Using Reflective Insulation for Windows

Reflective insulation is an innovative type of foil that has a foam backing. This foil reflects heat instead of absorbing it so that it can easily keep heat inside a room, or deflect it out of the room. Reflective insulation is mostly used in areas such as attics and along rooftops. However, it is also used in small applications like behind radiators. Since the costs of heating and cooling homes is on the ever increasing rise, it is important to continue finding ways to use the reflective insulation for controlling your budget.

Reflective Insulation for Windows

In many instances, a window is a great thing. A room with large windows lets in a lot of light, allows for great views, and warms up the house through natural means. However, this heat can also be a major disadvantage. As the sun rises, the energy from the rays can drastically heat up a room very quickly. In some instances, the room can be up to 20 degrees hotter than other areas of the house. During the summer, this is very uncomfortable and leads to higher electrical bills through use of the air conditioner.

One of the solutions to this is to shut out the sun through the use of black-out drapes. These drapes do work well, but make the room very dark, and still allow some heat to enter the room. A newer solution that is gaining popularity today is reflective insulation.

Great for Repelling Heat

Heat will always work in the direction of the coldest area. The reflective insulation has a foil-based covering that reflects the heat back into an open air space. This means that the heat will be directed back into the direction from which it came. By using this reflective insulation in a window,120 the room will not be heated up by the sun's energy because the energy is being reflected away.

Foam or Sheets

There are basically two types of reflective insulation that can be used by homeowners today. The first is a foam-backed foil that is much like the blue foam insulation used on a home's outer shell. It comes in sheets the same size as plywood and is easy to work with. The other is simply a thin sheet of foil that can be conformed to the shape of the item that it is being adhered to.

Application on Window

Regardless of the type of reflective insulation you are using, you will want to make sure that it is applied to the outside of the window. When the foil is placed inside it will allow the heat to enter the room through the window. A portion of the heat is reflected, but a portion is also trapped.

The foil type of reflective insulation is best as you can remove it easily when you do not need it. It can be applied to the outside of the window and then removed during the colder months when you want to have the sun shining through the window. The foil is also very versatile in that it can be cut into strips to allow for some sun to enter for light.