are typically made of expanded or extruded polystyrene or from polyisocyanurate foam insulation boards.
With a properly functioning ventilation system, moisture and other pollutants are kept from entering the home. Any pollutant – and moisture is considered a pollutant for the purposes of this discussion – created in the home is transported safely outside through exhaust ventilation and ductwork. However, in many homes, the fans or ducts are loud, leaky, non-existent or otherwise not up to the job. Moisture created within the home condenses on cool building surfaces, both in the living space and in the attic, and causes mold, mildew, poor IAQ, and structural damage.
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